The Conservative Group on Lincolnshire County Council has today condemned the Chancellor’s Spending Review as a “direct betrayal of rural Lincolnshire”, warning that the Government is prioritising city spending while pushing rural councils closer to the financial crisis.
Despite a headline increase in national spending, the 2025 Review falls short of delivering fair support for rural areas. Conservative councillors argue that the Government’s plans strip vital support from services such as buses, SEND, and social care, forcing local taxpayers to pay more while receiving less in return.
“This Spending Review rewards urban areas and abandons rural ones,” said Cllr Richard Davies, Leader of the LCC Conservative Group.
“Lincolnshire faces higher costs, longer distances and unique pressures, yet the Government has ripped away rural funding and told us to make do.”
Rural Disadvantage Laid Bare:
- Transport inequality: Just £2.3 billion has been earmarked for areas outside England’s major cities, while £15.6 billion goes to urban transport schemes. There’s no ringfence for rural counties like Lincolnshire.
- Bus funding failure: New analysis reveals that rural counties have experienced an 18% decline in bus mileage since 2019, surpassing any other part of England.
- Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) timebomb ignored: No resolution was offered on the looming £2.7 billion SEND deficit, set to explode in March 2026 when the accounting override ends.
- Rural Services Delivery Grant axed: Despite high delivery costs in rural areas, the Government has removed targeted rural support, compounding the pressures on councils like Lincolnshire.
- Council tax squeeze: The Review assumes maximum local tax hikes of 4.99% yet fails to match this with rural grant support. This leaves county councils to balance the books with deeper cuts and higher council tax increases.
“This is a double blow,” said Cllr Davies. “They’re stripping away rural funding and assuming we’ll make it up through council tax. That’s not fair funding; it’s abdication of responsibility.”
A Crossroads for Rural Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire alone has lost over £14 million in dedicated rural funding this year, and received nothing in return. While cities see record investment, our buses are cut, our costs rise, and our residents are asked to pay more. The LCC Conservative Group is demanding:
- The reinstatement of the Rural Services Delivery Grant.
- A rural minimum share of the £2.3 billion local transport fund.
- Immediate national action on the SEND funding crisis before 2026.
- A clear rural funding formula in future Spending Reviews and Budgets.
“We are Conservatives, but that does not mean we are silent when Government policy fails our residents,” said Cllr Davies.
“Rural Lincolnshire must not be ignored. We urge our Lincolnshire MPs to stand up, speak out, and secure a fair deal for our county.”