“The government is waking up to the fact that 40% of constituencies are rural and these votes will be crucial to winning the next election. Rural can no longer be overlooked.” [CEO, Rural Services Network]
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The latest news from the Rural Services Network points to some possible positive movement from the government when it comes to rural areas of the country…
As the Prime Minster marked one year in office last week, he publicly acknowledged that rural communities deserve fairness in the way they are funded. Fellow Conservative MP, Simon Hoare (North Devon) asked the Prime Minster during a debate in the House of Commons, if the government will use the forthcoming Autumn Statement to address the inequalities in funding between rural and urban areas.
Also, last week rural MPs were out in force in Westminster Hall for a debate on rural post offices. Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale, Lib Dem) told MPs it is not just post offices in decline:
“It is worth bearing in mind that our banks have pretty much vacated our towns, villages, high streets and communities over the past few years. They must have saved themselves hundreds of millions of pounds in salaries, upkeep and all the rest of it. Does my hon. Friend agree that the banks should be forced by the Government to pay a far higher fee to post offices, so they can be sustainable in the long run, perhaps even becoming a front for all Government activity in their communities?”
And finally, last week the much-anticipated Levelling Up & Regeneration Bill received Royal Assent. The expected game of Ping-Pong between Houses never occurred and most of the government’s changes to the Lord’s amendments were accepted when the Bill returned to the Lords for approval. Several MPs spoke up on behalf of rural constituents. These included St Ives MP, Derek Thomas who, through his role as Chair of the APPG for Rural Services, has worked with RSN to ensure rural communities are fully represented:
Harcombe
“I am grateful to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the departmental team for their engagement with me. My right hon. Friend assures me that, rather than accept the Lords amendment, the Government will give greater force to the commitment to level up, and that they will be obliged to consider economic, social and other outcomes in setting up levelling-up missions, including the specific needs of rural communities. I welcome the acknowledgement that rural communities have a specific case worthy of consideration.”
As the CEO of the RSN said:
Whilst I am disappointed that the Bill did not go further to protect rural areas in Levelling Up, pragmatically, this is a win. The government is waking up to the fact that 40% of constituencies are rural and these votes will be crucial to winning the next election. Rural can no longer be overlooked.
