A poll conducted by ORB International for the Countryside Alliance found that only 15% of people living in rural areas believe the Labour Party cares about them. The survey also revealed that 43% of respondents feel the government has waged war on the countryside, while 28% would be more likely to vote Labour if it were to improve its relationship with rural residents. The Countryside Alliance is urging Andy Burnham to reset the Government's relationship with rural communities after a controversial family farm tax led to protests and policy changes under Keir Starmer’s leadership.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
According to a ORB International poll conducted for the Countryside Alliance, only 15% of people living in rural areas believe that the Labour Party cares about them. The survey also found that 43% feel the government has "waged war on the countryside". Despite this, 28% of rural residents would be more likely to vote for Labour if it improves its relationship with those who live and work there. This poll comes ahead of a new campaign launched by the Countryside Alliance in Westminster, which includes speeches from prominent figures like Lord Blunkett and ex-Tory prime minister Lord Cameron. The Alliance is urging Andy Burnham, leader of the Labour Party, to reset the government's relationship with rural communities following protests over Keir Starmer's family farm tax policy.
Written for “UK Rural Policy Perception” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score withheld for article 8788: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-09-14
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Just one in seven rural people think Labour cares about the countryside, according to polling.
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Labour → see → polling
A survey found that only 15 per cent of those living in rural areas agree that the party cares about the people who live and work there.
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who → find → people
Some 43 per cent also feel the Government has 'waged war on the countryside'.
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Government → feel → countryside
The survey by ORB International for the Countryside Alliance also revealed that one in four rural residents (28 per cent) would be more likely to vote Labour if it reset its relationship with them.
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it → reveal → them
It comes on the eve of the launch of the group's new Campaign for the Countryside in Westminster today at which Labour grandee Lord Blunkett will speak alongside ex-Tory prime minister Lord Cameron.
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Blunkett → come → Cameron
The Countryside Alliance is calling on Andy Burnham to reset the Government's relationship with the countryside, after Sir Keir Starmer's disastrous family farm tax sparked mass protests and led to a U-turn.
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tax → call → turn
The Countryside Alliance is calling on Andy Burnham to reset the Government's relationship with the countryside
Members of the Countryside Alliance, an organisation which works to protect rural traditions, gathered with working dogs at Parliament Square on Sunday
Tim Bonner, alliance chief executive, 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.
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reset → call → which
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.'
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that → focus → communities
Lord Blunkett, whom Mr Burnham has described as his 'truest mentor', is calling on the new Prime Minister to drop his predecessor's proposed ban on trail hunting.
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Burnham → describe → hunting
The former home secretary said yesterday: '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.'
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they → say → governments
He said a 'reset' was 'so necessary', including a move to 'set aside' the plan to ban trail hunting, where a pack of hounds follows an artificial scent rather than a live fox.
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pack → say → scent
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.'
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who → turn → security
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.
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who → insist → 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.
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This → back → farming
'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.’
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we → work → areas
