This Budget proves rural Britain is an afterthought
When I wrote previously about what a Budget that genuinely delivers for rural Britain should look like, I did so with cautious optimism. Rural communities have endured years of neglect, and there was hope that a new government might finally recognise both the contribution and the challenges of the countryside. But after hearing the Chancellor’s latest Budget, it is difficult to feel anything other than disappointment. This was a botched Budget: one where the Chancellor diagnosed the disease but refused to administer the cure.
Rachel Reeves opened her speech by accusing the Conservatives of leaving the regions behind. But after an hour of declarations and polished rhetoric, it became clear that her own Budget offered precious little to rural Britain. Wiltshire did not feature at all, and the few references to the South West focused almost entirely on mayoral authorities and cities. Wiltshire is not part of a Mayoral Authority, and it is deeply disappointing that the Budget offered so little for the towns and villages I represent.
There were, admittedly, moments that gave a glimmer of hope. Extending the bus fare cap and freezing rail fares will bring some relief to those who depend on public transport. Yet these gestures hardly amount to a strategy. They are, at best, small comforts during a much deeper crisis continuing to rumble on in rural transport.
Take the rail fare freeze. Even with fares frozen, my constituents commuting to London still face the staggering cost of a £12,760 annual season ticket. This is an eye-watering sum for someone simply trying to get to work. If the Government were serious about addressing the cost of living or fostering economic growth, it would have confronted the extortionate cost of train travel that has become an accepted, yet wholly unacceptable, norm. Freezing fares after years of relentless increases does not undo the damage; it merely halts the bleeding.
But the most glaring failure of this Budget is not in what it did, but in what it refused to attempt. Once again, the South West was left almost entirely unmentioned. There was no meaningful support for family farms on the brink. This is despite farming being the beating heart of Wiltshire’s economy. Rather than address farmers’ concerns head on, the Chancellor chose to tinker around the edges.
Agriculture was not the only area left in the dark. Rural transport, already fragile and unreliable in many places, saw nothing that would improve connections between the towns and villages that have been crying out for investment. For too many families in Wiltshire, a missed bus is not just an inconvenience. It can mean missed doctors’ appointments, difficulties getting to work, and an increasing sense that the country is moving on without them.
This persistent neglect is not only disappointing, but also profoundly disheartening for communities that have endured years of being taken for granted. Many hoped that a Labour government would break this cycle. Instead, with two Budgets now delivered, it is becoming clear that rural Britain remains an afterthought.
If the Government is serious about raising revenue, it should not fall disproportionately on working families, pensioners or small businesses in the countryside. If they set out a clear road map to growth, as part of a vision for the future we can all get behind, then most people would find tax increases more palatable. My party has been clear that there are fairer, more economically sensible ways to fund public services and invest in the nation’s future.
The most significant step the Government could take to boost growth would be to repair the £90 billion Brexit black hole by negotiating a bespoke customs union with the European Union. Restoring frictionless trade with our closest neighbours would ease pressures on businesses and open new opportunities for rural exporters.
In addition, a windfall tax on the profits of big banks could generate billions without burdening ordinary households. Increasing the Digital Services Tax on tech giants, who currently contribute only a fraction of what they should, would raise further revenue. A rise in the Remote Gaming Duty levied on online gambling companies would also contribute. These measures are fair, focused and grounded in economic reality. And unlike the Government’s approach, they do not ask rural communities to shoulder an ever-growing share of the tax burden.
Rural Britain has been patient for far too long. It has endured neglect from governments of different colours, each professing commitment while consistently failing to deliver. But rural communities do not exist on the periphery. They are vibrant, hardworking and essential to the economy and to Britain’s food security. It is long past time for a Budget that recognises that reality and delivers accordingly.
Sarah Gibson is the Liberal Democrat MP for Chippenham.
