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Funds earmarked to fix pothole-plagued roads in the UK have been slashed to lower than 13 other major nations, new figures show.

The cost of repairing roads affected by potholes in England and Wales alone is estimated to be £14bn – while Edinburgh has been branded the pothole capital of Europe, with residents resorting to plugging gaps with traffic cones.

But the government cut annual expenditure on UK road maintenance from £4bn in 2006 to £2bn in 2019 – the last year of international comparable data available.

The US, Japan, New Zealand, Austria and Sweden have all increased spending by around 50% over the same period.

France, Canada and Finland have also ringfenced their pothole repair budget more than the UK.

Only Italy and Ireland have overseen higher cuts to road repairs, according to figures produced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The data was analysed by the Local Government Association (LGA) – a cross party organisation that works on behalf of councils to give a voice to local authorities.

It is now calling on all political parties to commit to a 10-year programme where funding for local roads is boosted by devolving the equivalent of 2p per litre of existing fuel duty.

It is hoped the cash injection could help councils reverse the “decline” in road conditions.

LGA chair, Shaun Davies, warned the UK had fallen to “almost the bottom of the league” in terms of the money allocated to repair local roads.

“Decades of reductions in funding from central government to local road repair budgets have left councils facing the biggest ever annual pothole repair backlog.

“Positive extra funding in the recent Budget will help, but councils still face considerable challenges when trying to get on top of this pothole blight.”

Meanwhile the president of AA, Edmund King, said although main roads are repaired “fairly rapidly” in spring, residential and rural roads remain “blighted by potholes”.

‘Threat to vehicles and danger to pedestrians and cyclists’

“This is not only a threat to vehicles but a danger to pedestrians and cyclists who are more active at this time of year,” he added.

Ministers announced funds for “highway maintenance” would increase by £200m in the Spring Budget.

But council leaders said there was a £1.3bn shortfall in the pothole repair budget this year and the £200m was simply “not enough”.

A report found one in five roads – covering 37,000 miles – in England and Wales are in poor condition and have less than five years of life remaining.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger fills a pothole

A government spokesperson said: “We’re spending more than £5bn from 2020 to 2025, with an extra £200m announced at the budget in March, to resurface roads up and down the country – enough to fix millions of potholes.

“This year we’ve made £58.7bn available to local councils, a £5.1bn increase on last year, the majority of which is un-ringfenced and can be used on local priorities such as road maintenance.

“We’ve also brought in new rules to clamp down on utility companies leaving potholes behind after carrying out street works.”

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But Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, warned: “The prime minister posed as a friend of the motorist – but his broken promises have left millions of potholes on our roads.

“Lined up side by side, the giant Tory pothole would stretch from London to John O’Groats and back again.

“After 13 years, Tory promises, just like our roads, are falling apart.”

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Two killed in stabbing at business premises in London

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Two killed in stabbing at business premises in London

Two men have died after a stabbing in central London.

Police were called to a business premises in Long Lane, Southwark, at 1pm on Monday, where they found four people had been stabbed.

A 58-year-old man died at the scene while three others were taken to hospital, the Metropolitan Police said. These included a 27-year-old man who has since died.

A third man, who is in his thirties, remains in hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.

Another man in his thirties, who has been detained in connection with the incident, remains in a life-threatening condition in hospital.

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Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond said: “Our investigation is in the early stages and we are working hard to understand the full circumstances of this shocking incident.

“At this point, we do not believe it to be terrorism-related and there is no further risk to the public.”

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Lionesses celebrate Euros triumph at ‘very special’ Downing Street reception

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Lionesses celebrate Euros triumph at 'very special' Downing Street reception

The red carpet was rolled out at No 10 on Monday evening as the Lionesses attended a reception to celebrate their Euro 2025 victory.

The England squad went straight to Downing Street after touching down at Southend Airport in Essex less than 24 hours after they defeated Spain in a penalty shootout in Sunday’s final.

Led by captain Leah Williamson, who proudly clutched the trophy, the side posed for pictures outside No 10 before being greeted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

England women's football team pose for a photo in Downing Street, London, as they attend a reception at No 10, Pic: PA
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The England squad outside No 10. Pic: PA

England's team captain Leah Williamson carries the trophy when leaving a special reception, to celebrate their victory in the Women's Euro 2025 final, at Downing Street in London, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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Leah Williamson carries the trophy. Pic: AP

Speaking to Sky News correspondent Ashna Hurynag after the 40-minute reception, England manager Sarina Wiegman described the celebration as “very, very special”.

“To be able to go inside and also be in the garden there, [was] really nice,” she said. “They had put up pictures of us to show what we had done in the Euros… it was very, very special.”

Some people on social media have called for the England boss – who is from the Netherlands – to get an honorary damehood, but Wiegman told Ashna Hurynag that she “hasn’t thought about that”.

“I feel so much respect from England and from the Royal Family too, I think that’s the most important thing, feeling valued,” she said.

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Weigman also joined some of the players to videocall Sir Keir Starmer, who was in Scotland with Donald Trump.

England attend Downing Street reception. Pic: Reuters
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England manager Sarina Wiegman and some of the players on a video call with Sir Keir Starmer. Pic: Reuters

England manager Sarina Wiegman speaks at a reception at No 10 Downing Street, London. Pic: Richard Pohle/The Times/PA Wire
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Pic: PA

Angela Rayner reacts during a reception to celebrate England's victory in the Women's EURO 2025, at Downing Street in London. Reuters
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Angela Rayner congratulates some of the players. Pic: Reuters

In a speech at the reception, the manager quipped: “I have to make my apologies [for giving] you lots of heart attacks.”

“We made it through and that’s why we’re here now,” she continued.

“The team is just incredible, we won the Euros but making the final, we’re already legendary. Thank you so much for having us here.”

As the Lionesses left Downing Street, some stopped to try and meet another famous feline – Larry the Cat.

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Sarina Wiegman and Leah Williamson with the trophy as she and members of the England team attend a reception at Downing St. Pic: PA
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Sarina Wiegman and Leah Williamson in the garden at No 10. Pic: PA

England's Esme Morgan, Anna Moorhouse and Grace Clinton try and get Larry the Cat's attention as they leave No.10 Downing Street. Pic: PA
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England’s Esme Morgan, Anna Moorhouse and Grace Clinton try and get Larry the Cat’s attention. Pic: PA

The celebrations will continue on Tuesday afternoon with an open-top bus parade through central London before the team gather outside Buckingham Palace.

The Lionesses retained their Women’s Euros title on Sunday night by beating Spain in Basel, Switzerland.

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Behind the scenes after Lionesses’ win

Mariona Caldentey put Spain 1-0 ahead in the first half, but England’s Alessia Russo levelled the score in the 57th minute.

The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, with the score remaining the same at the end of extra-time.

The match then went to a penalty shootout, which the Lionesses won 3-1.

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‘No other drug does this amount of damage so quickly to your kidneys and bladder’: How party drug is destroying lives

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