Rishi Sunak becomes Prime Minister

Rishi Sunak has become Prime Minister following the resignation of Liz Truss. The MP, who represents Richmond in North Yorkshire - one of the most rural constituencies in the country - and has regularly engaged with the CLA since entering the House of Commons

Responding to the news of Rishi Sunak becoming Prime Minister, Country Land and Business Association President Mark Tufnell said:

“These are highly uncertain times for land and rural business owners. The cost of living crisis is biting hard, and we continue to suffer a rural economy that has been artificially held back by years of government inaction.

“The Prime Minister should commit himself to developing a robust and ambitious plan for the countryside. This requires planning reform and tax simplification to encourage entrepreneurship, but also investment in skills and innovation to future proof our rural businesses and workforce.

“The UK Government’s Environmental Land Management Schemes are important both for the environment and the future of food production, but many land managers have not yet been convinced to enter them. Government should take this seriously and work with industry to find new ways to improve the schemes further. With persistent talks of government cut backs to future budgets, the Prime Minister should quickly confirm that long term funding will be available to those land managers who are working so hard to deliver government’s environmental objectives.

“As land owners and rural business owners, we are hugely ambitious for the future of the rural economy. We want to quickly see evidence that the Prime Minister shares that ambition, and that he will work with us to unlock the potential of the businesses, and the people, in our countryside."