The Island’s MP, Andrew Turner and MPs across Hampshire are being invited to get out and meet with farmers, land and rural business owners following the publication of new data revealing the full contribution of rural businesses to the local economy.
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses, has compiled statistics on the state of the rural economy in eight rural constituencies across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The figures show that rural businesses across the area are responsible for outputting nearly £10 billion worth of goods and services and employing more than 220,000 people.
The CLA is inviting MPs to come and see for themselves the innovation, diversity and challenges faced by a multitude of different businesses based in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight countryside. It has provided all rural MPs with constituency by constituency data on the economic contribution of the rural businesses they represent.
The cards also set out three clear requests:
- To champion a genuinely universal broadband service
- To end discrimination in the tax system against unincorporated family businesses
- To ensure all business policies support rural economic growth.
CLA South East Regional Director, Robin Edwards says:
“The rural economy in England is worth £210 billion and accounts for over 25% of all businesses. It is vital that MPs across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight understand and champion rural businesses and there is no better way to show this than to spend time with those businesses and understand the challenges they face.”
