Mike Walker, editor of the progressive rural journal
Country Standard, has condemned Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Caroline Spelman's speech on rural issues to Tory party conference as "a manifesto of someone interested in sitting in an arm chair and sipping a gin and tonic in Whitehall rather than a Minister who is will roll up their sleeves and fight on behalf of rural communities"
"Once again the Conservative laid out plans to betray rural communities"
"Spelman's speech even failed to mention housing and the threat to rural buses, issues of crucial concern to many rural communities".
Mike Walker warned "There was already seething anger in many rural areas, such as Cornwall and Suffolk and it was only a matter of time before this anger exploded"
