Sir Keir Starmer has done it again. Drivers are back in the firing line. Are Britain’s motorists just an easy target at this point? Britain’s roads are broken. But much-needed projects have now been axed as pressure mounts on the Prime Minister to increase defence spending.

On Tuesday, the outgoing Prime Minister explained that road projects that were not “immediately vital” would be ditched. Big mistake. Anyone who has travelled on UK roads knows how vital upgrades are. They are non-negotiable at this point. One set of road users will be absolutely furious with the Prime Minister this evening. Anyone travelling in the East Midlands should be raging mad.

The Department for Transport will provide savings of up to £700m from its roads funding project, with reductions to the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3). Officials say this includes the potential cancellation of the A38 Derby Junctions and A46 Newark Bypass schemes. Two planned road schemes in the East Midlands.

The new works were set to cut congestion and increase capacity. Not any more, it won’t. What a blow. The decision has left the Labour Mayor of the region, Claire Ward, absolutely furious, suggesting the area had been involved in a “trade-off”.

She said: “What I cannot understand is why the only region being asked to lose £900m 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 has claimed that the Government must seek contributions from other regions and from spending areas other than roads. A valid point. Why should one area and one sector be so massively affected as this? According to officials, the DfT will also explore limited reductions in as yet uncommitted road funding.

However, the Government said it remains committed to protecting funding for local authorities to mend potholes and repair roads. At least it’s something, but is it far enough?

The current allocation is £7.3 billion in road funds, while experts have already revealed the backlog is close to £ 18.62 billion. The current funding is only going to scratch the surface of the problems.

The simple fact is, roads are an easy target. Partly because there aren’t any real victims. Take the money out of the social care sector, welfare or pensions, and someone is being directly impacted, someone ready to vent their anger at the already unpopular Labour administration and vote at the ballot box.

But aren’t all of us victims of poor roads? Haven’t our backs hurt enough traversing the crater-sized potholes littering our thoroughfares or sitting in waves of traffic just to get to work?

Motorists have just been absolutely slapped around the face once again; it’s another massive blow for the 42.5million drivers in Britain.