THE MP for the South Cotswolds has said that her party will ‘hold the government’s feet to the fire’ on the recently-announced budget.

Roz Savage said that extra NHS funding announced in the budget must deliver improved health services for people in the area, including through extra GP, NHS dentist and mental health appointments.

She said that her party, the Liberal Democrats, will ‘hold the government’s feet to the fire’ on delivering on its promises on the NHS.

She added that fixing social care will be crucial to take pressure off local health services and give older people the care they need.

The budget was unveiled by Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Wednesday, October 30.

Responding to the budget, Roz said: “I have consistently campaigned for more investment in our local health services, so I am glad the Chancellor has finally listened.

“The Liberal Democrats will now be holding the government’s feet to the fire on the promises they’ve made so people here in the South Cotswolds can finally see a GP, dentist or mental health professional when they need to.

“Sadly, the new government has repeated the Conservatives' mistake of neglecting social care.

“We urgently need cross-party talks to tackle this crisis so older people stranded in hospital beds can finally get the care and dignity they deserve.

“I am also very concerned about the impact of the government’s increase to employers’ National Insurance, which is a tax on jobs that will hit our small businesses and high streets while also meaning that our local councils have even less money to spend on essential public services.

“The government should instead be raising the money we need by reversing tax cuts for the big banks and asking the social media giants to pay a bit more.”

Dr Savage went on to say that changes to agricultural property relief ‘could result in the breaking-up or sale of farms that have been in the same family for generations’.

“My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I will be scrutinising these changes in Parliament and fighting tooth and nail to make sure that no family farm receives a hammer blow through these changes,” she said.

“At the last election, Liberal Democrats backed British farmers by demanding an extra £1 billion to support them, and we’ll keep being a strong voice for our rural communities.”

She added: “I’m bringing the Climate and Nature Bill to Parliament as a Private Members’ bill because I believe that the nature crisis should be our top priority - impacting as it does on food production, flooding and climate change mitigation - so I was very disappointed that nature restoration didn’t get a single mention.

“It is also incredibly disappointing to see this new government push ahead with cuts to the Winter Fuel allowance - which will badly impact some of the most vulnerable pensioners in our community - the rise in the bus fare cap from £2 to £3 and the failure to tackle the long delays in SEND provision.

“We desperately need bolder action and a braver vision from this new government if we are to get this country back on track for a brighter, fairer, more prosperous future for the South Cotswolds and the rest of Britain.”