LABOUR HAS FAILED RURAL COMMUNITIES - HUHNE

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 17th Jul 2007

Labour policies have left many rural communities with no access to essential services like banks.

Commenting on the State of Rural Communities report published today, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defra Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:

"This report shows that ten years of Labour policies have failed rural communities. Many areas have no access to essential services such as GP surgeries, banks and post offices.

"It is no surprise that young people have been leaving the countryside. They are being forced out by the Government's failure to provide more affordable homes, with average rural house prices now over £40,000 more than in urban areas.

"The Government must work to reverse the damage it has done and ensure our villages and market towns become sustainable communities. That means building more affordable homes and investing in better services for local people."