As the countryside begins to be littered with posters and banners advertising the full spectrum of parties for you to vote for in the coming election we though it would be interesting to look at what each party is offering the countryside and rural communities.

Labour released their manifesto which outlined;

• - 10,000 affordable rural homes in rural areas which they say will “make it more difficult for rural schools to be closed” which will have clear benefits tot he rural community as long as it is not more second homes!
• - A promise to improve and deliver universal broadband, this is something we have tried to gain for many years – particularly for farmers.  
• - On the countryside and nature they go onto introduce new protected landscape areas, which connect existing sites with wildlife networks, as well as increasing the area of forest and woodland, great ideas but hopefully they dont in practice increase red tape.

 The Conservatives manifesto outlines;

• - No to GM crops until they have been “assessed as safe for people and the environment”, this is something which is obviously important however GM crops could offer excellent opportunities for farmers.
• - Interestingly they do plan to introduce a “carefully-managed and science-led policy of badger control” to control Bovine TB which is a seen by many as a good measure.

 The Liberal Democrats manifesto outlines;

• - An end to the post office closure programme which will improve services to rural areas.
• - Promoting affordable housing and an increase in tax on second homes through local government and capital gains tax.
• - The Lib Dems also promise an independent regulator for the food market and a legally binding Supermarket Code.
• - The party proposes changes to Single Farm Payments, which will be intersting to see further details of.