Decisions made in Parliament by people who have – to their loss – spent far less time in the constituency than myself can feel distant from our own lives. Having listened to the Chancellor set out plans for government spending across the UK on Wednesday, I’ll try to give a realistic interpretation of what these announcements mean for Crewe and Nantwich. 

In all honesty, the statement did not cover everything that I would have liked it to, but there is a lot to celebrate, and I am hopeful there will be more clarity on outstanding topics in the coming weeks. 

Housing  

On housing, Labour have allocated £39 billion for social and affordable developments. This represents a near doubling of current spending on affordable housing. This money will be spent over 10 years for local authorities, private developers and housing associations. 

Alongside the changes already made – like renter’s reform and the removal of red tape – this will mean that we’ll get more, better quality housing in Crewe and Nantwich. It also gives the Council the necessary support to meet national targets, with Cheshire East Council required to build 2,461 extra homes a year. 

Healthcare 

On average, the NHS will receive a 3% growth in day-to-day spending and the largest capital budget ever, helping support the government deliver the Plan for Change commitment to cut waiting times, meaning that by the end of the Parliament, 92% of patients will start consultant-led treatment for non-urgent health conditions within 18 weeks of referral. 

For Crewe and Nantwich, this means funding for essential projects like improvements to the RAAC in Leighton Hospital via the New Hospitals Programme, due to start construction in 2027 to 2028. 

Education  

On education, the core schools budget will rise by £4.7 billion between 2025 and 2028. This will take the funding for each pupil in England to its highest-ever level. The increase covers pupils aged 5 to 16 and will help to fund teachers’ pay rises announced by the government last month. The rise also includes the cost of expanding free school meals for pupils whose families receive universal credit, which was announced last week. 

 The Chancellor also confirmed plans to overhaul the SEND system. This will involve extra training for teachers and additional staff, with the aim of increasing integration of SEND provisions within mainstream education. I know this will be particularly important to residents of Crewe and Nantwich, many of whom have previously raised concerns about the outsourcing of SEND programmes to private institutions that are often not local. I have seen first-hand the impact of community-based SEND programmes done well in a recent visit to Wistaston Academy and I welcome the Chancellor’s recognition of schools like theirs. 

The Green Book 

Another important change in the Spending Review is to the Green Book, which is the set of rules that public organisations must follow when evaluating projects. Criticism is often made that the rule book prioritises profit over all else. This means that preference is likely given to projects based in London, or other very affluent areas.  

 The Treasury will now implement a ‘new approach’ by reforming the Green Book and how it will be used to provide ‘objective, transparent advice on public investment across the country’. Plans for rejuvenating towns outside of London will be assessed on place-based business cases to ensure no Treasury guidance works against them.  

 In practical terms, areas like Crewe and Nantwich will benefit from new rules for evaluating projects that consider the unique impact of proposals on our area and the people in it. 

Transport 

The Chancellor confirmed ambitions for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), and a new Infrastructure Strategy with more detailed plans in the coming weeks. 

Today’s announcement on major transport infrastructure in our region is a step in the right direction, but I make no apology for putting my own constituency at the front and centre of my thoughts. Crewe Station has been at the heart of British rail for almost 200 years now. I am, of course, disappointed that we have not seen a firm commitment to the extension of high-speed rail links north of Birmingham.   

NPR was always an integral part of the original HS2 plan, and its delivery supports my case for further investment between Birmingham and Manchester.  

If, for example, the Liverpool – Manchester railway line is delivered it would mean there is just a 60-mile gap between that project and phase one of HS2. I will continue to make the case in the coming weeks, working with fellow MPs and mayors, for these new developments to recognise my constituency as the transport hub it has historically been. This is a vital investment needed to rebalance our economy. 

The government also announced a fourfold increase in the local transport grants to support better links. I will be closely monitoring this progress and working with the Council to ensure Crewe and Nantwich avails of any additional funding.