The long leadership campaign has allowed us to interrogate and analyse each potential leader's pitch for the country. At the beginning of August, we asked each leadership contender three questions from our members and supporters survey and a request for a photograph. The questions are as follows:
Question 1. How will you ensure the protection and enhancement of UK food security, support sustainable farming practices, and balance food production needs with environmental commitments and renewable energy installations?.
Question 2. What specific policies will you implement to support rural communities, in areas such as maintaining broadband and mobile coverage, addressing rural crime, improving rural public transport and banking facilities, and ensuring housing for local residents while preserving rural character and landscape?
Question 3. How will you support the economic development of rural areas beyond farming, including initiatives to boost local businesses, enhance public services, and create job opportunities to ensure the vitality and sustainability of rural economies?
We want to thank Robert Jenrick, Priti Patel, Tom Tugendhart, James Cleverly, Mel Stride, and Kemi Badenoch for taking the time to reply. Below are the unedited answers:
In October the following contenders were eliminated from the leadership contest.
In September the following contenders were eliminated from the leadership contest.
If you have follow-up questions we will be conducting a digital hustings with the final contenders in October, this will be available to members only and if you’d like to attend, register today.