As reported by the Telegraph, Mr Jones said he’d noted that traffic “flows more freely” when traffic lights are not working in his constituency, and added that he would consider a pilot in this area after Philip Hollobone, a Conservative MP, said this could relieve congestion.

Mr Hollobone said in the Commons: “One of the problems for local bus passengers is congestion and delays, and people in Kettering always say that when the traffic lights stop working, the traffic flows much better.

“So given that you are responsible for local roads, will you consider undertaking a pilot where we could switch traffic lights off and get traffic and buses flowing more freely?”

Earlier this year, the Institute of Economic Affairs published research showing that reducing the number of traffic lights on UK roads by 80% could reduce unnecessary delays that cause a loss of up to £16bn a year.

Dr Richard Wellings, head of transport at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: “It’s quite clear that traffic management has spread far beyond the locations where it might be justified, to the detriment of the economy, environment and road safety.”