Putting rural at the top of the political agenda
How the CLA has engaged with MPs and councils across the South East
The CLA has arranged for 400 members to meet their local political leaders in the South East in 2026, to ensure rural issues are firmly on their agendas.
The CLA South East team has spent the year engaging with MPs, council leaders, mayoral candidates and other key stakeholders.
We have held rural roundtables and farm visits across Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, kindly hosted by CLA members.
The sessions have been attended by more than 400 people, discussing everything from the short Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) window to battles with the planning system.
Making a difference
We have held multiple meetings with Emma Reynolds, previously Defra Secretary of State and now the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, as well as meeting new leaders emerging in the government's devolution rollout.
With local government reorganisation starting in parts of the South East in the next few months, we’ve been arranging for members to meet the incoming leaders to ensure rural issues are high on their agenda.
Surrey is leading the way in our region, with its 11 district and borough councils disappearing in April. They will be replaced with two new unitary authorities, East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council.
In recent weeks we have held roundtables with the leaders of both new councils, along with groups of members. Issues raised include the local planning system, abattoirs, business rates, skills and investment, local plans, rural crime and recycling centres.
CLA South East regional director Tim Bamford said: "This engagement is enormously valuable.
"We cannot expect all of our politicians to have an in-depth knowledge of rural issues, so these roundtables and visits play a vital role in bringing them up to speed with the challenges and opportunities in the rural sector.
"The rural economy is crucial in so many constituencies and areas across the South East, and we're proud to be flying the flag to ensure its voice is heard in Westminster, council chambers and beyond."
Thank you to everyone who has attended and contributed to these useful sessions.
If you can host a meeting with your local council or MP, please email mike.sims@cla.org.uk
