MP urges Government to prioritise rural services in 2026
A Shropshire MP has set out her key priorities for the year ahead, as Parliament returns this week following the Christmas recess.
Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, said she would continue to focus on the issues that matter most to residents in the rural constituency such as healthcare, transport, connectivity and backing local businesses.
Helen was due to lead the first Parliamentary debate of the year on Monday evening (5th January) on rural mobile phone connectivity. The MP has previously called for an end to mobile ‘not-spots’ and faster broadband for homes and businesses.
Helen said: “We know that the needs of North Shropshire can be all too easily forgotten by Westminster so my focus will be to fight for the services and infrastructure our communities need to thrive.”
On transport, Helen said she was determined to reverse years of underinvestment in rural services, by continuing to call for the reopening of the Oswestry to Gobowen rail link, a vital connection for jobs and education, step-free access at Whitchurch Station and campaigning for fair funding to restore local bus services that have seen severe cuts in recent years.
She is also demanding action on the dangerous A483 and Llynclys Crossroads, and said she would continue to press the Government to commit funds this year for urgent improvements to make the route safer.
At a public meeting called by the MP in November, National Highways confirmed it was putting forward plans for a roundabout at Llynclys, but that funding would need to be made available in the Government’s next Road Investment Strategy, due to announced in the spring.
Helen added that she would continue her campaign to tackle unacceptable A&E, cancer and GP appointment waiting times and to increase access to NHS dentistry.
The MP also wants to see the Government do more to support farmers and local businesses that are so important to the economy in Shropshire but have been struggling to survive due to tax hikes and botched trade deals inflicted by successive Westminster governments.
Helen added: “I want to see a thriving North Shropshire where people can rely on their local hospital, travel safely to their local high street and pub and stay connected wherever they live. These aren’t luxuries, they’re basic services that every community should have and that’s what I’ll be banging the drum for in the coming weeks and months.”
