Sir Keir Starmer has dealt another major blow to British motorists by canceling key road infrastructure projects in the East Midlands, prompting outrage from drivers and regional leaders alike. The outgoing Prime Minister announced on Tuesday that road schemes deemed not "immediately vital" would be scrapped as part of efforts to reallocate funding toward increased defence spending.
East Midlands Schemes Axed
The Department for Transport will achieve savings of up to £700 million from its roads funding programme, primarily through reductions to the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3). Specifically, the A38 Derby Junctions and A46 Newark Bypass projects have been earmarked for potential cancellation. These schemes were intended to reduce congestion and increase capacity on key routes in the East Midlands.
Labour Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, expressed fury over the decision, accusing the government of an unfair "trade-off" that disproportionately targets her region. "What I cannot understand is why the only region being asked to lose £900 million of investment into its roads is the East Midlands – that is not equitable and fails to recognise the decades of underinvestment that have preceded today's decision," she said. Ward called on the government to seek contributions from other regions and spending areas beyond roads.
Pothole Funding Protected
The government has stated it remains committed to protecting funding for local authorities to repair potholes and maintain roads. The current allocation stands at £7.3 billion, but experts estimate the backlog of necessary repairs is close to £18.62 billion, meaning the available funds will only scratch the surface of the problem.
Motorists Feel Targeted
Critics argue that roads are an easy target for cuts because there are no immediate, visible victims compared to cuts in social care, welfare, or pensions. However, all drivers suffer from poor road conditions, from back pain caused by potholes to wasted time in traffic jams. With 42.5 million drivers in Britain, this decision represents yet another slap in the face for motorists, who already face rising costs and charges.
