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Bookings are now officially open for the National Rural Conference 2025, which will take place online from Monday 15 to Thursday 18 September.
This is the Rural Services Network’s flagship event of the year, bringing together rural decision-makers, practitioners, and advocates for four days of live, interactive sessions focused on the future of rural communities.
Click here to book!
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Rural Services, supported by the Rural Services Network as the Secretariat, held its inaugural meeting last week with a clear sense of enthusiasm and purpose. With a full room of MPs eager to advocate for rural communities, the session highlighted both the commitment of its members and the crucial issues they aim to address over the coming year.
The meeting resulted in the election of the APPG’s leadership team. Sarah Dyke, Liberal Democrat MP for Somerset, was voted as Chair, Sam Rushworth, Labour MP for Bishop Auckland, was elected Vice Chair, while Joe Morris, Labour MP for Hexham, was appointed Treasurer. Dr. Kieran Mullan, Conservative MP, was chosen as Secretary, ensuring representation across the political spectrum.
The meeting saw a lively discussion around the main priorities the APPG will focus on throughout the year. The group agreed on five key areas that will shape their agenda:
An additional topic, raised during the meeting, was the potential impact of these priorities on young people and older residents. MPs agreed that the APPG should consider the broader societal impacts, such as how limited transport affects young people’s access to education and skills, or how inadequate services can isolate older populations.
The inaugural meeting was marked by a strong sense of optimism, with attendees commenting on the unusually high level of engagement and interest. Many MPs were pleasantly surprised by the turnout, signalling the growing importance of rural issues in parliamentary discussions.
Looking ahead, the APPG aims to hold more informal briefings, which will allow members to engage with the issues more flexibly and dynamically. Sarah Dyke and her team are already planning follow-up meetings to strategise on how to move forward effectively.
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Sarah Dyke MP, Glastonbury & Somerton:
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Kerry Booth, Chief Executive, Rural Services Network:
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