Education across the levels
Read more about our roundtable meeting with Conservative MP, Alicia Kearns
Conservative MP for Rutland & Stamford, Alicia Kearns, joined CLA members in Leicestershire on Tuesday 7th April for a roundtable discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities facing the local rural economy.
From the outset, Mrs Kearns demonstrated a strong understanding of the key issues facing the area, helping to facilitate an open and constructive conversation.
The meeting covered a range of key topics outlined in the agenda, including rural business profitability, rural crime, country pursuits, impacts of global conflict and farm cluster groups in Rutland.
Attendees discussed the pressures facing rural businesses; concerns about policing capacity in Lincolnshire, but praised the rural crime team in Leicestershire; rising cultural and political pressures on lawful country pursuits; the impact of global events on fuel costs and opportunities to strengthen participation in local farm cluster groups.
One of the most repeated themes to emerge from the meeting, was the need for greater education of rural challenges at every level.
This theme tied many of the agenda items together, with attendees stressing that misconceptions about rural life often drive unhelpful or poorly targeted policy.
The meeting concluded at midday after an engaging and constructive discussion. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising Mrs Kearns’ informed approach, willingness to listen and ability to articulate rural concerns clearly and confidently.
It was valuable to bring members together to share their experiences directly with their MP. A consistent message from the discussion was the need for greater understanding of the realities facing rural communities, and the CLA will continue to champion this through our work across the region.