Keir Starmer has dealt a final blow to drivers in the East Midlands by cutting £700 million from road funding and cancelling two major National Highways projects. The A38 Derby Junctions and A46 Newark Bypass schemes are "potentially" cancelled, according to officials. The move has been condemned as a "hammer blow" by local politicians and motorists.
Which projects are affected?
The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed that both schemes were selected because they have not yet entered contracts and are less advanced than other road projects. Critics argue it is no coincidence that both are located in the East Midlands. Labour East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward said she cannot understand why her region is the "only region being asked to lose" investment, calling the decision "not equitable" and accusing it of failing to recognise "decades of underinvestment."
Impact on drivers and levelling up
National Highways had stated that improving safety and reducing congestion were the prime objectives of both upgrades. With the projects axed, commuters face continued delays and safety risks. The decision undermines the government's levelling-up agenda, leaving the East Midlands worse off. Meanwhile, the £10 billion Lower Thames Crossing, the UK's largest ongoing infrastructure project, remains unaffected.
Luke Chillingsworth, Cars Reporter, described the cuts as a "total hammer blow" and questioned why motorists in one region are being forced to lose two projects at once. He argued that drivers feel like an easy target and that stripping funding when work is needed most is a bad decision.
