Just one in seven people living in rural parts of Britain believe the Labour Party cares about the countryside, according to a new poll, while 43 per cent think the Government has "waged war on the countryside."
The survey, carried out by ORB International for the Countryside Alliance, found that only 15 per cent of rural residents agreed that Labour cares about the people who live and work there.
The findings were released as the Countryside Alliance prepared to launch its new Campaign for the Countryside in Westminster, an event at which Labour grandee Lord Blunkett is due to speak alongside former Conservative prime minister Lord Cameron.
The Countryside Alliance is calling on Andy Burnham, the senior Labour figure and Mayor of Greater Manchester, to reset the Government's relationship with the countryside. The call follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's inheritance tax changes affecting family farms, which sparked mass protests and eventually forced a government U-turn.
The poll also found that 28 per cent of rural residents said they would be more likely to vote Labour if the party reset its relationship with the countryside.
'Powerful' warning for Labour
Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: "These findings are powerful because they show not only how crucial it is for the Government to undo the mistakes of the past, but also the opportunity which a rural reset could bring."
"The poll is a warning of the dangers for the Government on focusing on issues that don't actually matter to the public, as well as clear encouragement to drop or change damaging policies and re-engage with rural communities," he said.
Push to drop trail hunting ban
Lord Blunkett, the former Labour home secretary whom Burnham has described as his "truest mentor," is calling on the Prime Minister to drop his predecessor's proposed ban on trail hunting, in which a pack of hounds follows an artificial scent rather than a live fox.
"I know that all the opinion polls show those living in the countryside demonstrate much greater dissatisfaction with policies of successive governments and the services they receive," Lord Blunkett said.
He said a "reset" was "so necessary," including a move to "set aside" the plan to ban trail hunting.
"It is not possible to turn the clock back on the mistakes made on family-owned farms and inheritance tax, but it is possible to learn that what might seem logical and rational to an official brought up in a town and living out their life in London can have devastating consequences in the real world for those who contribute to our food security, our leisure time and relaxation," he said.
Government response
A Government spokesman insisted: "We have pledged to deliver growth in every postcode and are determined to rebuild trust with the farmers who are the cornerstone of rural communities."
"This is backed with real action, including helping farmers through this exceptionally dry summer, as well as investing billions in sustainable farming and food production," the spokesman said.
"This is the start of a new conversation with farmers and rural communities as we work together to build a stronger future for British farming and unlock growth in rural areas," the spokesman added.
