Labour Unveils £7.3bn Plan to Tackle Potholes as Councils Gain Access to Record Repair Fund

Labour has announced a major £7.3 billion investment aimed at tackling the growing pothole problem, promising what it describes as the largest funding package of its kind.

Local authorities will be able to draw on the fund to repair the roads in greatest need. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the pledge represented a clear commitment to improving everyday travel,

adding:“We said we would repair an extra million potholes a year by the end of this Parliament — and by doubling the funding available, that is exactly what we are delivering.”

Motoring groups have welcomed the additional investment. Edmund King, President of the AA, said the money should help “smooth out the road ahead” for drivers who have faced increasing disruption and vehicle damage caused by deteriorating road surfaces.

However, the package has drawn criticism from the Opposition. Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden argued that the announcement masks broader policies that he believes will negatively affect motorists.

He said: “This is smoke and mirrors from a Labour Government who have declared war on drivers by cutting new road-building schemes, adding 5p to every litre of petrol and diesel, and preparing a pay-per-mile tax on top.”

The government insists the funding increase represents a significant shift toward long-term road maintenance, while political debate continues over the wider direction of transport policy.