Political opinion: Horsham MP challenges government over support for rural pubs

Speaking during oral questions to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), John Milne MP pointed to the scale of the crisis facing rural hospitality.  

Latest data shows that 366 pubs closed in 2025, with industry estimates suggesting up to 540 more could shut their doors this year.  

The Horsham MP has warned that rural villages are being left behind, with the loss of pubs and community businesses increasing isolation and reducing access to essential services. He highlighted the gap in the government’s Fair Funding Review for rural areas and the role of rural community ownership in addressing these issues. 

In response, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, pointed to the government’s use of deprivation data and a rurality measure to allocate fairer resources.  

However, Milne and groups such as the Rural Services Network and Plunkett UK argue that those measures fail to reflect the higher costs of delivering services in rural areas, with evidence suggesting a widening funding gap compared to urban communities, as well as inconsistency of support across key services, including education and highways.  

Liberal Democrat MP for Horsham and Chair of the APPG for Rural Business, John Milne, said:   “Rural assets like pubs are at the heart of our communities. When they close, people lose vital access to services and local support networks, particularly for older and more vulnerable residents and those living in more dispersed areas. 

“Local rural businesses are being pushed to the brink by business rates, higher National Insurance, and the minimum wage rise, all at the same time, making it even more difficult for them to survive. 

“The government must recognise that rural communities face unique challenges, and that without targeted support and a fair funding model that works, more will lose out.”