Stuart Anderson MP has urged the Chancellor of the Exchequer to deliver fairer funding for public services in rural areas like South Shropshire ahead of the Autumn Budget on 26th November 2025.
In his letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Stuart has said that public services in South Shropshire - including West Mercia Police and Shropshire Fire Brigade - are not being sufficiently supported by the government.
West Mercia Police recently revealed a £8 million shortfall in funding due to statutory employment costs. This includes April's hike in National Insurance Contributions, which more than outstripped the increase in funding available.
In April, West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion announced that 12 new police officers will be recruited. The Commissioner added that 19 officers will be moved from "back-office roles" on to the frontline and replaced by new civilian staff.
In August, new figures showed that police numbers have dropped by more than a thousand officers over the past year, while the number of new recruits has plummeted more than a quarter.
Meanwhile, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service has said that proposed reforms to council tax will lead to further reductions in local services and potentially firefighter numbers.
The Service has added that the changes could result in a real term cut in grant funding of £102 million nationally for standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities, such as Shropshire and Wrekin over the next three years.
As part of his campaign to enhance public services, Stuart has consistently called for a rural uplift in local government funding that recognises the extra challenges involved in delivering services in remote communities.
The County Councils Network has repeatedly warned that the new rules could "overcompensate" more urban areas, as there is little evidence that deprivation is the main driver for services other than social care.
Additionally, Stuart has renewed his campaign for the extension of the Safer Streets Fund, as the Government's Safer Streets Summer Initiative ended in September.
Independent evaluations of the Safer Streets Fund showed that these interventions had boosted trust in local policing - with over £150 million invested in more than 400 projects between 2020 and 2024.
Stuart has consistently called for the Fund to be reinstated and expanded to include rural priorities - enabling police forces to invest in equipment such as torches and lamps, drone kits, and cameras.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"Ahead of the Autumn Budget, I have urged the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to deliver fairer funding for rural public services in South Shropshire. Financial pressures on our local fire and police services have been worsened by the £25 billion Jobs Tax. Planned reforms to council tax funding could add fuel to the fire, making delivering services in rural areas even more challenging. Now that the Government's summer blitz on anti-social behaviour has finished, longer term investment must also be made to improve community safety. So, I have called for the Safer Streets Fund to be reinstated with a focus on rural priorities."
Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said:
“I’m grateful to Stuart for speaking out and standing up for policing in West Mercia. As the public’s voice in policing, I’ve consistently highlighted the financial pressures facing West Mercia Police. With current funding levels falling short of what’s needed to meet growing demands, the Government must change course - otherwise, the thin blue line will be stretched even thinner.”
Chief Fire Officer Simon Hardiman said:
"I would like to thank Stuart for supporting Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service in delivering excellent services to our communities. To achieve this, adequate funding is critical to enable us to meet current and future demand."
