Ministers ‘furious’ over cuts to road projects to fund defence plan

The MP for Lincoln and the Middle East minister, Hamish Falconer, and the Reform MP Robert Jenrick have voiced anger at the cancellation or delay of key transport infrastructure projects to fund the defence investment plan . Falconer and Jenrick were among MPs who have had cuts to road improvements in their constituencies, with savings contributing towards the increase in defence spending. Two roads in the East Midlands are among those where investment cuts have been made to fund a £15bn uplift in defence. The mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said she had been unaware of the forthcoming cuts until Keir Starmer had made his defence investment plan (Dip) speech on Wednesday. Overall defence spending will rise from 2.6% of GDP in 2027 to 2.7%, or nearly £80bn, by 2030. Starmer said that would put the UK “on a trajectory” to hit 3% in the next parliament, although it remains well below a Nato target of 3.5% by 2035. Transport and energy are among the areas where ministers have accepted cuts to their departments’ capital budgets to fund the increase in defence spending. In an unusually angry statement for a sitting minister, Falconer said: “I am disappointed by the uncertainty today about the A46 Newark bypass-widening scheme. I support further funding for the Dip, but the A46 upgrade programme is well advanced, long awaited, excellent value for money and of strategic importance to both Lincoln and the region. …