Keir Starmer has been blasted by experts with road users set to feel the sting of one major change before he leaves office.
Keir Starmer will take money for roads projects and push it into defence spending (Image: Getty)
Keir Starmer will hit drivers with one last penalty before resigning as Prime Minister in a move which has left road experts furious. The Prime Minister has confirmed that money allocated for road projects would now be siphoned into defence spending, with infrastructure plans axed.
Funding for two new road projects in the East Midlands is known to have been cut as part of £700million of Department for Transport savings. DfT will also explore limited reductions to as yet uncommitted roads funding in another blow for UK road users.
Some road infrastructure projects have been axed (Image: Getty)
The Treasury has confirmed that money for local authorities to mend potholes and road damage would stay in place. But there are fears the cash won’t be enough, with officials pledging £7.3billion despite a £18.62billion backlog.
David Giles, Chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) stressed the latest news was disappointing, with UK roads now in a “woeful” condition.
David explained: “It is disappointing that capital funding for new road projects looks set to be cut, but it is vital that the Government honours the pledge made today to protect funding for local authorities to carry out much-needed road maintenance and pothole repairs.
“We understand that in an increasingly challenging world tough public funding decisions must be made. However, local roads in England and Wales are already in a woeful condition and face a backlog of repairs that now stands at a whopping £18.62 billion.”
It’s not just motoring experts who have hit back at the news, with the East Midlands mayor Claire Ward hitting back at the decision.
Meanwhile, Reform MP Robert Jentick has also blasted the decision, stressing that he was “furious” that an important project had been thrown into disarray.
The new Defence Investment Plan is set to be one of Keir Starmer‘s last actions in office, with the Prime Minister set to stand down at the conclusion of the Labour leadership race this summer. This could be as soon as July 20 if Andy Burnham remains the only candidate to succeed Starmer as leader of the party.
