The announcement was made quietly and was quickly deleted from X, formerly Twitter, when a backlash started.

£235 million has gone back into government funds after they cancelled the northern leg of the HS2 rail project.  At the time it was claimed this could be used on the national road network, but the money is being re-routed to the capital.  The Forest of Dean Labour Party is dismayed that none of this money is going to be used to help areas outside of London.

The roads in the Forest are full of potholes, yet the local MP has made clear, yet again, that his priority is the Tories and being in power.

National and local polling shows that Labour can win the Forest of Dean and send an MP to Westminster and the Tory MP again lets his constituents down.

A Forest of Dean Labour Party spokesperson says “This shows that Levelling Up is a gimmick.  We need a General Election so that the people of the Forest of Dean and the rest of the UK can have leaders they believe in.  It’s the end of the road for Mark Harper.  Our transport system is crumbling and the roads in the Forest are full of holes. It’s insulting that yet again the Conservatives show their priority is London and the southeast”.

Let’s Get Britain’s Future Back