Nigel Farage is offering voters a “scam”, Kemi Badenoch claimed.

Speaking at the FTSE 250+ conference in central London, the Conservative leader said: “We cannot, in my view, allow Labour to get away with saying that they’re the only option, and this is the only way, this managed decline.

“Or allow Farage, with no experience of legislating – he’s never in Parliament, let alone government – to just come in.

“Can you imagine 360 random people suddenly taking over government saying they are going to fix everything?

“We were there for 14 years, sweating and labouring, it was unbelievably difficult.”

She added: “How many of you would allow your businesses to be run by people who have never been in that business and say ‘come on in, I’m sure you can fix it’? That’s what he’s offering, it’s not real. It is a scam, and it’s my job to expose that scam.”

Young people are leaving the country because they don’t feel they can start businesses, the Tory leader said.

People should not be eaving london for Dubai, Kemi Badenoch added.

She suggested people should be leaving Dubai and heading to London because of attractive business opportunities.

The UK must bring down industrial energy costs, the Tory leader has said.

She said “we’ve got to fix” energy. She said wealther countries have a grip on energy while poorer nations don’t.

Kemi Badenoch has taken aim at Sir Keir Starmer’s negotiating deals in response to a question by the Express’s Political Editor Martyn Brown.

No one apart from the Conservative Party is making the argument for business, Kemi Badenoch has said.

Speaking at the FTSE 250+ conference in central London, the Conservative leader claimed the UK has “forgot that business is a good in and of itself, and it pays for everything. It is the source of our prosperity.”

Speaking to an audience of business chiefs, Mrs Badenoch added: “The challenge all of us in this room have now is that many people don’t believe this anymore.”

People instead believe “business hoards wealth” and is “greedy and needs to be taxed more” she said.

Mrs Badenoch continued: “This is a crisis. And the question before us is simple: Who has credible solutions?

“And I know many of you will be asking, why should we trust the Conservative Party? And I say because no one is making the argument for business… except me and my party.”

Increasing health spending is a “conundrum”, Kemi Badenoch said, after the Resolution Foundation think tank warned the UK risks becoming a national health state.

At the FTSE 250+ conference in central London, the Conservative leader was asked for her thoughts on the think tank’s warning.

She said: “It is a conundrum. I remember coming in to Parliament as a brand new MP, and we were talking about how we’re giving the biggest amount we’ve ever given to the NHS, record funding.

“We’ve been doing this again and again. I mean, who remembers the side of a red bus that said ‘we’re going to give the NHS £350 million more a week’?

“Many people don’t know that we did that. We did do that, and yet, still we’re not seeing the returns.

“We’ve put more and more money in, and we’re getting less and less out.”

Kemi Badenoch has pledged to cut taxes but “responsibly”.

She urged businesses to “get on the pitch” and help spur on enterprise.

Speaking at the FTSE 250+ conference in central London, the Conservative leader said: “My message to business is: I’m on your side, but I need you to be on mine too.”

She added: “You need to support policies that back enterprise, and you need to challenge those who want more state control. Don’t just wait for other politicians to do it. You need to get on the pitch too.”

Kemi Badenoch has begun speaking at an event on Thursday morning.

She starts by repeating pledges to scrap the inheritance tax raid on farmers and the VAT on private schools.

Rachel Reeves rejected the suggestion that she was a “Klarna Chancellor” who had announced a “buy now, pay later” spending review.

She said: “The idea that yesterday I racked up a bill that I’m going to need to pay for in the future, that’s just not right.”

Growth Commission Chairman Shanker Singham has issued the following response to the GDP figures for April issued this morning: “April’s GDP figures have come in worse than expected and this ought to set alarm bells ringing in the Treasury.

“We did expect a hit to the UK economy from the National Insurance increase, the continuing impact of extraordinarily high energy costs and the impact of the imposition of U.S. tariffs.

“But while the UK should benefit from the deal it has secured with the U.S. – effectively an agreement to negotiate a reduction in those tariffs – as the full effect of the tax increases and higher labour costs come into operation, we should expect the downward trend in growth to continue.”

Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, warned police officer numbers may be cut as a result of the spending review.

He said: “I remain concerned that this Spending Review could result in insufficient funding for the Met and fewer police officers.”

But Rachel Reeves has hit back, saying: “I really don’t accept there needs to be cuts when we’re actually increasing the money that the police force gets.”

She added: “If spending is going up by 2.3% above inflation, I do not accept the need for cuts.”

Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The UK’s partial trade deal with the US has offered some relief, but the lowering of tariffs on steel, aluminium and automotives is not yet fully assured.

“This continued uncertainty will inevitably hamper firms’ investment decisions and long-term growth prospects.

“Our research also shows 82% of firms think the National Insurance rise will impact their operations – hitting investment, recruitment and prices.”

Responding to GDP falling by 0.3% in April, the first month of figures since the employers’ national insurance rise came into effect and Trump’s tariffs came into effect, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

“At the spending review yesterday the Chancellor suggested that the country was on the up but today this claim has not survived contact with reality.

“Today’s figures should be a wake up call for the Government which has so far refused to listen to the small businesses struggling to cope with the jobs tax, worried that our high streets will be completely hollowed out and that our hospitality sector is hanging by a thread.”

Nicholas Hyett, investment manager at Wealth Club, said: “The UK economy is facing a cocktail of headwinds to growth, and slowed more than expected in April as a result.

“In the very short term the change to stamp duty rules have put the legal and property services on ice – with legal activities down 10.2% month-on-month. New barriers to trade with the US and changes to employment costs, from a higher living wage and increased national insurance contributions, are a longer term challenge. It looks like work was pulled forward to earlier in the year to avoid those headwinds and as a result we’re now seeing the inevitable economic hangover.

“It’s not the look the Chancellor would have liked for the media rounds after her big spending review announcement. Not only has the government consistently emphasised economic growth as a priority, but a shrinking economy will struggle to deliver the tax revenues the Chancellor needs to make the big spending commitments she outlined yesterday.

“The Chancellor will hope that the infrastructure binge that seems to be supporting the construction sector provides a little extra fuel to get the economy through this lull.”

Taking to X, Andrew Griffith MP said: “We said that April – the first month of this governments tax hikes – would be awful and today that’s been confirmed.”

See his full post below.

Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice slams April’s “catastrophic” fall in GDP.

Rachel Reeves says she doesn’t accept warnings that police will have to cut headcounts to balance the books.

She said: “There’s no reason for that to decline. Spending power of police is going up substantially”.

She admits she was not able to say “yes” to everything people wanted in the Spending Review.

Michael Saunders, a former member of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee and senior adviser at Oxford Economics, says the economy is likely to stay “sluggish” for the rest of the year.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The level of interest rates is still quite high, monetary policy is still quite tight, global trade uncertainty is high and that’s hitting exports from many countries around the world and the Government is tightening fiscal policy.

“Public spending is going up but taxes are going up even more, so the net effect is to reduce demand, and you can see that reflected – that vacancies are falling, job growth is slowing and unemployment is rising.

“The Chancellor said the UK was the fastest growing economy in the quarter among the G7 but I don’t think that’s going to be the case for the year as a whole.”

The Chancellor said the contracted economy in April was response to global uncertainties, including Donald Trump’s tariffs.

She skirts around a question from Sky News asking whether her April tax hikes were also a contributing factor by suggesting people knew National Insurance increases were incoming.

Read the full story here

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper MP said: “At the spending review yesterday the Chancellor suggested that the country was on the up but today this claim has not survived contact with reality.

“Today’s figures should be a wake up call for the Government which has so far refused to listen to the small businesses struggling to cope with the jobs tax, worried that our high streets will be completely hollowed out and that our hospitality sector is hanging by a thread.

“To tackle Trump’s tariffs, Ministers must stop cowering in the corner and get on with building an economic coalition of the willing with our European and Commonwealth neighbours.

“It’s time for the Government to get serious, scrap their damaging jobs tax and go for growth with a bespoke UK-EU Customs Union that will raise billions to re-build our public services.”

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride said: “Before the election Labour promised “growth, growth, growth” but today’s fall in GDP lays bare the disappointing consequences of Rachel Reeves’ economic vandalism. Yesterday, the Chancellor should have taken corrective action to fix the problems she has caused.

“But instead her Spending Review has all but confirmed what many feared: more taxes are coming. Under Labour, we have seen taxes hiked, inflation almost double, unemployment rise, and growth fall. With more taxes coming, things will only get worse and hardworking people will pay the price.”

The UK economy contracted by 0.3% in April, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Boris Johnson says Labour is “failing to show the leadership” needed to protect Britain.

The former Tory PM warned Britain’s defence budget is “feeble” despite Rachel Reeves saying spending would rise to 2.6% of GDP — including the budget of intelligence agencies — by 2027.

He told The Telegraph: “They [Labour] have wasted a big opportunity.

“My view is that this Government is completely failing to show the leadership that is needed to defend Britain and defend Europe.

“Labour are congenitally hostile to defence spending. Their grass roots are still basically Corbynistas who think Russia is a great thing. Those views are still highly influential in Labour.”

Rachel Reeves’ spending review has been slammed by Andrew Neil.

In a column for the Daily Mail, the former Sunday Times editor and GB News host and chairman described the review as “a piece of delusional drivel” that is “in a class of its own”, adding: “Even for a government which has become a stranger to the truth.”

He also warned of increased taxes in the autumn budget.

Tax rises are “almost inevitable” following the spending review, an economic expert has warned.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules, which she described as “non-negotiable”, coupled with the “small amount of headroom” in her spending plans, mean a tax increase is likely, according to Steven Millard.

The interim director of the NIESR economic research institute said: “It is now almost inevitable that if she is to keep to her fiscal rules, she will have to raise taxes in the autumn budget.”

Transport for London is set to receive its biggest cash injection in more than 10 years – but Mayor Sadiq Khan has hit out at potential cuts to frontline policing.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that TfL will receive £2.2bn over the next four years for its capital renewals programme, hailing the move as the “largest multi-year settlement in over a decade”.

The boost for the capital’s transport network was confirmed as part of the Spending Review on Wednesday, amid growing tensions between the Treasury and City Hall.

In addition to the TfL funds, the Treasury also revealed that £25.3bn would be set aside to help deliver the much-delayed HS2 line from Birmingham Curzon Street to London Euston.

But the good news for commuters was swiftly overshadowed by a fresh row over police funding, as Sir Sadiq Khan raised the alarm about the future of the Metropolitan Police.

The Mayor of London said he was “concerned” that Britain’s largest police force could be left with fewer officers because of squeezed budgets, warning of serious consequences for law and order in the capital.

The stark warning comes amid rising pressure on frontline services, as City Hall battles to balance the books and protect vital infrastructure and public safety across the capital.

The government has confirmed it will press ahead with plans to slash disability benefits, despite a growing rebellion among Labour MPs and fierce warnings from charities.

Reforms to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and the health top-up to Universal Credit are expected to be introduced to Parliament later this month, as part of a drive to cut nearly £5billion from the welfare bill.

More than 100 Labour MPs are understood to have raised concerns about the impact the proposed cuts could have on vulnerable people across the UK.

Campaigners and charities have issued stark warnings, with several describing the proposals as potentially “catastrophic” for those most in need of support.

The chair of the Commons’ Work and Pensions Committee has written to Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, urging the government to hold off until a full analysis is carried out.

The letter called on the department to delay the changes until an assessment of the impact on employment, poverty and health can be completed.

But despite mounting pressure from both within and outside Westminster, the government has stood firm, insisting the reforms will go ahead as planned.

Scotland is set to receive its largest funding package since devolution, after the Chancellor pledged a mammoth £52billion investment as part of the UK government’s latest spending review.

Rachel Reeves made the announcement in Parliament, promising a substantial financial boost for north of the border, with support for key sectors including defence, green energy, and technology.

The Scottish Government will receive an average block grant of £50.9bn per year from 2026-27 to 2028-29, marking a dramatic uplift in funding for the devolved administration.

Unveiling the review, Ms Reeves told MPs:

“This spending review provides the largest settlement in real terms since devolution was introduced.”

The package includes money to reboot plans for Britain’s most powerful supercomputer, along with development funding for a carbon capture project, and increased defence spending – all aimed at supporting economic growth, jobs, and innovation in Scotland.

The £52bn headline figure has been described by Westminster insiders as a “landmark commitment” that aims to strengthen the union while also supporting the UK’s broader strategy for green transition and technological leadership.

Rachel Reeves is eyeing up Elon Musk-style spending cuts to government waste in order to make the sums from today’s Spending Review.

The Chancellor’s plans have raised incredulous eyebrows after Treasury documents revealed she is banking on a whopping £13.8 billion in efficiency savings.

According to the document, entitled ‘net efficiency gains vs 2025-26 planned Resource Department Expenditure Limits’, it also puts Wes Streeting’s Department for Health on course for an enormous £9 billion of the total £13.8 billion savings.

Health is followed in a distant second place by Defence who have been told to find £905 million in efficiency savings, followed by HMRC with £773 million.

It comes as every department has been ordered to find at least 5% cuts from cutting waste.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, has told LBC’s Andrew Marr that some councils will raise Council Tax up to 5% to help fund local policing, telling Andrew, ‘Some councils go to 5% other councils don’t. It’s their decision what they want to do locally. But you’re right that there’s a precept part of the Council Tax payment, which goes to the local police, and we’re working on the assumption that councils will continue to raise Council Tax in different ways, in different places, but overall, that will go towards police forces and help what we call their spending power.’

The Tories have said Rachel Reeves has all-but admitted further tax rises on the way in the Autumn.

This evening Ms Reeves said that “taxes won’t need to go up to pay for what is in this spending review”.

They read that as an admission they will have to rise for further spending in the Autumn.

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said: “Now we know, taxes are coming.”

“Today’s spending review was nothing more than an exercise in obfuscation. Looks clear that tax rises are on their way.”

Nigel Farage has hit back after Rachel Reeves accused him of spending to much time at the Westminster Arms pub during her Spending Review.

The Chancellor took multiple swipes at Reform during her speech, suggesting Labour is scared of the insurgent party’s popularity.

Hitting back Mr Farage has just dropped a hilarious response on X.

Speaking to MPs at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party this evening, Rachel Reeves instructed them to ‘go out and sell’ today’s spending announcements.

The Times reports: “People are only going to know the good news that we set out today if we campaign on it, if we deliver the leaflets, if we speak to people on the doorstep, if we write those pieces for our local papers, that is how people are going to know that it is Labour making these differences.

“It’s not despite having this Labour government. It’s because of this Labour government…”

Laith Khalaf head of investment analysis at AJ Bell, one of the largest investment platforms in the UK, shared his views following today’s spending review: “Testing of the Winter Fuel Allowance at £35,000 creates more complication in the tax system.”

“This is all because politicians are terrified of confronting the public” he said.

Shaun Spiers, executive director at Green Alliance expresses his delight in response to the spending review: “It’s great news that the government has kept its promise to invest £13.2 billion in giving families warm, cheaper-to-run homes. This will increase energy security and fill a big gap in the government’s plans to curb climate change.”

The Chancellor has prioritised moving away from dirty fossil fuels – a win for WWF.

“Commenting on the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) Isabella O’Dowd, Head of Climate at WWF, said: “Today the Chancellor prioritised the need to move away from expensive, dirty fossil fuels.”

“Action to combat climate change by “investing in renewable energy” will have great benefits that will be “felt in people’s everyday life”.

Harry Quilter-Pinner, executive director at IPPR says that the government had to make “tough choices today.”

“He explains that there needs to be greater “investment in infrastructure, especially transport and housing…public services…the NHS and schools.”

“He acknowledges that there are still many subjects to review, leaving Labours “Job not yet done despite strides in the right direction”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham is disappointed in the results of today’s spending review : “Today was a missed opportunity to lay out the funding to tackle key issues.”

“Pitting workers against communities is not the answer.” She explained. The Labour government’s abstract plans for change need “vision and money”.

“Workers and communities need to see action now, promises of jobs can’t always be promised for tomorrow and never actually be delivered.”

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance isn’t convinced by Reeve’s breakdown of government spending : “Yet again politicians have failed to meet the challenge of fixing ballooning welfare bills and getting people back to work”

“He is sure that up until Autumn “there is going to continue to be harsh austerity for taxpayers”

CPRE chief executive Roger Mortlock shares his response to today’s spending review: “More cash for an Affordable Housing Programme is welcome and could make a real difference if it’s directed towards the escalating rural housing crisis.

“The way ‘affordable’ housing is defined, as 80% of market value, keeps many new homes out of reach for ordinary people, especially in the countryside.

“CPRE is calling on the government to redefine “affordable” housing in line with average local incomes.”

He continued: “What use are frozen bus fares if there’s no bus to take? A fifth of bus routes in the countryside have been cut since 2020, while rural communities receive only half as much public transport funding per head compared to those in towns and cities.

“The government should urgently ensure that rural communities see their fair share of the £15bn announced for public transport outside London.”

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: “Against a backdrop of other cuts, nursing staff will see the NHS being protected but not transformed by today’s spending plans. The Chancellor acknowledged the contribution of nursing staff, but the reality is patient demand is rising and the nurse workforce crisis is deepening. Ambition and the funding to match is required from government if its flagship reforms are to be successful.

“Shifting care from hospitals into the community will require significant investment to not just stabilise the profession but grow nursing roles. When the government lays out its vision for the future of the NHS and its workforce, it must say how it intends to reverse collapsing student recruitment, boost retention and deliver urgent, structural reform to nursing pay.

“Following the Chancellor’s speech, our members will give their verdict on whether the government is doing enough for the NHS in our live vote on the pay award.”

Responding to the Chancellor’s Spending Review, Tom Ironside, Director of Business & Regulation at the British Retail Consortium, said: “While acknowledging the challenges facing many of Britain’s high streets, the Chancellor announced plans for funding on a variety of issues important to retail.

“With the huge rise in retail theft and the continued impact of violence and abuse on retail colleagues, we welcome the announcement of an extra £2bn for policing, and we support the plan for an additional 13,000 neighbourhood police. The Chancellor wants people to feel safer on their high street, and it is vital that some of the additional policing resources are focused on addressing both violence and abuse in retail, with over 2,000 incidents every day, and shoplifting, which costs retailers and their customers over £4bn a year.

“Successful town and city centres are underpinned by an effective transport system which is why we support the funding aimed at improving transport in many parts of the country. Furthermore, as one of the biggest spenders on upskilling its workforce, the retail industry will welcome the increased funding for skills and training, and look forward to seeing more detail on the planned Skills & Growth Levy.

“Retail is the largest private-sector employer in the UK, touching the lives of all of us. As the everywhere economy we have a major role in creating jobs and boosting local investment. The next major test will come at the Budget, and the Chancellor’s plan for the future of business rates. We support plans to bring down the disproportionate rates bill paid by the industry, but it is vital that these new reforms result in no shop paying more.”

In response to Rachel Reeves’ announcement on school funding in today’s spending review, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “The news that the education budget appears to have been at least protected is welcome, particularly in light of other spending decisions being announced today. Education ministers have clearly made a strong case for protecting school spending in the context of a difficult overall spending review and should be congratulated for that.

“That being said, this is not a time for celebration, and it is clear that school budgets will remain under considerable pressure for some time to come. In light of ever-increasing costs, we are already seeing signs of schools having to make cutbacks, including to staff numbers. We also know that some of the increase in funding will be absorbed by the increased free school meal costs schools will be facing after last week’s announcement.

“There is no escaping the fact that despite the funding announced in this statement, schools will be operating in a challenging financial climate for some years to come. The demands being placed on schools are constantly increasing and are expected to increase further, with the government wanting to see more pupils with special educational needs (SEND) educated in mainstream classrooms.

“As part of the welcome schools white paper due this autumn, we urge ministers to put forward a clear plan and set of proposals for the future of SEND provision in this country, and stand ready to work with the government on the details.

“It is positive that the Chancellor recognised that many school buildings are unfit for purpose after years of under-funding under previous governments, and the increases in capital funding announced today are welcome. However, it is clear that much more investment is going to be needed to restore the school estate to at least a satisfactory condition after years of neglect under previous governments, with the National Audit Office estimating the cost at an eye-watering £13.8bn.”

Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust, said: “Nature and wildlife aren’t nice-to-haves. They underpin our health, our economy, our communities, and the food, water and air we need to survive. The Chancellor has recognised this and listened to the calls of the British public, together with those of the environment and the farming sectors, and maintained the budget for nature-friendly farming.

“However, this alone will not be enough to solve the problem. This Government was elected with a promise – and a legal obligation – to the public that it would turn around the shocking declines in nature. With UK wildlife still in freefall, we’ll be watching the Government’s next steps closely, including on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.”

National Energy Action Chief Executive Adam Scorer says: “The cost and suffering of cold homes and unaffordable energy bills will only be beaten in the long term through investment in home energy efficiency. It’s welcome that the Warm Homes Plan will be receiving the full Labour manifesto funding commitment.

“£13.2 billion can support a plan focused on those in the least efficient homes and on the lowest incomes. This can result in life changing outcomes for the most vulnerable households, helping us drive economic growth, reduce pressure on health services and meet legal targets, setting us on a path towards a fair and affordable transition to net zero. We have the financial commitment; now comes the time to deliver for the most vulnerable households.”

The director of policy and public affairs at The Wildlife Trusts, Joan Edwards said: “Comprehensive Spending Review would worsen the declines of wildlife. Fortunately, the Government has listened to the united call from farmers and nature organisations to protect England’s nature-friendly farming budget, one of the most cost effective and efficient ways to reach nature recovery and climate targets across vast swathes of the country.

“However, Defra will have an extremely tight budget and, against a backdrop of persistent inflation, there has been a real-terms cut to vital resource funding of around £130 million a year. This means that real risks to nature remain. We don’t yet have details on how regulatory bodies like Natural England and the Environment Agency will be funded, for example, and any cuts to their work has serious implications for nature recovery.

“The economy, food, and health all depend on a flourishing natural world, and we cannot afford to delay action to bring nature back and tackle climate change any longer. We continue to call for a vastly increased scale of ambition and for the UK Government to make good on its promise to restore wildlife and tackle the increasing effects of climate change on our lives.”

Here’s my take on today’s spending review, or as Reform’s Richard Tice accurately dubbed it, ‘rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic’.

The vast majority of departments that voters interact with, other than the NHS, are set for a brutal few years that are light years away from the sunlit uplands promised by Rachel Reeves at the election.

Cuts are coming – and if they’re not, your taxes will be going up.

We would love to hear from you!

Answer in our poll whether you think the Chancellor got the balance right in the Spending Review.

The Stroke Association charity has said they hope increased funding for the NHS will see a boost in treating the devastating condition, the fourth leading cause of death in the UK.

For years, the Daily Express has been fighting alongside the charity for increased funding for stroke treatments and rehabilitation of survivors, with around 100,000 people suffering strokes every year.

Juliet Bouverie OBE, CEO of the Stroke Association, said: “Today’s spending review brought the welcome news of increased funding for the NHS at a time when it is so desperately needed.

“Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability and the fourth leading cause of death in the UK.

“People affected by stroke are all too often plagued by the well-documented issues facing the NHS from ambulance delays to workforce capacity, and this can’t continue.

“We have long been calling for simple but effective measures to properly care for stroke patients whilst also ensuring the right financial decisions are made.

“Lifesaving thrombectomy could save £73 million a year if rolled out 24/7 nationally by reducing disability of stroke survivors.

“Expanding technologies like pre-hospital video triage could improve diagnosis and treatment times, reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and minimise costly delays in care.

“At a time when the health service faces so many challenges, we hope this injection of cash will be invested into stroke care to stop two-thirds of stroke survivors being left with a disability.

“To achieve this, we want to see a wider cardiovascular disease plan that includes a focus on stroke to follow the publication of the upcoming 10-Year Health Plan.”

Sadiq Khan appears furious about what he’s received from today’s spending review.

He says: “I remain concerned that this Spending Review could result in insufficient funding for the Met and fewer police officers. It’s also disappointing that there is no commitment today from the Treasury to invest in the new infrastructure London needs. Projects such as extending the Docklands Light Railway not only deliver economic growth across the country, but also tens of thousands of new affordable homes and jobs for Londoners. Unless the government invests in infrastructure like this in our capital, we will not be able to build the numbers of new affordable homes Londoners need.”

Responding to the Spending Review, Maxwell Marlow, Director of Public Affairs at the Adam Smith Institute, said:

“This Spending Review is a Parliament-defining moment, setting out a long-term vision for government expenditure. If it is to meet its plans to increase funding for the NHS, defence and transport, the government must urgently pursue serious supply-side reforms. Without cuts to red tape, the economic growth required to generate the necessary tax revenue simply will not materialise.

As the state continues to balloon in size, the government must remain vigilant in ensuring taxpayer money is spent wisely. Without reform, many of its plans risk becoming unsustainable. Nonetheless, the government’s renewed commitment to funding Research and Development is a welcome move. This is investment in its truest form – supporting life-changing innovations that make our lives happier, healthier, and longer.

The cost of government is already nearing record levels and is set to rise further. If these spending commitments are to be sustained without shifting the burden onto future generations, tax rises may become inevitable.”

The Unite Union’s chief Sharon Graham says:

“Whilst outside and inside the spending review, several of the demands Unite has been calling for have been met – for example Sizewell C, Rolls Royce SMRs winter fuel, increased defence funding, investment in the steel industry and Heathrow expansion – this spending review lacks the vision to deliver the fundamental change needed for everyday people.

“The UK is the sixth richest economy in the world, and we need to end this cautious cycle of robbing Peter to pay Paul. You can’t have an NHS without workers. Staff are crying out for fair pay increases to offset a decade of real terms pay cuts. Pitting workers against communities is not the answer

“Today was a missed opportunity to lay out the funding to tackle key issues, including the energy costs crippling British industry and the local authority debt which is straight-jacketing services in our communities.

“Spending cuts will be seen as austerity, those are the facts. Labour needs to pick up the pace on change otherwise it will be stuck in the political slow lane while other voices get louder.”

Responding to the spending review, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said:

“We now know there is going to continue to be harsh austerity for taxpayers as they stare down the barrel of yet more devastating tax hikes in the Autumn, all to fund a profligate, wasteful and bloated public sector.

“Yet again politicians have failed to meet the challenge of fixing ballooning welfare bills and getting people back to work, meaning the inevitable fiscal crunch looms large.

“Spending has to be brought under control so that we can cut taxes and bring down the national debt – but that means politicians have to be on the side of taxpayers and businesses, which unfortunately very clearly isn’t the case.”

Responding to the the line by line review of government budgets, Darwin Friend, head of research of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said:

“This was a rare piece of good news for those who care about fiscal responsibility but it is a bizarre decision for the chancellor to say she will reinvest savings into public services when the national debt is heading towards 100 per cent.”

Jemima Olchawski of the charity Mind is disappointed.

The biggest losers of today’s spending review are:

– Home Office (-1.7%)

– Housing and local government (-1.4%)

– Transport (-5%)

– Environment and Rural Affairs (-2.7%)

– Foreign office (-6.9%)

Stride brands today a “hopeless deceit, a masterclass of delusion.”

“Inflation is up, unemployment is up, growth is down, business and households are hurting, investors are fleeing in their droves.

“The bond market vigilantes circle, and here we have the Chancellor who refuses to listen.

“Not only tinfoil, but tin-eared too.”

Mel Stride accuses the Chancellor of further betraying rural communities.

He says: “It’s not enough to have hit the farmers in our country with a family farms tax. Today what we see in black and white is a choice to make further cuts to the vital grants on which farmers rely.”

“A huge betrayal of farming communities, and something of which her MPs in rural areas will have to go back to their constituencies to explain.”

A senior Tory source tells me: “OBR haven’t been allowed to review these numbers… don’t Labour say that would never happen with them?”

“I’ve never known a budge/spending review like it. Refusing to talk about department spending and just announcing loads of capital cash. Refusing to mention the elephant in the room – plus no OBR assessment. This is going to bite them so hard.”

Adrian Pabst of the NIESR think tank sets out why people feel worse off – and they’re not wrong. “The Chancellor is right to say that economic renewal has to be felt in everyday lives. For the poorest 40% of UK households, living standards have fallen sharply in the years 2019-24 and have not yet returned to levels prior to the spike in inflation in 2022.

“It’s far from clear how the Spending Review will boost those living standards by the end of this Parliament, especially given that spending cuts will likely hit public services on which the low-income households depend.”

The Adam Smith Institute warns: “The cost of government is already nearing record levels and is set to rise further. If these spending commitments are to be sustained without shifting the burden onto future generations, tax rises may become inevitable.”

Stride blasts: “Unemployment is up by more than 10% since Labour came to office.”

“The rt hon lady might trumpet extra spending today, but is the truth not that she has trashed the economy and left no contingency in the face of a highly volatile global outlook.

“She will have to come back in the autumn with more tax rises to fund these plans – or can she assure us that this is not the case? Yes or no.”

Mel Stride demands that Reeves promises no extra borrowing to fund today’s announcement.

And if so how will she do so without breaking tax promises.

He points out that the Winter Fuel u-turn has not been funded by an improvement in the economy, citing the IFS.

He slams Labour’s “ballooning welfare bill”, with a planned u-turn on the two child benefit cap after caving into the Labour left.

The OBR were not allowed to assess today’s spending review.

Stride says Reeves will be relieved as that means she doesn’t have to explain how she’ll fund her “humiliating” u-turn on winter fuel payments.

Read full sotry here.

Mel Stride says Rachel Reeves’ spending has left Britain wholly vulnerable to even the smallest changes in global borrowing costs.

He demands to know if she will be open about what she’s done – to borrow more and accept higher debts.

Or whether she’ll accept her higher spending is preventing a further fall to interest rates.

Mel Stride says Rachel Reeves promised to be the ‘iron chancellor’ but instead she’s proved a ‘tinfoil chancellor’.

“Flimsy and ready to fold in the face of the slightest pressure!”

He accuses her of lying to businesses over her pledge of no more taxes.

“Her own backbenchers, cabinet colleagues, union paymasters, the PM himself have all seen that she is weak, weak, weak!”

“They will be back for more and they will get it!”

He accuses Reeves’ spending plans of being a “fantasy”

Starmer and Reeves share a laugh as she takes a seat after delivering spending review.

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride says Reeves has ‘completely lost control’.

“This is a spend now, tax later spending review. The Hon. lady knows she will need to come back here in the Autumn with yet more taxes.”

“How can we possibly take this Chancellor seriously after the last 12 months?

“We were assured Labour’s plans involved barely any additional spending or borrowing… £100bns of additional spending over this parliament.

“The chancellor now expects us to believe she will let spending rise by only 1.2% a year – there is absolutely no chance of that happening!”

Rachel Reeves says she’s increasing the NHS tech budget by 50%, and £10bn to bring the NHS into the digital age including the NHS app.

Shifting care back to the community, and preventative healthcare.

“This investment will… put the NHS firmly back on the path for renewal.”

She announces a record cash investment in the NHS, increasing real terms spending by 3% every year – £29 billion.

Rachel Reeves has saved her biggest announcement of cash until last, turning to the NHS.

She says the cash is essential for a strong economy.

She blasts Reform UK’s policy of having an insurance-based model. She adds: “Perhaps the member for Clacton should focus on the needs of the British people and less time in the Westminster Arms – though perhaps after the events of last week the Two Chairmen might be a better fit!”

A reference to two popular pubs in SW1.

Read full story here.

£4.5bn extra for the core schools budget.

Reeves announces cash to tackle the use of temporary classrooms of £2.3bn to ‘fix our crumbling classrooms’.

£2.4bn to rebuild 500 schools.

Rachel Reeves confirms free school meals will be extended to over half a million more children.

It comes from the adding VAT to private school meals.

She also highlights new breakfast clubs with the rollout starting with 750 schools “so no child goes hungry”.

Reeves also announces £370m for school-based nurseries to ensure children are school-ready.

£555m for transformation funding so children don’t go needlessly into care when they could stay at home.

£130m will be allocated to fund facilities for young people for music sport and drama, as well as libraries in schools.

Rachel Reeves has run a line-by-line assessment of everything government spends for the first time in over 14 years.

She says she will save a large amount from this, but not how much.

This will be from efficiency savings, cutting waste, consultancy costs, selling government buildings and land.

Rachel Reeves announces plan to deliver in full Labour’s manifesto commitment to upgrade home insulation, which she claims could save £600 a year to a household

The Chancellor extends the £3 bus fare cap until at least 2027

Read the full story here

Reeves slams Tories for leaving prisons overflowing and on the brink of collapse.

The Justice Secretary is getting £7bn for 14,000 new prison places.

£700m a year into reform of the probation service too.

Police spending power is boosted by 2.3% in real terms over the next three years – £2bn extra.

This will help provide 13,000 extra neighbourhood policing roles.

Read full article here.

Rachel Reeves says renewal must be felt everywhere.

350 communities will receive extra funding for parks youth facilities, swimming pools and libraries.

Councils will get boosts for fly tipping and graffiti.

She says too often regeration projects are held back, so a growth mission fund will speed up projects that are important for growth, such as Southport Pier, Kirkcaldy seafront and high street, and Peterborough’s new sports quarter.

£52bn for Scotland, £20bn for NI and £23bn for Wales by the end of the spending review.

Reeves says she’s also providing a multi-year settlement of £118m to keep coal tips safe in Wales.

Reeves says she has a new ‘green book’ of Treasury investment rules to boost funding outside of London.

Rachel Reeves says £440 million for railways in Wales over the next 10 years.

She says it’s the difference made by two Labour governments working together to undo underfunding and neglect

Reeves is providing £2.5bn extra for the delivery of an east-west rail route between Oxford and Cambridge, which will also boost Milton Keynes.

Reeves announces new funding for transport projects, with £15bn of investments to connect cities and towns.

Buses, trains, trams in Leeds and metro extensions, and backing Doncaster airport.

She announces a four year settlement for Transport for London.

Other regions will receive a four-fold increase in local transport grants to make improvements.

Investing in major rail projects such as the transpenine route upgrade linking York, Leeds and Manchester.

1/4 of the route will be electrified by this Summer.

She also announces 3.5bn extra investment for this route.

In the coming weeks she’ll set out her plan to bring forward northern powerhouse rail plans.

Reeves says she has a plan to match the scale of the housing crisis.

She says social housing has been neglected for decades.

Rayner is “taking action” and Reeves announces the biggest council house cash investment in 50 years.

A new affordable homes programme with £39 billion over the next decade, with a focus on social rent.

Towns and cities including Blackpool, Preston, Sheffield and Swindon already have plans in place for those new homes.

Reeves announces a 2/3rds increase in the investment of the British Business Bank up to £25.6 billion to help pioneering businesses to start up and scale up.

Reeves says British unis are ‘world leading and we are proud of them’.

She announces R&D funding rising to a record high of £22bn per year by the end of the spending review.

She also confirms £2bn for the government’s AI action plan to boost jobs and investment.

Reeves claims credit for intervening to save the Scunthorpe steelworks.

Nigel Farage shouted: “That was us!”

Ms Reeves hit back it “wasn’t the action of that metal trader but of this Labour government”

She says Labour will invest in Scunthorpe’s future and steel across the country.

Heathrow has signed a UK steel charter to build the third runway with British steel.

New military hardware, trains and tramlines will also be build with British steel.

Read full story here.

Reeves says carbon capture and storage in Merseyside and Teesside will be added to by a new project in Aberdeenshire.

She calls it a “challenge and opportunity” with a sly namecheck for Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

Read full story here.

Rachel Reeves says Britain must be energy secure to avoid global instability.

“We understand that energy security is national security”.

She reiterates yesterday’s announcement about nuclear power, with a £14bn investment in Sizewell C and £2.5bn in a new small modular reactor programme.

She says the investment is just one step in her ambition for a full fleet of modular reactors.

Labour says they will end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers in this parliament.

She will cut the asylum backlog, hear more appeals cases, and return people who have no right to be here.

She says it will save £1 billion a year.

Read full story here.

Rachel Reeves says she is increasing funding for her border security command up to £280 million to tackle small boat people traffickers – up from £150m announced at the budget.

Rachel Reeves says defence spending will rise to 2.6% of GDP from April 2027 including intelligence agencies.

It’s an £11bn increase in defence, and £600m for intelligence agencies.

It’s funded by cutting overseas aid.

She says she will make Britain a ‘defence industrial superpower’

Rachel Reeves has tackled Nigel Farage for supporting Liz Truss’ mini budget, which he branded the best Tory budget since the 1980s.

She brands Reform as “simply not serious”

Rachel Reeves says she won’t be changing her fiscal rules about borrowing, as she doesn’t feel it’s fair to burden the next generation with debt.

She insists the fiscal rules allow her to invest while getting public debt down.

She claims this has allowed her to grow public investment by about £113 billion to “grow our economy”

A Tory MP sparked laughter when he heckled the Chancellor.

She was thanking her Chief Secretary to the Treasury for crunching the numbers and assessing liabilities.

Tory MP Charlie Dewhirst shouted: “He’s a liability!”

Ms Reeves says the purpose of this spending review is to ensure that working people feel the benefits of her economic growth.

Rachel Reeves insists she made necessary choices at the Budget and the Spring Statement, and is busy ‘removing the barriers to growth’.

She claims her decisions led to four cuts to interest rates, and real wages are up.

“The latest figures show we are the fastest growing economy in the G7”

She cites new trade deals with India, the US and EU.

“We are renewing Britain”

Rachel Reeves is on her feet for the spending review – here we go.

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride appears to be skim reading an advanced copy of Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement during PMQs.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told MPs: “I utterly condemn the violence that we have seen overnight in Ballymena and in other parts of Northern Ireland.”

Seventeen police officers have been injured following a second night of sustained violence in Ballymena, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has warned that the rioting “risks undermining” the criminal justice process into an allegation of a sex attack on a teenage girl in the Co Antrim town at the weekend.

Kemi Badenoch further called into question Sir Keir Starmer’s claims that the books have been balanced since Labour came into power last year.

She said: “He must be talking about a different economy. All of us in this House heard about unemployment increasing. Unemployment has increased every month since Labour took office. Last year he said he was taking the winter fuel payment away to balance the books. But the books are not balanced, in fact they are worse.

“This year the deficit is forecast to be £10 billion higher since the budget. Not since since last year’s election, since the budget. In what way are the books now balanced?”

The Prime Minister replied: “She’s obviously missed the interest rate cuts, the growth figures for earlier this year, the strategic defence review, local transport £15 billion going in, free school meals, Sizewell, social housing.

“She stands there to lecture us, and I see Liz Truss is obviously back in vogue. Advising Reform officially now, haunting the Tories, and I remind her that the shadow home secretary, I think he was then chief secretary to the Treasury, he gave a Liz Truss budget 9.5 out of 10. The leader of the Opposition said what was wrong with Liz Truss’s budget was not necessarily the package, that was alright, it was the way it was sold. They’ve learnt absolutely nothing.”

Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir Starmer of running away from his economic record.

Turning to the Government’s U-turn on winter fuel payments, Mrs Badenoch said that Sir Keir should “admit he made a mistake”, instead of coming to the House of Commons all “puffed up and self-righteous”.

Sir Keir hit back and said: “They left a £22 billion black hole that we had to fill and that is why we took the right decisions.”

Mrs Badenoch sought a promise from the Prime Minister that he would not put up taxes any further.

Sir Keir dodged the question and Mrs Badenoch said: “We all heard the Prime Minister. He didn’t rule out tax rises so they are going to have to put up taxes even more.”

Read full story here.

Kemi Badenoch and Keir Starmer has a spicy end to their exchange

The Tory leader said: “Isn’t the truth that we have got the wrong Chancellor and the wrong priorities?”

Sir Keir answered: “The wrong choice they made was making her the leader of the opposition”

Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK sanctioned Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to “uphold human rights and defend the prospect of a two-state solution”.

Speaking at the start of Prime Minister’s Questions, he said: “Acting alongside our allies, we have sanctioned individuals responsible for inciting appalling settler violence and expansion.

“We’ve done that to uphold human rights and defend the prospect of a two-state solution.

“We will continue to support all efforts to secure a ceasefire, the release of all hostages despicably held by Hamas and the humanitarian aid that needs to surge in.

“This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, in addition to my duties in this House. I shall have further such meetings today.”

Kemi Badenoch tore apart Keir Starmer’s economic record at Prime Minister’s Questions this lunchtime, as she accused the PM of being a “coward” by hiding from the truth.

Ms Badenoch hit back at the PM once again raised Liz Truss’s time in office, in an attempt to dodge answering the Tory leader’s questions about the state of the public finances.

Read the full story here

Labour MP Richard Burgon has quizzed Keir Starmer on whether the Government will drop plans to cut incapacity benefits.

Rachel Reeves shakes her head and mutters “no” under her breath.

He raised the issue following U-turns on winter fuel payment this week.

Kemi Badneoch has brought up a story which suggests the uK taxpayer will be funding tax cuts in Mauritius.

You can read the full story here.

The Tory says it reflects Starmer’s poor negotiating skills and slams it as a “bad deal”.

Kemi Badneoch said she gets better at PMQs each week while Keir Starmer gets worse.

She accused Starmer of “getting his lines from the Russian embassy” last week.

Mrs Badenoch adds: “He doesn’t know how to balance the books.”

There is deafening cheers and laughter as the Tory leder says she’s getting better at PMQs every week. Nigel Farage wearily puts his hand on his face.

Tory leader has accused Starmer of talking about Liz Truss because he’s “scared” about talking about his record on the economy.

She slammed him as a “coward” and pressed him on U-turning on the winter fuel payment.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch takes aim at Keir Starmer’s progress on the economy as she takes to her feet in the Commons.

Chris Philp MP, Shadow Home Secretary, said: “15,000 illegal Channel crossings and its only June – 2025 is the worst year ever for small boat crossings so far. While traffickers and criminal gangs rake in millions, Labour Ministers stand in Westminster rehearsing soundbites. This is a total collapse of border control.

“How many more records does Keir Starmer need to break before he finally admits his plan is failing? He should never have scrapped the removals deterrent the previous Conservative Government put in place.

“Only the Conservatives have a serious, deliverable plan to end ECHR obstructions, introduce a binding annual cap on migration, implement measures to actual deter these crossings, and restore control of who comes into this country. Britain cannot wait any longer.”

Ann Davies raises the case of a constituent for legislating for murders where bodies are desecrated.

Keir Starmer says the Justice Minister will be in touch “at the first opportunity” to take this forward.

The Express covered the issue earlier this week.

Keir Starmer begins Prime Minister Questions by wishing Commons Speker Lindsay Hoyle a happy birthday for yesterday.

He also marks the eighth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

The Chancellor gave an update on the Spending Review that she would present today.

She said the decisions at the Autumn Budget to raise taxes and change the fiscal rules unlocked significantly higher investment in public services and growth. She said this government has made its choices, and it is only possible to support today’s investments in public services and the economy if you support the difficult decisions that were needed to fix the foundations of the economy.

She said the Spending Review would invest in economic growth, creating jobs and backing British industry in all parts of the country; economic security with investments in defence, protection of our borders, and energy security; and public services including health and education.

She said we have seen interest rates fall and real wages grow faster in the first ten months of this government than the first ten years of the previous government, but that not everyone in the country is yet feeling the benefits, and so the government would now get on with delivering the promise of change, investing in jobs around the country, and the public services that people rely on.

The Prime Minister opened today’s Cabinet by saying it was an “important day”, marking a new chapter in this government’s plan to invest in working people’s priorities.

He said that last year tough but necessary decisions had been taken to fix the foundations of the economy, and as a result today the government can set out plans to significantly increase investment in public services and growth.

He said we have already seen the difference this government can make with announcements in recent days on free school meals, new nuclear and affordable housing.

The Prime Minister added that today marks the end of the first phase of this government, as we move to a new phase that delivers on the promise of change for working people all around the country and invests in Britain’s renewal.

Q1Ann Davies (Caerfyrddin)

If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 11 June. (904537)

Q2Dr Simon Opher (Stroud) (904538)

Q3Alex Easton (North Down) (904539)

Q4Richard Burgon (Leeds East) (904540)

Q5Henry Tufnell (Mid and South Pembrokeshire) (904541)

Q6Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South and Walkden) (904542)

Q7Margaret Mullane (Dagenham and Rainham) (904543)

Q8Chris Webb (Blackpool South) (904544)

Q9Claire Young (Thornbury and Yate) (904545)

Q10Darren Paffey (Southampton Itchen) (904546)

Q11Joani Reid (East Kilbride and Strathaven) (904547)

Q12Adam Thompson (Erewash) (904548)

Q13Peter Lamb (Crawley) (904549)

Q14Cat Eccles (Stourbridge) (904550)

Q15Emma Foody (Cramlington and Killingworth) (904551)

Our political editor Martyn Brown is in the chamber ahead of pMQs and the Spending Review. He says Yvette Cooper has just arrived, stern-faced.

She is understood to have been the last Secretary of State to agree spending with the Chancellor in crunch talks

The Commons chamber is steadily filling up ahead of PMQs and the Spring Statement.

In fact, the Labour benches are already packed. The Tories have some catching up to do.

Speaking at the health service’s annual NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester, NHS chief executive Sir Jim Mackey told colleagues the service would always “want more money”.

But he described the amount allocated to it in the Spending Review as “what the country can afford to give us”.

Sir Jim said: “The NHS has done really well relative to other parts of the public service, but we all know it’s never enough because of the scale of advancement, all the ambition, all the things we want to do, the day-to-day cost pressures.

“We’re always going to be in a world where we want more money, but I think everyone’s starting to accept and understand that we’ve got what the country can afford to give us, and we really need to get better value for that money.

“It is broadly the equivalent of the GDP of Portugal, so it’s a huge amount of money by any standards.

“The Government has done us a really good turn compared to other parts of the public service, but it’s not going to allow us all to just take our foot off the pedal.”

The NHS had recently faced “turbulent times”, Sir Jim said, including the “extreme moment” when Sir Keir Starmer announced the abolition of NHS England to radically reform how the health service is run.

A supercomputer at Edinburgh university is set to receive £750mn as part of today’s spending review.

The £750mn will be accompanied by a further £1bn investment into the AI Research Resource, a separate cluster of computers for AI research by academics and industry, according to two people briefed on the plans.

The Prime Minister is leaving No10 Downing Street for the Common where he will answer questions from MPs.

The Chancellor has just left Downing Street and will now make her way to the Commons for Prime Minister’s Questions.

This will be followed by her Spending Review which is expected to take between 30 minutes and one hour.

I’m told that the Chancellor’s Spring Statement could last up to an hour….

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has already warned that any increase in NHS funding above 2.5% is likely to mean real-terms cuts for other departments, or further tax rises to come in the budget this autumn.

This could mean a budgetary squeeze for areas such as local government, the justice system and the Home Office, despite reports that policing would receive an above-inflation settlement.

The Chancellor has already insisted that her fiscal rules remain in place, along with Labour’s manifesto commitment not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster now 2/1 amid speculation over whether Rachel Reeves could be replaced at a summer reshuffle.

William Hill spokesman Lee Phelps said: “Just as Rachel Reeves prepares to make her latest spending plans announcement, Pat McFadden has shortened in the betting to replace her.”

“McFadden has been cut from 5/2 to 2/1 to be the next Chancellor of the Exchequer, making him the firm market favourite and reflecting growing speculation around Reeves’ future in the role.

“Darren Jones (4/1) also remains in the mix, while Torsten Bill has moved into 8/1 from 12/1, but McFadden’s momentum suggests he’s increasingly seen as next in line should a change come.”

The Chancellor has warned that she faces “tough choices” as she sets out how the Treasury will allocate its money this lunchtime.

The weekly clash is merely an Hors d’oeuvres before the main event. But it could be a tricky session for Keir Starmer

The Express’s Martyn Brown brings us the latest on the Spending Review from Westminster.

Lee Harris, political commentator from GB News, shares his thoughts before today’s Spending Review.

He says: “The only thing I want to hear from Rachel Reeves today is her resignation.

“She’s a liar, she’s heartless, she’s utterly incompetent, and she’s destroying the economy.

“Worst Chancellor of the Exchequer in history.”

A newly installed security fence lines the pavement outside Old Palace Yard beside the Houses of Parliament in London.

The new fencing considerably extends the height of the already existing security barrier and partially obstructs much of the view of the side of the estate, one of London’s most iconic buildings

Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “It may partly be due to a weakening labour market raising hopes that forecasts for more interest rate cuts will stay on track”

“But so far, the headlines released about spending commitments appear to have kept investors in UK government debt on side, but details will be dug through, particularly when it comes to capital spending commitments.”

Migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel.

Pictures show new arrivals wearing life jackets being brought to shore in a Border Force boat in Dover, Kent, on Wednesday.

They are the first to make the journey to the UK so far this month after a record first five months of the year bringing the provisional total so far to 14,812 arrivals.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy will have talks with the European Union and Spain in Brussels as a post-Brexit deal on Gibraltar appears close.

Mr Lammy held talks with Gibraltar’s leaders, members of the opposition and the business community before leaving the British overseas territory to head to Brussels on Wednesday morning.

Talks on rules governing the border of Spain and Gibraltar have been ongoing since Britain left the European Union in 2020, but an agreement has not yet been reached.

The PA news agency understands that a deal has not yet been reached and there are still a number of sticking points.

A Foreign Office source said: “We’re working to secure an agreement that works for the people and businesses in Gibraltar.

“An agreement that will protect British sovereignty, supports Gibraltar’s economy and allows businesses to plan for the future.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will give the Home Office an extra £680m – spread over the next four years – for border police, surveillance equipment and drones, it has emerged.

The Home Office is facing a tough Spending Review.

But Ms Reeves will give the department an extra £100m to combat illegal migration this year.

The Home Office will then receive another £580m over the following three years.

Daily Express Political Editor takes a spin through where he thinks Rachel Reeves will splash the cash and who will lose out

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall arrives in Downing Street

The Home Office is set to be one of the main losers in today’s Spending Review.

The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, and Chancellor Rachel Reeves were still locked in talks over the weekend as they desperately tried to reach a deal.

Ms Cooper was even said to be on resignation watch amid fears the Government could fail in its mission to tackle knife crime and violence against women and girls.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will hold a Cabinet meeting before the Spending Review.

Shadow Environment Minister Victoria Atkins Britain’s farming community deserve some good news in today’s Spending Review.

Rachel Reeves’ Spending Review statement is expected to last no more than half an hour. During which time she’ll set out the government’s spending plans until 2029. There’s expected to be a boost for the NHS and Defence as well as housing an major infrastructure projects. But the Chancellor is expected to scythe through spending for other government departments with the Home Office likely to bare the brunt

Rachel Reeves must make clear at the spending review that she is not going to come back for more tax rises at the autumn Budget, the Tories said.

Richard Fuller, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, set out what he wanted to see when the Chancellor stands up in the House of Commons just after 12.30pm.

He told Sky News: “I think first of all, is the Chancellor taking the steps necessary in the spending to avoid another round of tax increases in the autumn.

“We already last year had the largest tax increase for a generation, public borrowing is already ahead of target and so today it is very important that she sends the signals that she is not coming back for additional taxes.

“Second of all, this Government has made a big thing about this being a zero-based review, first time for 17 years, you would therefore expect quite significant changes in the way in which departments work, where the funding goes.

“And then number three, is she being serious about waste, is she being serious about pushing for increased productivity improvements?”

Rachel Reeves has sparked fury by extending the £3 cap on bus fares until 2027. The Chancellor is expected to confirm the extension of the cap beyond 2025 at Wednesday’s spending review.

Paul Kohler MP, Liberal Democrat transport spokesman, said: “Household budgets are still really feeling the squeeze, so many will be really disappointed to see that the Government is moving to make the bus fare hike permanent.

“This will hit those who rely on public transport to get around to their local high street or to work and school in the pocket. People have been telling them they got this wrong, but Labour clearly isn’t listening.”

Read the full story here

Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, is set to be one of tomorrow’s big winners, on course to be handed an extra £30 billion over the spending review period to increase day-to-day NHS funding by 2.8% in real terms each year.

John Healey, the Defence Secretary, will also receive a big boost thanks to Keir Starmer’s promise to slash foreign aid spending to fund an uplift in military spending to 2.5% of GDP.

Former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps says Parliament must block the Chagos Island “sellout”.

Mr Shapps warns Rachel Reeves will hammer Brits with “billions in debt” whilst hitting spending of key Government departments.

Former Business Secretary Kevin Hollinrake has warned of the devastating impact tax hikes have on jobs and businesses.

Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith slammed “classic socialism” and accused Labour of attacking family businesses.

Rachel Reeves will unveil her spending review on Wednesday, arguing that her priorities are “the priorities of working people”.

The Chancellor is expected to focus on “Britain’s renewal” as she sets out her spending plans for the coming years, with big increases for the NHS, defence and schools.

Arguing that the Government is “renewing Britain”, she will acknowledge that “too many people in too many parts of the country are yet to feel it”.

She will say: “This Government’s task – my task – and the purpose of this spending review is to change that, to ensure that renewal is felt in people’s everyday lives, their jobs, their communities.”

Among the main announcements is expected to be a £30 billion increase in NHS funding, a rise of around 2.8% in real terms, along with an extra £4.5 billion for schools and a rise in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP.

But Wednesday could present a tough prospect for other government as the Chancellor seeks to balance Labour’s commitments on spending with her fiscal rules.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has already warned that any increase in NHS funding above 2.5% is likely to mean real-terms cuts for other departments, or further tax rises to come in the budget this autumn.

She will say on Wednesday: “I have made my choices. In place of chaos, I choose stability. In place of decline, I choose investment. In place of retreat, I choose national renewal.

“These are my choices. These are this Government’s choices. These are the British people’s choices.”

Former Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf has warned a quarter of a million fewer people are working since Labour’s disastrous budget last year.

A series of measures have already been announced amid concern in Whitehall over the impact of the Spending Review on departments like the Home Office and Ministry of Justice.

They include:

– £15.6 billion for public transport projects in England’s city regions;

– £16.7 billion for nuclear power projects, including £14.2 billion for the new Sizewell C power plant in Suffolk;

– £39 billion over the next 10 years to build affordable and social housing;

– An extension of the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027;

– £445 million for upgrades to Welsh railways.

The Chancellor is also expected to announce changes to the Treasury’s “green book” rules that govern whether major projects are approved.

The Government hopes that changing the green book will make it easier to invest in areas outside London and the South East.

Daily Express Senior Political Correspondent Christian Calgie has written a handy preview:

The Chancellor has vowed that her announcements will “invest in Britain’s renewal”, with new cash to boost living standards and fund major projects up and down the country.

However, her failure to secure economic growth after a year in the job, and pledges not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT, mean tough times lie ahead for a number of key departments.

House of Commons library analysis suggests that unprotected departments – those whose budgets aren’t ring fenced – could have their funding cut by nearly £5 billion in real-terms.

Last night a Treasury press release name checked transport, security and health as those areas set for funding wins today.

By contrast, spending on police, councils, housing, the environment and culture will all feel the pinch over the coming years.

The Chancellor is expected to focus on “national renewal” as she sets out spending plans for the coming years.

Rachel Reeves will argue her priorities are the “priorities of working people”.

She will say the Government is “renewing Britain” but will admit “too many people in too many parts of the country” are yet to feel that.

Ms Reeves will say: “This Government’s task — my task — and the purpose of this spending review is to change that, to ensure that renewal is felt in people’s everyday lives, their jobs, their communities.”

She will also say this afternoon: “I have made my choices. In place of chaos, I choose stability. In place of decline, I choose investment. In place of retreat, I choose national renewal.

“These are my choices. These are this Government’s choices. These are the British people’s choices.”

More cash for the NHS, defence and schools is expected in the spending review that will be unveiled by Chancellor Rachel Reeves later.

However, there are also likely to be squeezes for other departments.

The review will set out day-to-day spending plans for the next three years and capital spending plans for the next four.

Hello and welcome to our live blog on the spending review set to be unveiled by Chancellor Rachel Reeves this afternoon in the House of Commons.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates, analysis and more.