MANIFESTO FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE

Following the 2010 General Election, Robin Page, Chairman of the Countryside Restoration Trust, has released this “Manifesto for the Countryside”. He presented it at the CLA’s “Farming Breakfast” held at the Suffolk Show on Wednesday June 2nd. This Manifesto represents Robin Page’s personal views on what is needed to re-invigorate rural Britain, helping to restore it to being a “living and working countryside”.

 For those born and bred in the countryside, or who depend on it for their livelihoods, the recent election campaign was a demoralising experience. Did the main parties know where the countryside was? And did they realise that there was, and is, a crisis going on out there which makes fox hunting seem like a total irrelevance?

A new, “democratic” way of selecting MPs and reform of the House of Commons are urgently required. Members of Parliament are needed who know the value of the countryside and who understand how important it is to a thriving Britain.

This Manifesto is based on the straightforward and obvious facts that Britain’s most important commodity is land, and over the last thirteen years a hostile, anti-rural Labour Government has largely ignored the countryside and seriously compromised Britain’s “food security”.

            The simple, but vital, fact is that land is a declining, non-renewable, valuable asset. Policies are urgently needed that will protect and enhance it, while at the same time encouraging the communities, culture and wildlife that depend on it. This can only be achieved by reforming the electoral system, and re-invigorating farming and rural communities.

 Reforming the Electoral System.

Although under Labour the cry has been to Reform the Monarchy and the House of Lords, the real requirement is to reform the House of Commons. Labour cynically distributes safe parliamentary seats to its Metropolitan elite – David Miliband, absurdly and insultingly to South Shields, Ed Miliband (let’s keep it in the family) to Doncaster North, and the hater of the hereditary system, Hilary Benn, to Leeds Central. The Tories are no better, with “Dave” Cameron parachuting his favourites – “the Tory Taliban” – into safe rural seats, the most notorious being Liz Truss arriving at South-West Norfolk. It should not be forgotten either, that Nick Clegg and his family live in London, while he represents Sheffield Hallam – giving an interesting interpretation to the words “liberal” and “democrat”.

It is clear that the political elite based in London have hijacked real democracy.

To rectify this, all prospective parliamentary candidates should be required to live and work in their constituencies for five years before being allowed to stand for Parliament. This would bring democracy back to its roots – “Government by the People, for the People”.

At the same time broadcast debates between the “main parties” should be banned during the run up to an election. These make a mockery of the whole notion of “democracy”, discriminating against small parties and independents, and turning elections into a televised and partisan game show, with only three allowed to play in the game.

Pundits such as David Dimbleby, Adam Boulton, Jon Snow and Jeremy Paxman should be sent on a training course to remind them of the meaning of the word “democracy”.

 In addition there should be fixed term Parliaments (lasting four years) with each elected member only being allowed to sit for three Parliamentary terms. This would get rid of the dead wood and time-servers and regularly refresh Parliament.

 The expenses of MPs should be cut by 50% and their pensions by 80%.

 Payments and expenses to local councillors should be cut by 75% and all council meetings should be held in the evening. This would effectively end the “snouts in the trough syndrome” which currently dominates local government and get back to “public service” rather than “self service”.

 In both national government and local government all votes should be a “free vote” ensuring that Country is put before Party.

 The absurdly named “Standards Board for England” should be scrapped. It is made even more idiotic by the fact that that well-known upholder of high standards – John Prescott, introduced it.

The “politically correct” simply use the kangaroo courts of the Standards Board to intimidate and control, preventing free speech and the exposure of issues in the public interest.

As a result virtually all-public discussion concerning immigration and Irish travellers has been suppressed.

 In view of the widespread abuse of the proxy and postal voting system it should be made far more difficult to use these alternative-votes systems. Postal votes should be sent four days before the date of an election to enable voters to consider all their voting options.

 Bill of Rights.

Just as electoral reform is required, so is a Bill of Rights. Free speech and religious freedom would then be guaranteed against the politicised absurdities and repression of political correctness. Hunting would be taken out of the political debate – being a “cultural right”, in exactly the same way as halal slaughter.

 Halt Immigration and Housing Developments.

Immigration is an environmental issue – “space” not “race”. England is the fourth most densely populated country in the world. The Labour Government’s immigration policy has been nothing short of environmental vandalism.

Britain must take control of its own borders, regardless of the one state fantasies emanating from the European Union.

 At the same time all major house-building programmes should be scrapped and planning powers must be given back to local councils and taken away from Central Government. Twenty-five percent of Britain’s greenhouse gasses come from house building and development, and despite the “spin” there is no such thing as a “new sustainable community”, or an “eco town”, they are merely phrases designed to make unacceptable development “acceptable”. Britain’s land is too valuable and too scarce to be covered with concrete.

The Green Belt should be increased and made more secure – not stolen for development.

The Regional Assemblies, which support the Government’s planning madness, should be scrapped – they are unelected, unaccountable and undemocratic. Many people regard those who serve on Regional Assemblies as being modern-day “Quislings”.

A proper debate on immigration has been prevented by the intimidating power of institutionalised political correctness that now runs through central government, local government, the legal system, law and order, education and broadcasting.

 The startling facts on immigration are that in 1998 the United Nations forecast that in 2025 Britain’s population would be 59 million. In fact it breached the 60 million mark in 2008 and is now already over 61 million.

It is estimated that the population will be frightening 72.5 million by 2050 – yet our Government, and the BBC, describe Third World countries with less dense populations than Britain as “over-populated”.

For a country importing much of its food and energy and with severe water shortages in some areas the current population explosion defies all logic. Politically, socially, economically and environmentally, population increase is a deeply flawed and irresponsible policy.

 England’s population density is over 1030 people per square mile. Even China and India, both usually regarded as “over-populated” have lower population densities than England – India equals 939 people per square mile. China – 366.

 Migrants to Britain nearly all come from countries with low densities of population. Poland – 322. Romania – 235. Latvia – 85. Somalia – 57.

 The population density of France is 286. New Zealand – 41.

 Housing For Local People.

Britain once had a pool of local, social, affordable houses – they were called COUNCIL HOUSES – my wife Lulu was born in one. To sell council houses at a discount, and then remove that discount was one of the major follies of the Thatcher years. The discount should have been retained for all time. If this had happened Britain would still have a large pool of affordable housing – whether rented or privately owned.

Councils should be allowed to keep ALL the rent from Council Housing, for repairs and re-investment in more local housing for local people. At the moment half the revenue from Council Houses is stolen by central government.

Councils should be allowed to build limited, mixed developments – private, affordable and social – in the same way as Prince Charles at his impressive Poundbury development.

LOCAL HOUSING FOR LOCAL PEOPLE WOULD HELP GIVE BACK CONTINUITY AND STABILITY TO MANY RURAL COMMUNITIES.

 Travellers.

Illegal Traveller sites have created a running sore throughout much of rural Britain. Their illegality and the anti-social behaviour of some of the residents have been protected by political correctness within councils and police forces.

The solution is simple. The illegal occupation of land should be made a “criminal” offence, instead of a “civil offence”, just as it is in Ireland – problem solved overnight. Displaced Irish travellers should then return to Ireland – they should not have been allowed to enter Britain towing caravans in the first place. They have helped to aggravate the relationship between settled rural communities and the traditional British gypsy/travelling community

 Rate-Relief.

To help maintain the place of pubs, post offices, village shops and churches (vicarages, manses etc) in village life – generous rate relief should be given at times of financial need.

Owners of listed buildings should pay no rates.

 Food and Farming.

The recent flight restrictions caused by volcanic activity in Iceland dramatically exposed Britain’s lack of food security.

Food security has declined by over 1% a year throughout the 13 years of Labour misrule.

Britain now only produces 60% of its own food. By growing more temperate food the country could save itself £20b per year spent on imported food. Britain must become more “food secure” and land-work, currently considered “demeaning”, must be given improved status.

The status and prospects for those working on the land should be improved with better training and improved wages.

More students should be encouraged to take on seasonal land work with availability for work being linked to educational grants.

Short-term land work should be tax-free.

 The Competition Commission must be given real teeth to combat the power of the supermarkets and to ensure fair prices to growers and producers. Improved income to producers would then allow for improved wages for those working on the land.

 Landowners, and those with substantial incomes from other employment and investments should be means tested (on combined income) before receiving agricultural subsidies.

All land sold for development should be taxed at 50%.

A carbon tax should be imposed on all food imported into Britain that could be grown at home.

No animal products to be imported into Britain from countries whose standards of husbandry and animal welfare fall below British standards.

To aid British animal welfare DEFRA should promote and subsidise local slaughterhouses and develop a network of mobile slaughterhouses.

 There should be strict limits on cattle densities on dairy farms and “zero grazing” (cattle kept indoors the whole year) should be outlawed. In return an independent third party should impose a guaranteed fair price for milk – regardless of absurd EU regulations.

 All food to be accurately labelled with country of origin.

British food to be clearly labelled with county of origin.

All processed and packaged food must show the name of the company or companies processing, and packaging.

 Britain should leave the Common Agricultural Policy – ensuring better use of subsidies, higher standards of animal welfare and environmental management, and proper rewards for wildlife friendly farming.

 An urgent cull or vaccination programme for badgers is needed in specific areas to stop the rapid spread of TB in cattle, badgers, and other wildlife.

 Schools, government departments, hospitals and the armed forces should be required to source their food as locally as possible to encourage the return of local, seasonally produced and eaten food.

 Two hours free parking to be allowed in market towns and villages to allow for local, seasonal shopping. Alternatively the car parks of supermarkets should be taxed.

The absurd levels of DEFRA red tape to be cut by 85%.

 Saving Land.

With land being Britain’s most valuable asset the policy of “managed retreat” for some of Britain’s coastal areas should be immediately abandoned.

In its place should be policies of sea defence, to save land, not lose it.

Prisoners should be used as part of the workforce to reduce costs and to help them to give some benefits back to society.

Prisoners should also be used to pull up ragwort and pick up litter from roadside verges.

Those dropping litter from cars should have their vehicles confiscated. Litterlouts have helped turn Britain into the filthiest country in Europe.

Saving Farming and Conservation from the Conservationists. 

DEFRA must be more responsive to the concerns of farmers, rather than the marketing strategies of some conservation bodies.

There should be stricter rules on fanciful re-introduction programmes such as sea eagles in East Anglia and pine martens in Scotland. Due consideration must be given to the possible consequences of predator introductions with a clear strategy for the removal of those predators if the introduction goes wrong.

Conservation subsidies must be made available to help with the control of predators known to be harming vulnerable species. Currently Britain’s booming population of foxes, badgers, grey squirrels, crows and magpies are having a serious impact on many bird and animal species including curlews, lapwings, grey partridges and hedgehogs, as well as several species of woodland bird.

Research, independent of conservation and sporting interests, should be undertaken on the possible impact of raptors on some vulnerable species of wildlife. Birds giving farmers and some conservationists particular concerns are sparrowhawks, marsh harriers, hen harriers, buzzards and goshawks.

Licences must be made easier to control birds of prey and other “protected” species where it is clear they are damaging vulnerable species.

As a matter of urgency a mixture of  “cross compliance subsidies” and “bounties” must be used to ensure the control of grey squirrels in areas of Britain where the indigenous red squirrel is being threatened by grey colonisation. This urgent action is required in the Lake District, Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland, Anglesey and parts of Scotland.

Bounties should be offered in areas where red squirrel reintroductions are considered feasible.

The broadcast media must be urged to portray the REAL countryside, not the DISNEYFIED countryside. In the view of many farmers and country people the coverage of countryside and conservation issues given by programmes such as Springwatch and Countryfile resembles the football content of “Match of the Day”, if produced and presented by the Chipping Sodbury Women’s Institute.

Schools, universities and youth groups should be encouraged to visit farms, to re-connect with the countryside, helping them to understand where their food comes from and showing them the importance of air, water and soil. The link between farming and wildlife should also be shown and explained.

To young children in particular, the countryside should be seen as an area for sensible enjoyment and play, not as an area of prohibition. Non-sensical health and safety restrictions concerning ditches, streams, trees, bushes and even thistles should be re-cycled.

The Implementation of this Manifesto would re-invigorate the countryside and rural communities; it would boost both food production and practical wildlife conservation and it would remove billions of pounds from Britain’s balance of payments deficit.

Robin Page is a farmer, writer and conservationist. He founded the Countryside Restoration Trust (CRT), with the help of friends, and has seen it grow to a national charity dealing with farming and wildlife. The CRT now owns five farms, a smallholding, a wood, and several other parcels of land. He has written thirty-one books and is ex-presenter of “One Man and His Dog”. He is also on the Council of the National Trust and is Patron of Save Our Squirrels.