Potholes fuel voter frustration before elections - so what can be done?

The English local elections were scheduled for May 7, 2026; potholes were highlighted as a key campaign issue ahead of the vote.

Mark Morrell, the 'Mr Pothole' campaigner, published a poem titled Hypocrisy on the Highway, urging candidates to be upfront about pothole challenges and timelines.

The AA noted pothole incidents decreased in 2025 compared with 2024, but reported 68,786 incidents in January 2026, higher than any month last year.

RAC data showed the number of members mentioning potholes when logging breakdowns rose from 5,420 in the first three months of 2025 to 15,421 in the same period in 2026.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said councils face budget pressures, and longer-term funding could help plan maintenance, focus on preventative measures, and invest in innovation.

Labour argued that being in power at Westminster enables them to set the spending allocation for councils in England to address potholes.

The Green Party emphasised prioritising the upkeep of existing roads, noting potholes affect walkers and cyclists as well as drivers; approach varies by council.

Liberal Democrat local government spokesperson Zoe Franklin stated the party has a national policy to support councils in pothole repairs, with decisions made locally.

The Conservative party proposed establishing a 'national pothole patrol' deploying specialist repair units using the most effective technology available.

Reform UK said councils are seeking 'new solutions' and highlighted the use of cutting-edge technology to make pothole repairs faster and more efficient.

The government announced £7.3 billion for local road maintenance over the next four years, with rules that could see funding upheld or withheld from councils based on pothole repair performance.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander struck a pothole and damaged her Mini Cooper last month; she also made a remark referencing Artemis II that attracted criticism from her local authority.

The Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) released its 2026 survey, estimating the cost to bring pothole-plagued local roads in England and Wales up to scratch at £18.6 billion and suggesting a 12-year timescale to clear the backlog; the survey also reported 1.9 million potholes filled over the past year.

The Department for Transport published a traffic light rating system judging local authorities on road maintenance and spending; the department defended its methodology after some councils questioned it.

Mark Morrell, campaigner known as Mr Pothole, established National Pothole Day in 2015.