Since the astonishing results of last week’s election, Nicola Sturgeon and her gang are already demanding more for Scotland. However, a far greater ‘silent’ majority won the election.
According to government figures, 5.3 million people live in Scotland whereas 9.3 million people live in rural areas of England. What is quite clear is that it was the rural population of Britain that, more than any other group, voted the Tories to victory and a precious majority.
These rural voters will not only watch carefully that the ruling party’s manifesto promises on hunting, superfast broadband, rail fares, rural post offices, bovine TB, flood defences and local controls on planning are adhered to, but will also, in the manner of the SNP’s calls for more for Scotland, expect and demand more for rural Britain.
This magazine will seek to ensure that more is done on litter, affordable housing and safeguarding our farming industry. There is more research needed on bees and GM crops, more protection required for the green belt and our historic houses and more must be done to promote rural tourism, just for a start. David Cameron should remember that, although Scotland didn’t vote for him, the countryside did. His majority must be used to improve rural Britain.
Spectator: If you go down to the woods today…
Lucy Baring always seems to miss seeing wildlife.
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Sophia Money-Coutts: I went to stay with a friend last weekend and my dog killed a chicken. How do I adequately apologise?Our modern etiquette columnist Sophia Money-Coutts reflects on the dark side of being a dog owner.
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100 years of the photobooth, the essential piece of party paraphernalia beloved by Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and BeyoncéOn the centenary of the photobooth, Will Hosie looks back on a hundred years of self-portraits.
