A rural wall criss-crossing the British countryside is being ignored at politicians’ peril - Sarah Todd

Mark Tufnell, president of the Country Land and Business Association which commissioned the survey, warned: “In recent years, we’ve seen how quickly communities which feel left behind can rewrite the electoral map. In 2024, it could be the countryside’s turn."

In spite of Labour’s good showing in the survey Mr Tufnell believes there is currently not one political party that understands rural communities. In spite of the historic bond between the Tories and rural England, only 36 per cent of those polled agreed the Conservatives "understand and respect rural communities and the rural way of life".

The only MP, in this correspondent’s opinion, who regularly speaks out in support of farming is former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron. He holds the job of his party’s rural affairs spokesman but, even so, barely a day goes by when Farron isn’t banging the drum - or feed bucket - for farmers.

Just last week he led a Westminster Hall debate on the future of funding for upland farmers. Mr Farron accused the Government of driving farmers out of business; cutting their incomes by a third with changes to subsidies.

The farmers he represents are everyday hard working country people, not the landed gentry. They are outside, working, not sitting in farm offices with land agents to help them fill in - or even begin to understand - post-Brexit farming policy. Just 25 farms out of Farron’s entire Cumbrian constituency have signed up to Defra’s new Sustainable Farming Incentive.

There is no wonder that as well as country people not having any faith in national politicians, 47 per cent of those asked believe local councils don’t understand the needs of people living in the countryside.

A rural fightback is emerging, with the launch of a campaign to push local authorities into publicly expressing support for farmers.

In a response to the numerous councils who have voted in recent months to adopt plant-based menus, Cornwall has made a public pledge to support farmers by sourcing local produce - including meat and dairy - for council events.

The landmark motion also encourages residents to shop locally and urges them to take advantage of ‘home-grown, affordable, nutritious food’, irrespective of dietary preference.

It’s a scandal how many school children, prisoners, care home residents and others are being fed rubbish shipped in from goodness knows where thanks to the woke agenda of local authorities.

Farming hero and television presenter Jeremy Clarkson highlighted this issue when his local Oxfordshire County Council passed a motion to ban meat and dairy at its events.

The council justified the 2021 policy saying it was "in the interest of the health of our planet and the health of our people".

The move was backed by Animal Rebellion- now Rising- an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, which has also sponsored a taxpayer funded website, urging people to adopt a plant-based diet to help “slow climate change, rein in habitat loss, and regenerate the health of our planet”.

Three councils, Edinburgh City Council, Norwich City Council and Haywards Heath Town Council in Sussex, have also signed up to the so-called Plant-Based Treaty.

The treaty calls for an end to the construction of any future livestock farm and pushes plant-based food in schools and hospitals. It also includes a pledge to promote vegan food over animal products.

Hostile anti-livestock farming measures shouldn’t be allowed to become the norm at town halls. Imposing a certain type of diet doesn’t sit right in a country that prides itself on offering free choice for all.

To finish on a lighter note, animated character Shaun the Sheep was yesterday unveiled as the star of a new campaign to promote the Countryside Code. There is no doubt that Shaun and his Mossy Bottom Farm friends will do an excellent job in capturing the attention of children.

Shame the ‘keep dogs on a lead’ hammered home to this writer’s generation has been dumbed down to ‘keep dogs under control’. Perhaps in our topsy turvy world (where attacks on sheep and other farm livestock have never been higher) putting a dog on a lead infringes their rights?