Steve Darling urges chancellor to budget better for Devon

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is being urged to do more to help Devon’s hospitals, households and small businesses in this week’s much-anticipated budget.

Torbay’s Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling has sent the Labour chancellor a ‘shopping list’ of reminders not to neglect some of the Devon’s most pressing issues.

He said local people are ‘deeply concerned’ that £350 million of funding earmarked for Torbay Hospital is under threat.

He said: “It is the third oldest in the country and is in dire need of support. A staggering 80 per cent of the estate has been deemed poor or unsatisfactory, and our hospital has faced nearly 700 sewage leaks, disrupting clinical services – delaying operations and impacting patient care”

And, he said, the cost-of-living crisis had been hitting Torbay particularly hard, with child poverty higher than the UK and South West averages.

He added: “It is disheartening to see the winter fuel allowance removed just before the cold months, leaving many pensioners to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table. I urge you to reconsider this decision.”

Mr Darling also said the previous Conservative government’s ‘failure’ to overhaul business rates had left small businesses in real difficulty.

“Torbay deserves vibrant, bustling high streets, and our small businesses are the backbone of our community,” he said. “They need our support now more than ever.

“I urge you to consider these vital issues in the upcoming budget. Torbay is counting on your leadership to pave the way for a brighter future.”