There has been a strong reaction from Liberal Democrat MPs to the government’s plans to shut down the Commission for Rural Communities. The decision, along with plans to do away with the Agricultural Wages Board, was fiercely contested by the Labour party. The commission, which is chaired by Stuart Burgess, who also held the title of Rural Advocate until the position was scrapped, suffered as part of the government’s ‘bonfire of the quangos’.

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This week, a number of Lib Dem MPs have suggested that, unless action is taken, the countryside could become the “exclusive preserve” of the wealthy, as industry dies off and young people continue to move into urban areas due to the lack of prospects and support in rural communities. Andrew George, the Lib Dems’ rural spokesperson, said the CRC acts as an independent watchdog for poorer communities in the countryside and claimed its loss would leave these people vulnerable and under-represented.

Mr George has sent a letter outlining his concerns to Defra Secretary Caroline Spelman; the government plans to replace the CRC with a new body, which will be run under the auspices of Defra. However, the Lib Dem spokesperson claimed this would forfeit the independence of the watchdog and therefore reduce its ability to act critically and speak on behalf of the rural population.

The new Rural Policy Unit has been created within Defra to replace the CRC, which was established under the last Labour government to inform and advise policy makers on rural issues. However, critics suggest that it was largely ignored even then, as the recession saw rural post offices, youth centres and pubs close, public transport services decline and the emergence of a housing crisis, despite updates from the CRC on developments in rural areas.

Responding to the government’s decision, Mr George said, “A rural commission should exist to provide independent and objective advice on trends which are emerging in respect of the life and prospects of our rural communities and also represent and advocate on behalf of the weakest of the voices which exist in our rural communities.”

Mr George’s portent comes following a meeting between a delegation of MPs and Prime Minister David Cameron last month; the MPs, representing rural constituencies on the All-party Parliamentary Group on Rural Services, told the PM that his policies were “Short-changing rural areas.” The delegates, led by Yorkshire MP Graham Stuart told Mr Cameron that rural residents receive lower wages and pay more council tax than those in urban areas, but are benefitting less from public spending on transport, education and healthcare services, all of which are suffering cuts, particularly in rural areas.

Rural regions are suffering a decline, with traditional industries dropping off and rocketing house prices, which have been blamed in part on second home-ownership, also precipitating an exodus of young people from the countryside towards towns and cities. The Liberal Democrats have proposed an amendment to government legislation which would see second home owners paying a council tax premium.

Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset, who proposed the premium said, “In some areas there are very large concentrations of second homes in villages, and as a consequence the village starts to lose its facilities – bus services, and local shops and pubs. There is a case for intervention if a local authority wishes.”

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