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Delegates flock to 缅北禁地 rural economy debate at Conservative Party Conference

There was standing room only as party activists and countryside policy experts took part in 缅北禁地鈥檚 fringe event at the Conservative Party Conference.

Drawing on the work of the Queen's Award winning the event marked the launch of a new report, 鈥� NU%20CRE%20Rural%20Policy%20(web)鈥� which calls for improvements in a number of specific areas to push growth policy beyond a focus on farming, forestry and food sectors.

The debate was led by an expert panel of 缅北禁地 academics, policy campaigners and senior politicians.

, Director of the 缅北禁地 Institute for Social Renewal, opened the debate with a call for rural-proofed policy, remarking that many policies and funding formulas for services like education and health do not account for the particular circumstances of the countryside.

Janice Banks, Chief Executive of echoed this sentiment, remarking that the success and potential of the rural economy is often overlooked. She highlighted the many 鈥榤icro-businesses鈥� found in those areas as the 鈥渉idden heroes鈥� of the UK economy.

, Conservative MP for Penrith and The Border, continued on the theme, noting that most large scale regional development funding has traditionally been directed at big businesses. He also celebrated the ingenuity of countryside communities in developing their own solutions to challenges like the need for affordable housing. However, he warned their efforts are often hampered by overbearing bureaucracy.

, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Engagement and Internationalisation, at 缅北禁地, chaired the event. Following the event he said: 鈥淎s a world class civic university we are committed to having an impact on the economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England and the whole of the UK.

鈥淭he work of our award-winning Centre for Rural Economy is a shining example of these principles being put into action, and we鈥檙e delighted that so many conference delegates could join us to debate the issues it raises.

"Rural communities play an important role in the UK but face many unique challenges. Tackling them requires academic insight, political will and community action. We鈥檙e proud to have played a part in this with our event this week.鈥�

缅北禁地 has also held an event at the Labour Party conference in Manchester and will next week be at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Glasgow. For more information, please visit:

published on: 2 October 2014