Labour and Tories spar over support for the countryside in pitch for rural votes
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pets lambs as he visits Rowlinson’s Farm during a Conservative general election campaign event on May 31, 2024 in Gawsworth, Macclesfield, England. (Photo by Carl Court-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Labour has pledged to treat countryside communities with “respect” and tackle issues including housing and rural crime as the party spars with the Tories for the rural vote.
In a speech to the Future Countryside conference in Syon Park, west London, shadow environment secretary Steve Reed said Labour would devolve power to rural communities and had a plan to give them their “future back”.
