The new Labour government have used their first budget to cancel the dualling of the A1 in Northumberland from Morpeth to Ellingham, bringing an end to decades of work by Conservative governments to see the project through to completion.

The previous Conservative government gave the green light to the project for the stretch between Morpeth and Ellingham in May, following three postponements as planning permission for the route was sought. £67 million had already been spent on the road which included surveys and purchasing land along the route.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner stopped short of confirming the cancellation of the project on a visit to Hexham during the election campaign. Asked specifically about the scheme, Rayner refused to commit to it stating that the Labour Party wouldn't 'overpromise', despite it already receiving the go-ahead from government.

Documents published after the chancellor’s budget address to the House of Commons revealed the Department for Transport had deemed the scheme "unfunded and unaffordable", despite the same budget hitting Northumberland workers and businesses with crippling tax rises.

Richard Wearmouth, the Conservative deputy leader of Northumberland County Council said:

“£67 million had been invested by the last Government on land acquisition, gaining planning permission and completing design works.

“The project was literally shovel ready. There was money available from the scrapping of HS2, and from the huge tax increases heaped on hard working households across our region by the Chancellor in today's budget. But yet again Labour turned its back on the North East and took voters here for granted as they always do.

"The scheme is of vital importance to our local and regional economy, it would strengthen the union in terms of better links to Scotland and it would significantly improve safety for Northumberland residents.

"I am in the process of contacting National Highways to seek immediate discussions to ensure the work done to date is not squandered. Needless to say our Conservative-run council will campaign tirelessly to get this project back up and running at the earliest opportunity and we will be seeking to have finishing this work as a firm manifesto commitment in any forthcoming general election.”