The new president of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has vowed to write to every parliamentary candidate in England and Wales to encourage support for its ‘rural powerhouse’ campaign, according to Farmers Weekly

Mark Bridgeman said the campaign aimed to unleash the potential of the rural economy and close the rural productivity gap, by unlocking a further £43 billion for the UK economy. The campaign includes five key aims – a fully-connected countryside, a planning system designed for rural communities, a simple tax regime, profitable and sustainable farming, and investment in skills and innovation.

Bridgeman commented on the initiative: ‘All MPs should know, as we do, that the countryside can provide answers to so many of the issues that concern ordinary people – from climate change and the environment to the housing crisis. We are ready and raring to go – and with the right political support we can realise the countryside’s huge economic and social potential.’

Full article:

Country Land and Business Association (CLA) - New CLA president vows action on rural economy