An MP quit as a ministerial aide yesterday over the government’s “utterly lamentable” failure to fund transport improvements in his Eastbourne constituency.

Liberal Democrat Stephen Lloyd resigned his role as parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Energy Secretary Ed Davey in protest at the decision not to meet residents’ demands for a new road.

A transport investment strategy announced on Monday failed to include the proposed extra capacity to ease traffic on a notorious accident blackspot — although some funds were set aside for future work dependent on Gatwick airport expansion and other factors.

Mr Lloyd said he could not accept the “vague promise” of extra money in future and would continue to fight for the work to be done.

“I am profoundly disappointed by the proposal put forward by the Department for Transport,” he said in a statement.

“There is a vague promise for some time in the future. This isn’t jam tomorrow, but more like the possibility of jam some time, if we’re lucky, in a few years.”