Labour’s pledge to provide funding to councils to fix up to one million more potholes per year has been welcomed by one of its Swindon parliamentary candidates.

The party’s manifesto, launched by leader Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday June 13, says a Labour government will provide extra funding for councils' roads departments, ask industry regulators to stop insurance companies putting up premiums too high, and address planning issues preventing road improvement schemes coming forward quickly.

Borough councillor Will Stone, who is standing for the party in Swindon North, said: “There is nothing more symbolic of the state of our country after fourteen years of Conservative neglect than crumbling roads in the South West.

“People across Swindon are sick and tired of the woeful state of our roads. Potholes are a dangerous menace that cost households hundreds of pounds in repair costs, and put lives at risk.

“Labour is the only party with a plan to tackle the soaring cost of driving and fix our crumbling roads.”

The money for extra work on potholes year will be paid for by deferring the controversial A27 Bypass between Chichester and Arundel in Hampshire and using  £320m  costs for local repairs.

The party says it was estimated in 2023 that the South West had 6,000 thousand miles of damaged roads, with 19% of roads in poor condition and that an AA survey found 49 per cent of people in the region residents described their local roads as “terrible”.

  Labour’s shadow transport secretary, Louise Haigh, said: “Cars are a lifeline for millions up and down the country. They get people to work, allow parents to get kids to school, and help carers support relatives – but drivers have been totally failed by this Conservative Government.

“The Conservatives have left Britain’s roads plagued with potholes, and have sat back as car insurance costs have spiralled out of control.

“Labour is the only party truly on the side of drivers. Our plan will fix up to a million more potholes every year, saving drivers hundreds of pounds in lower repair costs, and will crack down on soaring car insurance costs.

“We will make our roads safer for all who use them, and remove the barriers which bog down our planning system – speeding up infrastructure improvements and cutting costs for taxpayers.”

Other candidates in the July 4 election in Swindon North are the Conservative MP Justin Tomlinson, the Green Party candidate Andy Bentley, Reform UK candidate  Les  Willis, Independent candidate Debbie Hicks, Trades Union and Socialist Coalition’s  Scott Hunter  and the Liberal Democrat Flo Clucas.