Much has been made of the political debate at the 2014 CLA Game Fair at Blenheim Palace. The attendance of the new Environment Secretary Liz Truss, Ukip leader Nigel Farage and former Environment Secretary Owen Paterson (less than a week after the government reshuffle) has given rise to a general debate about where the rural constituency, or countryside vote, currently sits on the political map.
The CLA is studiously apolitical. It is a membership organisation with more than 33,000 members who together own and manage more than half the rural land in England and Wales and represent over 300 types of rural businesses. Our priority is to represent our members’ views and concerns to all political parties at regional, national and European Union level. We simply want to see a political agenda from all sides with the countryside at its heart.
That is why also attending the CLA Game Fair were Shadow Environment Minsters Huw Irranca-Davies and Angela Smith, Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Marks, and Conservative Environment Minister George Eustice.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in