Sunak Government must help Kent farmers and rural businesses

With Rishi Sunak confirmed as the new Prime Minister, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has renewed its calls for the Government to commit to a proper plan to help rural communities.

CLA South East represents thousands of farmers, landowners and rural businesses in Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.

Uncertain times

Regional Director Tim Bamford said: “These are highly uncertain times for farmers and rural business owners. The cost of living crisis is biting hard, and we continue to suffer a rural economy that has been artificially held back by years of government inaction.

“The Prime Minister should commit himself to developing a robust and ambitious plan for the countryside. This requires planning reform and tax simplification to encourage entrepreneurship, but also investment in skills and innovation to future proof our rural businesses and workforce.

“The UK Government’s Environmental Land Management Schemes are important both for the environment and the future of food production, but many land managers have not yet been convinced to enter them. Government should take this seriously and work with industry to find new ways to improve the schemes further.

Long term funding

“With persistent talk of government cut backs to future budgets, the Prime Minister should quickly confirm that long term funding will be available to those land managers who are working so hard to deliver government’s environmental objectives.

“As landowners and rural business owners, we are hugely ambitious for the future of the rural economy. We want to quickly see evidence that the Prime Minister shares that ambition, and that he will work with us to unlock the potential of the businesses, and the people, in our countryside.”