25 Jan 2026
25 January 2026 – BBC Politics South
RSN Chief Executive Kerry Booth appeared on BBC Politics South to discuss the provisional local government finance settlement, alongside representatives from Oxfordshire County Council and Hampshire County Council — both RSN members. The discussion explored how the settlement affects rural councils on the ground, including concerns around funding fairness, spending power and the pressures facing local services. The segment starts at around 15 minutes 30 seconds and is available to watch online until 23 February 2026.
21 January 2026 – Room 151 Local Government Finance
Room151 contacted RSN for comment on the Local Government Finance Settlement. Kerry Booth, RSN Chief Executive provided an interview and analysis. RSN Members Shropshire Council, Rutland Council and Herefordshire Council also contributed to the piece. The article focused on the impact of the settlement on rural authorities, including disparities in government-funded spending power, increased reliance on council tax in rural areas, the removal of the Rural Services Delivery Grant, and concerns about how remoteness and sparsity are treated within the new funding formula.
Read the article here. (Subscription required)
21 January 2026 – UK Parliament
In two related House of Lords written questions, Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick asked about the potential impact of switching off digital terrestrial television on viewers in Northern Ireland, including access to UK and Irish public service broadcasting and the effects on older people, disabled people and low-income households.
Responding for the Government, Baroness Twycross said work is under way to assess the future of TV distribution beyond 2034 and confirmed that the Rural Services Network was among organisations contributing to stakeholder discussions, alongside the Digital Poverty Alliance. She stated that close consideration will be given to the impact of any changes on vulnerable audiences before decisions are made.
Read the Parliamentary Questions and answers here and here.
20 January 2026 – UK Parliament
During House of Lords Committee stage debates on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, peers highlighted the importance of ensuring devolution reforms reflect rural circumstances, including funding pressures, service delivery costs and geographic inequality. The Rural Services Network was referenced in the wider context of rural and place-based disparities, with RSN supporting rural-focused amendments aimed at strengthening recognition of rural needs within future devolution and planning arrangements.
Read the debate transcript here.
Find out more about the proposed amendments in our Rural Bulletin article here.
16 January 2026 – Kevin Hollinrake MP
In a commentary on national funding decisions, Kevin Hollinrake MP argued that rural areas continue to lose out. The piece reflects ongoing concerns raised by the Rural Services Network about systemic underfunding of rural councils and services.
15 January 2026 – Shropshire Council Newsroom
Shropshire Council highlighted the scale of financial pressures facing the authority following a disappointing provisional funding settlement. Council Leader Heather Kidd confirmed the council is working with its MPs and the Rural Services Network to lobby for fairer funding, warning that current plans would leave less money to protect essential services in a rural county.
9 January 2026 – UK Parliament
During a Westminster Hall debate focused primarily on cancer treatment, MPs also raised wider rural and place-based inequalities in access to services. The Rural Services Network received a name-check in the context of postcode-lottery provision and the additional barriers faced by people living in rural areas.
Read the debate transcript here.
7 January 2026 – UK Parliament
In a Westminster Hall debate on Rural Fuel Duty Relief, MP Ian Roome cited research from the Rural Services Network highlighting that poor public transport in highly rural areas forces households to spend around £400 more per year on transport. The evidence was used to support calls for extending fuel duty relief to more rural communities.
