Jodie's Story

Jodie, 33, from North West Essex in the East of England, needed reliable transport links to access work opportunities in the transport sector. Despite engineers and construction workers being available locally, and materials readily accessible, the Department for Transport has concentrated infrastructure investment in London and the South East. The Treasury's household-budget approach to public spending has meant per-capita transport investment in this region remains a fraction of the national average. Westminster's choice to ration infrastructure spending as though the government were saving for a household extension has left workers like Jodie cut off from opportunities that better transport links would unlock. This episode explores how central government funding decisions directly impact individual lives and local economies. Contains strong language and references to financial hardship.