The Lords Rural Economy report, published on Saturday, was covered in a range of publications, including: ITV, ISP Review, Christian Today and Farming UK.

The report echoes RSN’s call for a comprehensive rural strategy, as argued for by chief executive Graham Biggs in an article published in The MJ today. 

It recommends that the Government rethinks and reforms the rural proofing process to ensure that relevant policies and legislation are attuned to the needs of rural communities and rural economies.

Lord Foster of Bath, chair of the Committee, commented:

‘Rural communities and the economies in them have been ignored and underrated for too long. We must act now to reverse this trend, but we can no longer allow the clear inequalities between the urban and rural to continue unchecked. A rural strategy would address challenges and realise potential in struggling and under-performing areas, and allow vibrant and thriving areas to develop further. Doing nothing is not an option.’

Full articles:

→ rsnonline - RSN response to the House of Lords Select Committee on the Rural Economy

→ The MJ Today - The Government must develop a rural strategy

→ ITV - Report calls for rural strategy to counter countryside woes

→ ISP Review - Lords Report Propose Fixes for Poor UK Rural Broadband and Mobile

→ Christian Today - Bishop backs 'urgent' call for Government to better support rural economies

→ Farming UK - Rural economy being 'ignored and underrated', peers say

We call on Government to produce a Rural Strategy to set out their priorities for Englands Rural Communities and the Rural Economy for the future and we ask you to support this call.