The MP for Brecon and Radnorshire has called on the UK Government to prioritise growth in rural areas like her constituency ahead of tomorrow’s Budget announcement.

Fay Jones has described the autumn Budget, which is set to be announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer tomorrow - Wednesday October 27, as “crucial” for the area’s recovery from Coronavirus.

The MP has urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to include measures in his spending plans which will benefit rural areas like Brecon and Radnorshire.

Members of Parliament use the period in the run up to the Budget to lobby for financial support for specific projects.

Ms Jones has joined with colleagues on the English border in a joint call for a funding pot to restore the health of the River Wye. She has also lent her support to Powys County Council’s bid for support from the Levelling Up Fund.

In last year’s Budget, Ms Jones secured £30 million of funding for the Global Centre for Rail Excellence in Coelbren near Ystradgynlais. This year, the MP said she is calling on the UK Government to bring the Levelling Up agenda to mid Wales and “finally give young people in rural areas the jobs and opportunities they need’.

Ms Jones said: “Next week’s Budget is going to be crucial for our recovery from the Coronarvirus. It will have Levelling Up at its very core and Brecon and Radnorshire needs to benefit from that.

“We already know this is a wonderful place to live but our young people suffer from the lack of jobs and affordable housing. Stimulating the rural economy, which is heavily reliant on tourism and agriculture, can change that permanently.

“The Chancellor represents a rural area like Brecon and Radnorshire. Throughout the entire Covid pandemic, he has acted quickly and decisively – providing imaginative ways to support and stimulate the economy.

“Last year, the constituency benefited from direct UK Government investment. I am enormously grateful for this game-changing support. But we have an enormous structural problems that the Welsh Labour government is not tackling.

“Whether its funding to restore the health of the River Wye or giving the green light to our bid for Levelling Up funding, we need every possible chance to recover from the pandemic and to create the life chances that our young people need.”

The Welsh Government has been contacted for a comment on Ms Jones claims that it has not been tackling the “enormous structural problems”.

Last Monday, October 18, the Welsh Government’s Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “The Welsh Government is taking bold action to build a stronger, fairer, greener Welsh economy. It has taken a Team Wales effort to keep Wales safe and we will deliver a Team Wales Recovery, built by all of us.

“A strong Welsh recovery will be based on the principles of fair work and sustainability as we invest in the industries and services of the future.

“As we face the headwinds of Brexit, I am determined that our credible plans will offer as much certainty as possible to help businesses plan ahead.

“A new era of partnership for stronger regions, a young person’s guarantee, a plan to back our everyday economy and collaboration with world leading, advanced manufacturing. This is the cause for optimism for the future we are building in Wales.

“My ambition is to make Wales a place where more young people feel confident in planning their future here. You don’t have to get out to get on, make your future here in Wales.”

On September 7, the Chancellor launched Spending Review 2021 which will conclude on October 27 alongside the autumn Budget.

The spending review will set out the UK Government’s spending priorities for Parliament.

The three-year-review will set the government department’s resource and capital budgets for 2022-23 to 2024-25 and the devolved administration’s block grants for the same period of time.

When Mr Sunak announced the date of the autumn budget last month, he said that the government has “continued to deliver on the priorities of the British people” despite the worst economic recession in 300 years.

He said: “Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve delivered on an unprecedented scale to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods.

“Despite the worst economic recession in 300 years, we have not only got people back into work through the Plan for Jobs but continued to deliver on the priorities of the British people.

“At the Spending Review later this year, I will set out how we will continue to invest in public services and drive growth while keeping the public finances on a sustainable path.”