Wiltshire MP wants education "postcode lottery" addressed by new PM
Sarah Gibson says current funding formula's leave Wiltshire students at a disadvantage
The MP for Chippenham says she wants new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to address funding formula's for education that she says are leaving students in Wiltshire at a disadvantage.
Sarah Gibson, who also represents Calne, Corsham, Lyneham and Royal Wootton Bassett, described it as a "postcode lottery".
Mr Burnham, who took over from Sir Kier Starmer as PM on Monday (20/7), is yet to unveil his full plans for the UK, but has pledged a 10-year-plan for change.
But Ms Gibson says he must prioritise ending the assumption that rural counties can keep doing more with less.
Wiltshire is currently ranked 23rd lowest for mainstream school funding and 25th lowest for SEND education, with the overall high needs funding 70% lower than some London boroughs.
Ms Gibson said: "Children in Wiltshire are judged by the same national standards, but their schools and support services are expected to deliver with far fewer resources. And this same problem affects transport, health and local government.
"Rural services are more difficult and more expensive to provide because the communities are spread across much greater distances. Yet funding formulas are far too often densely populated urban areas and they favour those."
Devolution must cater for all
The new PM has spoken of his ambition to devolve power.
Ms Gibson says she's "long supported" calls for devolution, insisting that decision should be made by those in communities that stand to be affected.
But she warned that "badly designed devolution" could be a major threat to rural counties.
"We must not simply move power out of Westminster and concentrate it in a distant regional mayoralty where the priorities of larger areas are dominating those of our rural communities. A model built around dense urban areas will not automatically work for a large rural county with market towns, villages and communities spread across considerable distances," the Lib Dem said.
She added that devolution must have "fair representation and long-term funding", otherwise she fears a lack of decisions and paying more for less.
Ms Gibson said: "This is an opportunity to think strategically in terms of regional transport, growth areas and catchment areas for flood protection. We really do have a good opportunity and we need to make sure that they get it right."
Many areas need attention
Ms Gibson highlighted several other key areas that Mr Burnham must address during his time in office, including NHS, cost-of-living & rebuilding confidence in public services.
She said it is vital that people are able to get GP and dentist appointments, while also having security at home with bills and being able to trust that public services are working for people's best interests.
"Mr. Burnham also needs a serious plan for growth that supports small businesses, farming, British industry and rural economies across the whole country.
"Along with my Liberal Democrat colleagues, I will work constructively with the government where it gets things right.
"But I am also going to be holding Mr Burnham to account and challenging any unfair funding to make sure that Wiltshire communities are heard right from the very start."