Government Policy 2026
10 Nov 2026
£40 Million GP Programme Aims To Keep Vulnerable Patients Well This Winter
Extra support from GP teams could help vulnerable patients avoid hospital this winter, with important implications for rural communities where accessing care can involve long journeys. The government and NHS...
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10 Nov 2026
New Visitor Levy Powers Proposed To Support Local Tourism
The Visitor Levy Bill, introduced in Parliament on 4 November, would give mayors and strategic authority leaders the option to introduce a charge on overnight accommodation. Money raised would remain...
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10 Nov 2026
NHS Reforms: Keeping Local Needs In Focus
The NHS bodies that plan and fund local health services are cutting staff and reorganising. A new National Audit Office (NAO) report asks whether they will retain the expertise needed...
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03 Nov 2026
Budget Promises Growth In Every Postcode, But Will It Reach Rural Communities?
The Budget offers opportunities for rural homes, businesses and services. The next test is whether funding and delivery reflect the realities of rural life. The Government’s promise of “good growth...
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28 Oct 2026
Initial Response To Budget Energy And Cost Of Living Support Announced
A joint statement from the Rural Services Network (RSN) and Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE). We welcome the £100 household energy payment and recognise the help it will...
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27 Oct 2026
Rural Homelessness Must Not Be Overlooked In Rough Sleeping Plans
The government has announced an extra £432 million to tackle rough sleeping in England. As support expands, rural communities must be included, alongside action to prevent people losing their homes....
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27 Oct 2026
New Powers Proposed To Protect Rural Social Homes
Councils in England would be able to designate eligible rural areas for protection from Right to Buy themselves, under proposed government amendments to the Social Housing Bill. The change would...
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27 Oct 2026
Investment Rules Shake-Up: What Could It Mean For Rural Communities?
The Government has announced changes to how public investment is assessed, allowing linked projects in an area to be considered together. The reforms to the Green Book, the framework used...
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27 Oct 2026
CQC Warns Of Care Pressures And Inequalities
Growing demand, financial pressures and changes in the social care market risk leaving people without the support they need, according to a new report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC)....
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20 Oct 2026
Rural Voice Must Be Built Into Devolution, Report Warns
Devolution could bring significant benefits to rural England, but fair funding and stronger rural representation must be part of its foundations, a new report warns. Published by the All-Party Parliamentary...
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