MP Gideon Amos has condemned the absence of any reference to Wellington’s railway station project in Wednesday’s (October 30) Budget as ‘unacceptable’.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves did not mention the previous admionistration’s Restoring Your Railways fund, from which the new station would have been financed.

Ms Reeves axed the fund when she gave one of her first fiscal speeches in Parliament after Labour’s General Election victory.

But Rail Minister Lord Hendy later told Mr Amos individual projects within it were being reviewed in time for Budget decisions.

And Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said she was ‘determined we build the transport infrastructure to drive economic growth and opportunity in every part of the country’.

Mr Amos said the lack of news on the much-needed Wellington Railway Station was ‘not acceptable’.

He said: “I met with our front bench transport spokesperson Paul Kohler and he and I will be pursuing the funding of Wellington Station at the next questions to the Transport Secretary.

“And I intend to ask some tough questions in the Budget debate on Monday.

“I will be pursuing all these issues with the Government.”

Mr Amos also pledged to step up his campaign for improvements to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, following the Budget.

Ms Reeves announced £22.6 billion for day-to-day spending on the NHS in England, and a £3.1 billion boost to the budget for investment, plus an extra £1 billion for repairs.

Mr Amos said: “What we wanted to see was a budget for the NHS and care, what we have got is disappointing.

“The Government could have gone so much further in investing in health and care.

“The extra £600 million for social care and the £1 billion pounds for children with special educational needs and disability are welcome, but simply will not be enough to fix the crisis in care and local government.

“And the Chancellor did not even mention dentistry.

“While the £4.1 billion announced for NHS capital investment is welcome, I am pushing the Government to make sure Musgrove Park Hospital’s new maternity and paediatric unit will be one of the projects funded.

“I will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, to press the case further and I will not rest until we get some positive news.”

Mr Amos was pleased the Government was addressing the clawing back of money from those on carers’ allowance following calls made by Liberal Democrats, and that carers’ earnings limits were rising to 16 hours per week.

However, he was concerned at an increase in the rate of National Insurance and reduction of the threshold to £5,000, which he believed would hit local companies with large workforces such as care providers, and those in hospitality which will also be hit by a reduction in business rates support.

Mr Amos said: “This Budget could have gone so much further if the big banks and energy companies were asked to pay more, instead of placing extra costs on the small businesses which are the lifeblood of our economy.”