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The MP for Lincoln and the Middle East minister, Hamish Falconer, and the Reform MP Robert Jenrick have voiced anger at the cancellation or delay of key transport infrastructure projects to fund the defence investment plan.

Falconer and Jenrick were among MPs who have had cuts to road improvements in their constituencies, with savings contributing towards the increase in defence spending. Two roads in the East Midlands are among those where investment cuts have been made to fund a £15bn uplift in defence.

The mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said she had been unaware of the forthcoming cuts until Keir Starmer had made his defence investment plan (Dip) speech on Wednesday.

Overall defence spending will rise from 2.6% of GDP in 2027 to 2.7%, or nearly £80bn, by 2030. Starmer said that would put the UK “on a trajectory” to hit 3% in the next parliament, although it remains well below a Nato target of 3.5% by 2035.

Transport and energy are among the areas where ministers have accepted cuts to their departments’ capital budgets to fund the increase in defence spending. In an unusually angry statement for a sitting minister, Falconer said: “I am disappointed by the uncertainty today about the A46 Newark bypass-widening scheme. I support further funding for the Dip, but the A46 upgrade programme is well advanced, long awaited, excellent value for money and of strategic importance to both Lincoln and the region.

“Following the Labour party leadership contest, I will be seeking an urgent meeting with the incoming prime minister, incoming chancellor and incoming secretary of state for transport to discuss this decision and explore whether there is a credible route forward for this vital project.”

Jenrick, the MP for Newark who defected to Reform from the Conservatives earlier this year, said he was “furious that such an important project for the area has been thrown into disarray”.

He said the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, had promised to reverse the cuts should the party win the next election. “This makes a mockery of Andy Burnham’s commitment to bring investment to all parts of the country. I have written to the transport secretary and demanded an urgent explanation for local residents. It is shameful that such a big decision has been snuck out by the government without any debate.

“I will keep campaigning to get spades in the ground as soon as possible so we can finally deliver this crucial project. If Labour continue to fail, a Reform UK government will get this project built. I’ve spoken to Nigel Farage today and we will build this road for the people of Newark and Nottinghamshire. Enough of the lies and letdowns from Labour.”

Ward said it was unacceptable she had been informed so late on the plans to cut the projects. “I was informed of this decision as the prime minister was delivering his speech on the defence investment plan,” she said. “If mayors and their regions are to be seen as respected partners of government, we need to be treated like grownups and involved in trade-offs which affect our regions.

“The trade-offs here are ones I understand. I understand that increasing investment into defence means removing it from other things. I understand that everywhere will need to contribute so that we can be safe in a less certain world.

“What I cannot understand is why the only region being asked to lose £900m of investment into its roads is the East Midlands – that is not equitable and fails to recognise the decades of underinvestment that have preceded today’s decision.”

Burnham, the putative next prime minister, will also have to find an extra £4.7bn for defence in his first budget to fund the Dip. The Guardian understands the Makerfield MP was not told about the funding gap when he was briefed on the plan.

A defence insider said it was “madness after all that wrangling to have left a £4.7bn black hole for someone else to fix”, while the Conservatives described the plan as a “delayed-action poison pill” for Burnham.

The overall package will cost £298bn over the next four years, £15bn of which was newly announced on Tuesday. It includes £47bn on new nuclear submarines and £5bn more on drones, £1bn more than announced in last year’s strategic spending review.