What more can I do to protect my rural business?
In the wake of the Autumn Budget, CLA Senior Public Affairs Manager Eleanor Wood discusses how all land managers in rural areas can play their part in challenging the changes
The Autumn Budget only happened a week ago, but it has been a whirlwind for the CLA lobbying team. Since last week we have briefed MPs on the impacts, met with the Farming Minister and Exchequer Secretary, held meetings with several backbench Labour MPs and continued to push it up the agenda at parliamentary question time.
Thank you to the thousands of members who have added their name to our MP letters. This campaign will be a powerful tool to demonstrate to MPs and the government the strength of feeling in the farming community over the changes made in the budget.
Many people have been in touch in the last week asking what more that they can do to help the campaign and push the message further. These include:
- Sign up to the letters campaign and continue to push family and friends to sign. The page is available to complete here. This is especially important in rural areas with a Labour MP. Send it on your local WhatsApp groups, post it on social media, share it down the pub, anyway you can think of to get the message out there!
- Send us your case studies and examples. Having real life examples of how changing inheritance tax (IHT), or the accelerated cuts to Basic Payments (BPS) will have on your business is essential. The Treasury and other politicians understand the complexities much better if we provide them with hard data that explains the ramifications it has on a business. Contact us here.
- Get in touch with your local MP, either by sending them an email directly saying how you feel about the announcements made in the budget or by visiting them at their local constituency surgeries. MPs on their websites will have a list of events that you can either ‘drop in’ or make an appointment in advance to go have a quick chat about the issues.
- Offer to host a farm visit, politicians often can’t visualise what the impact of policy changes will have on a business. Hosting a visit (if you feel able) can be vital in explaining why the changes would mean either a lack of investment or in some circumstances having to sell part of the farm.
In addition, it's not too late to secure a ticket to the CLA Rural Business Conference on Thursday 21 November, and have the opportunity to ask a question of the Secretary of State for Environment Steve Reed MP.
What’s next for farms and rural businesses following the Autumn Budget? Watch below: