Countryside Party (UK)
Encyclopedia
The Countryside Party was a minor political party
operating in the United Kingdom
. It was formed in May 2000 by Jim Crawford who was the Northern Director of the Countryside Alliance
. Much of the party's agenda was the same as that of the Alliance, such as opposition to any restrictions on fox hunting
.
They formed themselves out of what they perceive as a lack of understanding or care about rural issues by the mainstream political parties. They are by and large a conservative
-minded organisation, and have unsuccessfully opposed measures such as the Scottish Land Reform Act
, which has been designed to give greater rights to tenant farmers and crofters.
According to its 2004 accounts, the party's membership is formally "limited to the two founders, Jim Crawford and Richard Malbon plus a very small number of supporters who are not actually members of the Party."
The Countryside Party stood in the Scottish Parliament
2003 election for the Highlands and Islands electoral region
. They polled just 1,768 votes (1.05% of the vote in the area). They contested the 2004 European elections
. In the South West England
region, they got 2.1% of the vote which was sufficient to regain their deposit; however in the North West England
region they polled only 0.5%. Their relatively good standing in the South West may owe something to their notability of their candidates for reasons other than mainstream politics. The Party's six candidates in the region included Chris Thomas-Everard, whose family became famous during the 2001 foot and mouth crisis for refusing to allow his cows to be culled, Diana Scott the joint master of the Devon and Somerset hunt and prominent pro-hunting campaigner and Ranulph Fiennes
, the explorer.
They were deregistered in July 2008.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
operating in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was formed in May 2000 by Jim Crawford who was the Northern Director of the Countryside Alliance
Countryside Alliance
The Countryside Alliance is a British organisation promoting issues relating to the countryside such as country sports, including hunting, shooting and angling...
. Much of the party's agenda was the same as that of the Alliance, such as opposition to any restrictions on fox hunting
Fox hunting
Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback.Fox hunting originated in its current...
.
They formed themselves out of what they perceive as a lack of understanding or care about rural issues by the mainstream political parties. They are by and large a conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
-minded organisation, and have unsuccessfully opposed measures such as the Scottish Land Reform Act
Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003
The Land Reform Act 2003 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament. It created a framework for responsible access to land and inland water, formalising the tradition in Scotland of unhindered access to open countryside, provided that care was taken not to cause damage or interfere with activities...
, which has been designed to give greater rights to tenant farmers and crofters.
According to its 2004 accounts, the party's membership is formally "limited to the two founders, Jim Crawford and Richard Malbon plus a very small number of supporters who are not actually members of the Party."
The Countryside Party stood in the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
2003 election for the Highlands and Islands electoral region
Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions
Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions were first used in 1999, in the first general election of the Scottish Parliament , created by the Scotland Act 1998....
. They polled just 1,768 votes (1.05% of the vote in the area). They contested the 2004 European elections
European Parliament election, 2004 (UK)
The European Parliament election, 2004 was the UK part of the European Parliament election, 2004. It was held on 10 June. It was the first European election to be held in the United Kingdom using postal-only voting in four areas. It coincided with local and London elections.The Conservative Party...
. In the South West England
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
region, they got 2.1% of the vote which was sufficient to regain their deposit; however in the North West England
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
region they polled only 0.5%. Their relatively good standing in the South West may owe something to their notability of their candidates for reasons other than mainstream politics. The Party's six candidates in the region included Chris Thomas-Everard, whose family became famous during the 2001 foot and mouth crisis for refusing to allow his cows to be culled, Diana Scott the joint master of the Devon and Somerset hunt and prominent pro-hunting campaigner and Ranulph Fiennes
Ranulph Fiennes
Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet, OBE , better known as Ranulph Fiennes, is a British adventurer and holder of several endurance records. He is also a prolific writer. Fiennes served in the British Army for eight years including a period on counter-insurgency service while...
, the explorer.
They were deregistered in July 2008.