Labour accused of raiding roads budget to pay for ballooning benefits bill as two dozen highways projects aimed at cutting traffic, boosting the economy and reducing accidents are axed

Labour was last night accused of raiding the roads budget to pay for the ballooning benefits bill as details of two-dozen axed highway projects emerged. Several backbenchers are said to be furious about the axed projects after receiving private letters from ministers saying schemes in their seats were among them. Around half of the axed schemes are in Labour’s Midlands and Northern ‘Red Wall’ heartlands and there are fears the party is increasingly being perceived as ‘anti-driver’. For many families in these areas, vehicles are a lifeline and their only mode of transport for getting to work or doing the school run. Most of the axed projects were designed to increase capacity at pinch points where traffic jams occur, cutting motorists’ journey times and boosting growth while reducing accidents. One Labour MP where a scheme has been axed said they were ‘deeply disappointed’ after roads minister Justin Madders informed them it was for the chop. They said the scheme was ‘long awaited’ and ‘excellent value for money’, adding: 'There’s a danger about how this plays out with Reform.’ Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander's department has started writing to MPs to notify them of cancelled road projects in their area Tory shadow transport secretary Richard Holden said ‘Labour's war on the motorist never ends' and accused ministers of raiding the roads budget to help pay for welfare Reform UK and the Tories have tried to paint themselves as 'pro-motorist' as part of a fierce battle for votes. It comes amid a blizzard of ‘anti-car’ measures since Labour came to power, including the rise of 20mph zones, which have sparked a surge in speeding tickets . Since Labour won the 2024 election, they have also announced a new pay-per-mile levy for electric and hybrid vehicles and are planning a Fuel Duty raid in the New Year which would push up pump prices even further after they spiralled following the Iran war. In July, the Mail revealed how parking tickets could more than double outside of London under proposals being considered by ministers . At present, tickets are capped at £70 but could soar to £160 under the proposals. Many councils have also hiked parking charges in a bid to boost their coffers, with some even considering a tax on workplace parking spaces. Others have introduced low emission zones, which charge older vehicles for using the roads, or congestion levies. Tory shadow transport secretary Richard Holden said: ‘Labour's war on the motorist never ends. Axed road projects in full Fact-box text A4174 MOD Roundabout Improvements A454 between Wolverhampton and East Park Gateway A509 Isham Bypass Blyth Relief Road Ely to Cambridge A10 Improvement Sheffield Innovation Corridor Road A31 Farnham Corridor A1079 Improvement Scheme, Wilberfoss A1139 University Access A1237 YORR dualling Phase 2 – Wetherby Rd to A19 A127 Corridor for Growth – Route Improvements A17 Pullover Junction City Centre Road, Portsmouth M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme West Quay Road Realignment, Southampton Warrington Western Link Road A500 Crewe Dualling scheme Kendal Northern Access Route A350 Melksham Bypass Chesterfield Staveley Regeneration Route Aylesbury Eastern Link Shipley Eastern Congestion Relief Road A13/ A126 East Facing Slip Roads (Thurrock) Rocket Junction (Liverpool ‘Raiding the roads budget to fund more welfare hits at the drivers of economic growth and makes absolutely no sense. ‘At the very moment investment should be going into improving our road network, Labour are killing dozens of major improvement schemes. ‘Conservatives have a plan to cut the ballooning welfare bill, fix our roads and tackle infrastructure costs whereas Labour are the welfare party and simply don’t care about drivers, truckers and riders.’ Among the axed schemes, a list of which the Daily Mail has obtained, are two major projects which include the A31 Farnham Corridor and the A127 Economic Growth Corridor. Essex County Council has said the latter scheme was intended to unlock economic growth, improve journey times and support major housing and employment development across south Essex. The former scheme could have delivered an underpass or redesigned junction where a fatal collision and many serious injuries have occurred in recent years. The cancellations come amid the ballooning welfare bill, which is forecast to grow to more than £400billion by the end of the decade - up from around £330billion now. Only 16 of around 40 projects will now go ahead. A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘The previous [Tory] government did not fund these projects. ‘Given the challenging financial picture we inherited, we have had to make difficult decisions on a number of road projects and can only progress schemes that are affordable for taxpayers.’