My statement on today's Spending Review

Unfortunately, today’s Spending Review joins last Autumn’s Budget as a missed opportunity for the Government to achieve the growth it claims is its mission. While the additional NHS funding is welcome, the truth is that without fixing social care, this money is like pouring water into a bucket full of holes.

The fair pay agreement for care workers is barely a baby step given the crisis social care faces. At the very least, the Chancellor should introduce a higher minimum wage to prevent workers from moving elsewhere.

Being responsible for the public finances does not only mean taking the tough decisions but the right ones too. The government continues to ignore Liberal Democrat growth-creating measures, like a bespoke UK-EU Customs Union or increasing tax on big banks and social media giants. Instead they are looking to target savings on those who can least afford them like the chronically ill and disabled.

Rural areas lose out yet again with a promise of funding for transport that is just a seventh of that offered to city regions. The focus clearly remains on Labour run cities in the north of England. And it was disappointing to see still no target set by government for the number of social rent homes to be built.

Today’s announcement contained some welcome investment, but I didn't hear much that will benefit the deprived areas of South Devon and the South West in general.