Cuts and closures have plagued England’s countryside for decades. It has been 19 years since the Government last produced a Rural White Paper and it’s clearer than ever that our rural areas are falling behind. A total of 17% (9.4 million) of the population live in rural areas – that’s more than in Greater London – and yet when it comes to Government policymaking, their needs are frequently overlooked.

Evidence in the Lords Rural Economy Committee report published on Saturday highlights the devastating impact of this for rural areas, with communities facing distinct challenges in the delivery of services and missing out on important benefits.