Claire Young MP: Spring Statement a ‘missed opportunity for change’

Responding to the Spending Review, Liberal Democrat MP for Thornbury & Yate Claire Young has criticised the Government for neglecting farming, policing, and local rail services – saying that more needs to be done to deliver real change for people.

This spending review was a crucial opportunity to back rural communities, but instead, it looks like farmers are going to be short-changed again with cuts to their incomes for nature-friendly farming, combined with real-terms cuts to the DEFRA budget.

The announcement also posed questions about the safety of local communities, with reports that even the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has admitted that the police funding outlined won’t deliver the extra police officers that the Government promised.

And despite strong campaigning from Claire Young over several months, the Chancellor did not announce funding to extend the provision of half-hourly trains via Yate.

Commenting, Claire Young MP said:

“The Spring Statement was a missed opportunity for change. Instead of supporting our farmers, police officers, and local rail services, Rachel Reeves chose to hide behind big headline figures to try to distract from the real damage she was doing.

“Far from being a ‘renewal’, this was yet more of the same – with tax rises looming just over the horizon.

“Our communities and shop workers are already struggling with a lack of police officers on our streets, and hardworking farmers are worried about the future with projected cuts to the funding that helps them farm sustainably.

“I am particularly disappointed that there was no announcement to extend the funding for half-hourly trains via Yate, which is something I have been repeatedly pushing for. Without this funding passengers will be left facing overcrowded trains and the new Charfield station will lack services.

“It is undeniable that the previous Conservative government left our economy in tatters. But now Labour is failing to deliver the change that people here in Thornbury & Yate are desperately crying out for. We deserve so much better.

“Alongside my Liberal Democrat colleagues, I will continue to campaign for a fairer deal for our area and to ensure the Government live up to their promises.”