The Ramblers aim to put walking at the heart of the election campaign

A fifth of would-be MPs have signed up to support a walkers’ manifesto put forward by the Ramblers as the election campaign gets into full gear.

On Monday, 646 Westminster MPs will get their P45s as Parliament is officially dissolved and prospective candidates vie for votes on 6 May.

The Ramblers asked every listed candidate to back its Breaking Down the Barriers manifesto, demanding an end to political, cultural, legal and financial barriers to walkers. The campaigning charity said parliamentary candidates have been signing up to the manifesto at the rate of 17 a day.

The move is part of the Ramblers’ effort to put walkers’ rights at the heart of election campaigning. The 75th annual meeting of the organisation takes place this weekend at Egham in Surrey and the charity is determined to get prospective MPs to go on the record in their support of walkers’ issues.

Chief executive Tom Franklin said: “We are delighted that there is cross-party resolve to break down the barriers to a walking Britain.

“Over the past 75 years, generations of Ramblers have helped improve Britain’s paths and increased access to the countryside. But, with obesity on the rise and footpath budgets under threat, we face challenges as great today as we’ve ever done.

“These pledges of political support will help us to ensure that everyone, whether they are in the city or the countryside, can get out and get walking. After the election, we’ll be calling in this support and expecting to see real action.”

The manifesto calls for investment in walking schemes that everyone can use; the halting of covert council ‘alleygating’ – closing urban rights of way without independent scrutiny; the promotion of green spaces in towns and the country; putting walkers at the top of the transport hierarchy, ending vehicle domination on roads.

The list of candidates who have signed up for the walkers’ manifesto can be seen on the Ramblers’ website.