Rachael Maskell MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, commenting on a study by campaign group Rural England, said:

“This is yet more evidence that rural communities have been left behind by this Tory Government.

“It’s particularly disturbing that poor transport links are having such a detrimental impact on access to health care and employment support. But it’s also clear that the lack of infrastructure in rural areas, including broadband and mobile access, is blocking access to vital services across the board.

“Rural communities will rightly expect the Government to answer tough questions about what’s being done to deal with these issues, especially in light of this new evidence of just how badly Tory policies are failing to deliver for them.