Rural communities ‘excluded by design’ from UK Government scheme – Plaid Cymru
UK Government minister responds saying it is investing in rural communities, including Somerset and Wiltshire
Plaid Cymru MP for Ynys Môn, Llinos Medi, has criticised the UK Government’s Pride in Place scheme for “excluding rural communities by design” during a debate in the House of Commons.
Llinos Medi MP raised the issue while questioning the Government on its up-to-£5 billion, 10-year Pride in Place programme. The scheme proposes that MPs and councillors join neighbourhood boards to develop local regeneration strategies in partnership with town halls.
The main programme will provide up to £20 million over ten years to 250 “hyper-local” neighbourhoods of around 10,000 people each, identified using Office for National Statistics data on deprivation and community need.
In Ms Medi’s constituency of Ynys Môn, only Holyhead meets this population threshold, highlighting the limited reach of the programme in rural areas, particularly in Wales.
The UK Government Minister responded that the UK Government is “investing in rural communities – whether in Somerset, Wiltshire, or elsewhere”.
Speaking in the Commons, Llinos Medi MP said:
“The Government is presenting the Pride in Place programme as a win for communities across the UK. But the focus of this particular scheme is on neighbourhoods of around 10,000 people.
“On Ynys Môn, only one town even meets that population threshold. This isn’t unique to my constituency – it’s the case across much of Wales.
“Can the Minister explain why rural communities are being excluded by design from this specific programme?”
In response, the Minister said:
“Madam Deputy Speaker, we are investing in rural communities – whether in Somerset, Wiltshire, or elsewhere.
“We’ve used clear metrics based on deprivation and the Community Needs Index to focus on the areas that need it most.
“But as I’ve said, this is part of a bigger strategy: empowering communities to reclaim their high streets, supporting local government investment, and working with regional mayors to drive economic prosperity. There is a broader plan to invest in all parts of the country.”
When the UK Government first made the announcement, Plaid Cymru Council Leaders Darren Price (Carmarthenshire), Bryan Davies (Ceredigion), Nia Jeffreys (Gwynedd), and Gary Pritchard (Anglesey) said:
“Any funding for communities across Wales is welcome, but it is clear this does not stem from an understanding of Wales’ needs. It is a political panic button pushed by Labour ahead of a difficult election. The people of Wales can see through that – they have already seen that Labour has deserted its values and turned its back on promises to deliver fair funding for Welsh communities.
“This Pride in Place programme specifically targets neighbourhoods with populations of around 10,000, of which there are only a handful in the four western local authorities we control. This approach highlights the Labour Government’s continued disregard for our rural communities that have been disproportionately underfunded over the years, with countless areas across Wales falling below this threshold and missing out on much needed support.
“This Labour Government is taking local authorities in Wales for a ride – from failing to cover employer National Insurance contributions in the public sector, to keeping councils in the dark about why they are not eligible for funding under the Pride in Place programme. These are the very local authorities that fund our schools, provide social care for our loved ones, and maintain our public spaces and facilities. This is not a government serious about delivering real change on the ground.”