Minister in Big Society debate at The CLA Game Fair

The Government's Big Society agenda was hotly debated today (Friday, 22 July) at The CLA Game Fair.

Defra's Secretary of State Caroline Spelman, former Daily Telegraph Editor Sir Max Hastings, CLA President William Worsley and former RSPB Conservation Director and blogger Dr Mark Avery debated the topic Big Society in the Countryside – Reality or Rhetoric? in the packed CLA President's Debate.

Mr Worsley said countryside people have practised "Big Society" for hundreds of years and that it is important the Government's new initiative does not hinder the good work already going on.

Referring to the Localism Bill currently going through Parliament, he said: "We need to make sure it does not stifle good will and we need to make sure it is not a vehicle for the loud-mouthed Nimbys."

The CLA President said that people in rural communities knew and helped each other far more than city dwellers. He said: "When it snows in my village, the three farms get out their tractors and clear the snow. When there was flooding, we also dug a relief ditch. That's what Big Society is all about."

Mrs Spelman said that Big Society was about putting people back at the helm of their communities.

She said: "We will continue to translate the rhetoric into reality. We want to be a government that turns resources into action to make Big Society happen."

Sir Max said: "Big Society is almost as silly a phrase as Tony Blair's Big Tent." However, he said he was encouraged by the Government's approach to the countryside and farming, particularly its recent decision to allow a badger cull to help fight bovine TB.

Labour Party member Dr Avery said: "I don't have an issue with Big Society if it means more of us having a say in local issues, but I am not sure how the closure of libraries and bus services fits into that agenda. My worry is that Big Society is a smokescreen for allowing public spending cuts."

Several panelists and audience members posing questions were supportive of the industry's Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE). Mr Worsley said: "The Campaign is a really good example of Big Society at work and shows we can self-regulate."

Contact

James Sheward
Interim Director of Public Affairs

James, as interim Head of Public Affairs, is responsible for the CLA's political strategy, parliamentary lobbying and campaigns.

T: 020 7460 7957
F: 020 7235 4696
james.sheward@cla.org.uk

Media Contacts

Ollie Wilson
Director of Communications

T: 020 7460 7936
F: 020 7460 7962
ollie.wilson@cla.org.uk

Lisa O'Brien
National Press Officer

T: 020 7460 7934
lisa.obrien@cla.org.uk

Out of hours: 020 7201 9511

Join the CLA today

Anyone who owns rural land or runs a rural business will benefit from joining the CLA.

Click here to find out how

The CLA Game Fair 2012

20 - 22 July 2012 Belvoir Castle. Grantham, Leicestershire.

CLA Member Ticket Box Office

Visit The CLA Game Fair website

Tax issues are high on the agenda for everyone either from a personal or business point of view. It is vital to be aware of your tax liabilities and ensure that not only are you properly prepared for those relevant now but are also ahead of the game by planning for the future.

More articles and documents

Defra Should Pay Swill Processors for Loss of Livelihoods – Says CLA
[News Archive]
[13 December 2007]

Country Land and Business Association Limited. Registered Office: 16 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PQ. Registered in England and Wales: 6131587. VAT Number: GB 238 7714 35

© 2012 Country Land and Business Association Limited (CLA). All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in any retrieval system of any nature without prior written permission of the copyright holder except as expressly permitted by law.

Disclaimer

No responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action in reliance on or as a result of the material included in or omitted in this website can be or is accepted by the author(s), the CLA or its officers or trustees or employees or any other persons.

The Advisory Services are made available to members on the basis that members' rights to compensation and the liability (if any) of CLA and its officers and/or its staff advisers, are restricted in the following ways. In the event of any advice given by any CLA staff adviser being given negligently or otherwise being incorrect no liability whatsoever is accepted by the CLA or its officers or by its staff advisers concerned

(a) towards any person who is not the current CLA member to whom the advice was directly given,

(b) to any person in the respect of consequential loss or loss of profits, or

(c) to any person for any sum exceeding £50,000 in respect of any one enquiry (whether made or responded to orally or in writing and whether dealt with at one time or over a period of time).

Any person making use of the Advisory Services accepts such restrictions. Members should refer to appropriate professional advisers in private practice before taking any particular course of action potentially or actually involving any substantial amounts of money.

Please note that whilst the advisers are able to advise on a wide range of subjects relating to land ownership, they cannot act in place of a member's own solicitor, accountant, surveyor and tax specialist by, for example, drafting documents or corresponding on their behalf and may be precluded, by the rules of their own professions, from advising one CLA member against another CLA member in the case of conflict.

Solicitors Indemnity Fund . Solicitors in the CLA Legal Team are not covered by the Solicitors Indemnity Fund in relation to professional negligence in relation to any advice given by them.

Please note that from time to time telephone calls maybe recorded for training purposes.