The televised leaders’ debates may be taking all the election headlines at the moment, but political reality is far deeper than how three men perform in a television studio says the CLA, and we should also look at the all the actual policies which may affect our lives and livelihoods.

Douglas Chalmers, Director CLA North said: “Let’s face it, the media and chattering classes will cover health, education, defence and all the other headline issues, but we will all have to live with a full raft of policies under a new Government. Sifting the pages of party manifestos is not everybody’s idea of fun, and if you are only searching for the elements relevant to rural issues it can be quite a hunt.

That is why we in the CLA have done the hard work for the rural electorate and distilled the main party manifestos to leave just the rural issues, making the comparison of each party’s stance that much easier.”

“Farming and rural services normally only appear as good media sound bites when something has gone wrong, but of course they are of real importance to a great many people who live and earn their livings in this region.

“If you really want to know what the main parties have in store for your rural locality, take a look at the CLA analysis on the General Election page of www.cla.org.uk

“Everyone should vote, and it should be an informed vote. Take the time to consider the issues, decide, and vote.”