THE MP for Frome and East Somerset has said the government have ignored rural areas like the South West after the Spending Review was unveiled.

Anna Sabine MP (Liberal Democrats) said that the government were prioritising urban areas, and failing to provide additional investment for the local area.

Ms Sabine welcomed the investment into the NHS and social care that was announced in the Spending Review, although some of this is not expected for three years.

The South West will also receive £752-million in investment for transport improvements, but Ms Sabine is concerned that this is focused more so on the greater Bristol area.

One other area of concern for the MP was Project Gigabit, a project seeking to bring superfast broadband to rural communities. This is because the deadline for spending the remaining £1.9 billion for the project was pushed back to 2032.

Anna Sabine said: “I recognise the struggle that the government faces after years of neglect by the Conservatives, but the chancellor cannot talk of growth and sustainability for our population and continue to ignore the South West.

“Our farmers are ready and willing to produce food, but are continuously undermined by a slashing of resources, our bus networks, where even in existence, are crumbling and our hospitals and social care providers are struggling.

“If we want to see economic stability, we must support our population in their health and in their access to services and jobs. The South-West has enormous potential to provide for our country but the government seems intent on cutting us off at our knees.

“The chancellor spoke today of the priorities of the working people, but the residents of Frome and East Somerset are ready to work and prosper, and are being curtailed by a lack of funding and support which we crucially need”.