Seldom does a political party get a second chance to fix its relationship with a group of constituents that it has alienated by imposing punitive taxation, threatening to concrete vast swathes of its land and set off to undermine their very way of life at every turn.

The Countryside Alliance is right to warn that rural voters have lost faith in Labour.

However, with a change of leader and still time yet until the next general election has to be called, Labour has a chance to at least undo some of the damage that it has done in its short time in Government.

New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has made welcoming noises but rural voters have heard optimistic rhetoric from his predecessor, only to find themselves in a pincer of poor policy decisions.

A tractor is driven through Oxford Circus in central London, during a protest by farmers last year. PIC: Ben Whitley/PA Wire

placeholder image — A tractor is driven through Oxford Circus in central London, during a protest by farmers last year. PIC: Ben Whitley/PA Wire

His Government must not make the same mistake of focusing on issues that don’t really even matter to the wider public but still leave the countryside counting the costs.

For example a ban on trail hunting would undermine rural heritage and the economy, while the returns would be negligible. Ever since the ban on fox hunting came into force, the vast majority of hunts have ensured that there has been no illegal activity.

Sir Keir Starmer’s government ill-conceived proposals for a family farm tax also sent a shiver down the spine of many rural communities without any electoral gain in other parts of the country.

Out at sea, conservationists warn that Britain has repeatedly “ignored science” on collapsing fish stocks in the decade since the Brexit vote provided an opportunity to change course.

Balancing conservation with the needs of food producers, both on land and sea is a tricky task. However, it is possible if done in conjunction with farmers.

Labour under Burnham must get it right.