An MP says she wants to shape government policies to ensure that rural areas are not left disadvantaged.
Julia Buckley set up the Labour Rural Research Group, MPs from the party that lobby the government on issues affecting rural areas.
They are due to publish a report into issues they face – among them is a lack of public transport – as well as introduce a “fairer funding 2.0” policy for the running costs faced by rural councils.
The Shrewsbury MP told the BBC: “It’s kind of new territory for Labour, so I’m doing quite a lot of work with my colleagues to show the leadership and the cabinet the kind of issues that we have and the kind of policies that we need.”
“This Labour government represents over 100 rural constituencies.
“Sixty-five thousand of my residents live in the town of Shrewsbury, and then I have this beautiful rural hinterland with all my villages and my 350 farmers,” she said.
“We’ve formed a bit of a caucus to say, ‘Actually, there are quite a lot of us, and you need to listen to us because sometimes our needs are a bit different from the big cities.'”
Buckley said although some needs are the same as those in big cities, including access to dentists and doctors, there were differences in issues like public transport.
“People think public transport is for towns and cities; that’s just because they’ve got more of it,” she said.
“It disproportionately affects my constituents who live out in the villages and can’t get in to access services because of all those bus services that were cut.”
Buckley added that she hoped the “fairer funding 2.0” policy would lead to a “change in formula” of the way grants are allocated.
“We’re a quarter of the parliamentary Labour party, so I think we’re really starting to cut through; we’ve got quite a strong voice around the table.”
“Our job is to make sure we shape those policies so that rural areas really benefit.”
The government has faced criticism from political opponents over its approach to rural issues, especially the plan to extend inheritance tax on family farms.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has described the government changes to inheritance tax for farmers as “immoral”.
Speaking on a visit to a farm in Bangor, County Down, earlier this year, she called the tax rise a “family farms tax” and urged for it to be reversed.
Buckley told the BBC the group was “still in dialogue” with the government on the issue: “We’re trying to bring forward some amendments on behalf of my farmers,” she said.
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