Business of the House

Navendu Mishra Excerpts

Thursday 16th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Navendu Mishra (Stockport) (Lab)]

Following 14 years of severe austerity under the coalition Government and Conservative Governments, this Labour Government allocated a record £7.3 billion in December to English councils to fix potholes and improve roads. Sadly, Liberal Democrat-run Stockport council has a self-imposed policy of not filling potholes under 40 mm, meaning that some of the roads in my constituency are in truly shocking condition. I am running a survey on my website on this issue, and an overwhelming majority of residents have raised Edgeley as a concern. Many of my constituents feel that there is a challenging disparity between the road conditions in more affluent areas and those in my constituency. I thank Mike Naylor, the Labour candidate in Edgeley, for his work on that. May we have a debate in Government time on how councils such as Stockport can better use the increased funding?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is right to point to our record investment in local highways maintenance over the next four years and the £7.3 billion to tackle the scourge of potholes. I am astonished to hear that his Lib Dem council is not prepared to use that money. I encourage residents to take part in his survey to see the extent of the issue. When they get the opportunity, I am sure that his residents will make their voices heard at the ballot box.