Stop treating rural Britain like a museum

Rishi Sunak has been accused of neglecting rural areas in his Budget. Photo: James Hardisty.

THE 2021 Budget shows the Government has no plan to create prosperity in rural areas. The Chancellor said his Budget was ‘fit for a new age of optimism’, but for those of us living in the countryside there was little new to get excited about.

All too often, when Government talks about the countryside, it does so in the context of keeping it the same. There is never a focus on what the countryside could be – a vibrant part of the economy that creates jobs and encourages entrepreneurship, all the while building affordable homes and strong communities.

Why Yorkshire’s rural economy matters and deserves better – The Yorkshire Post says

The rural economy is 18 per cent less productive than the national average, largely due to poor infrastructure, poor skills provision and an outdated planning regime. Often house prices are beyond the reach of local people, many of whom up sticks and move to the city taking their talents and potential with them.

Rishi Sunak has been accused of neglecting rural areas in his Budget.

Rural areas can boost economy if they receive fairer funding – The Yorkshire Post says

As a consequence, under-employment and deprivation take root while schools, pubs, churches and shops close down to the detriment of village, and perhaps national life.

But if the Government brought its ‘levelling up’ agenda to the countryside and focused on reducing the productivity gap, up to £43bn could be added to the economy. In turn, hundreds of thousands of good jobs could be created, affordable homes could be built and our often-forgotten rural communities could quickly be restored.

Stop treating rural Britain like a museum – Victoria Vyvyan