Labour’s Decision to Scrap Rural Council Support is a Betrayal of Our Communities
As a Conservative Campaigner and Deputy Chair Political for Cumbria Conservatives, I am deeply concerned about Labour’s reckless decision to abolish the Rural Services Delivery Grant (RSDG) from the 2025-26 financial year.
This funding has been a lifeline for rural councils like ours, helping to manage the higher costs of delivering essential services in sparsely populated areas.
Labour’s decision will have devastating consequences.
Our Cumbrian rural councils face unique challenges—maintaining extensive road networks, providing social care to ageing populations, and supporting isolated communities. The RSDG acknowledged these extra costs, and its removal feels like a betrayal of fairness and equity.
The decision to scrap this vital funding risks leaving rural communities like ours out in the cold. It’s not just about money; it’s about the future of families and businesses across Cumbria. We already pay more for less, and this will only make things worse.
In 2024-25, the RSDG provided £110 million to rural councils across England to support public transport, social care, and road maintenance. Losing this funding will force councils to either cut these critical services or raise council tax. That means even more financial pressure on hardworking rural families who are already grappling with higher living costs.
Rural communities are the backbone of our nation, yet they are constantly overlooked. This decision will widen the gap between rural and urban areas, leaving our communities to fend for themselves. I refuse to let that happen.
I pledge to work with my Conservative colleagues to press the Government to replace this funding with a mechanism that truly recognises the unique challenges of rural areas.
This isn’t just about politics; it’s about people. I will keep fighting to ensure rural communities like ours are properly supported. Labour’s neglect will not go unchallenged, and the Liberals’ silence on these issues speaks volumes.
If you share my concerns about the future of our rural communities, please get in touch. Together, we can make sure our voices are heard.
