Markus Andrews

With the dust barely settled on Rachel Reeves’ first major spending review since Labour’s return to power, debate is already raging over the scale, shape, and consequences of the chancellor’s plans.Unveiled to MPs at 12.30pm today, Reeves’ review promises sweeping investment in the NHS, affordable housing, transport and nuclear energy – all under the banner of what she calls “Britain’s renewal.” Among the pledges: £30bn for the NHS, £39bn for social and affordable housing, £14.2bn for nuclear, and billions more for AI and public transport in the North and Midlands.Supporters of the review argue it strikes a necessary balance between fiscal discipline and public investment. Reeves herself insists it will “make working people better off” without raising taxes or borrowing for day-to-day spending. Others, such as senior economists in Labour’s policy circle, have welcomed the focus on infrastructure and science as critical to long-term growth.But critics are already lining up. Police chiefs, including Sir Mark Rowley, the head of the Metropolitan Police, have warned of “far-reaching consequences” if budget squeezes lead to a drop in frontline policing. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner reportedly resisted signing off on spending cuts until the final hours, fearing damage to border control, housing and social care. Outside Whitehall, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has accused the government of reviving an “anti-London agenda” by neglecting the capital’s transport needs. And the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned bluntly that “sharp trade-offs are unavoidable” — with many departments bracing for stealth austerity.So what do you think? Has Rachel Reeves delivered a spending review that invests wisely in Britain’s future? Or is Labour already falling short of the promises it made just weeks ago?We want to hear from you. Share your thoughts on Rachel Reeves’ spending review in the comments and vote in the poll below – we’ll feature the most compelling responses and discuss the results in the coming days.All you have to do is sign up and register your details – then you can take part in the debate. You can also sign up by clicking ‘log in’ on the top right-hand corner of the screen. More

The new chairman of Reform UK has said there is a “very strong case” for the death penalty – 24 hours after Nigel Farage said he would not support its reintroduction. Dr David Bull, a former medical doctor, has said he would support the return of capital punishment for criminals such as Axel Rudakabana, who murdered three girls in a mass stabbing at a children’s dance class in Southport.“For those people, I think there is a very strong case that I would support the death penalty,” Dr Bull, who succeeded Zia Yusuf as Reform’s chairman on Tuesday.David Bull said ‘yes’ when asked if burqas should be banned More

Sir Keir Starmer appears to be heading for a number of major U-turns amid growing concern from MPs about the direction of government and following a devastating performance at the local elections. The prime minister last month announced plans to reverse his controversial cuts to winter fuel payments, saying he wants more pensioners to be eligible for the benefit – a move that has now been confirmed.There is also a growing expectation he will lift the two-child benefit cap. While nothing has been announced yet, the prime minister is privately said to be in favour of lifting the cap – but has refused to commit to anything until the child poverty strategy is published in the autumn. Below, The Independent looks at all the times Sir Keir has U-turned on his promises or let voters down on the journey from Labour leader to prime minister.Sir Keir Starmer has been repeatedly accused of u-turning on key issues More

Rachel Reeves will today make one of her biggest statements to MPs since Labour’s general election victory. The chancellor will unveil the results of her line by line spending review, setting out the budgets of government departments until the end of the decade. The review will be the first conducted by a Labour government since Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown’s comprehensive spending review in 2007. And it will see Ms Reeves walk the tightrope between delivering on the party’s election promises while seeking to squeeze within her self-imposed fiscal rules. Rachel Reeves is braced for a row over her spending review More

It was a disgruntled backbencher who summed up the mood in Labour ahead of tomorrow’s spending review announcement by Rachel Reeves.“You don’t become a Labour MP to make cuts,” the MP said, looking at the prospect of at least £5bn needing to be slashed across government departments – including housing, local government and policing – to fulfil the chancellor’s spending plans. The billions of pounds of necessary savings, estimated by the House of Commons Library, was a calculation made before the chancellor committed herself to another £1.25bn of spending a year by restoring the winter fuel payments to 9 million pensioners.When the chancellor gets to her feet after Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, she will no doubt be cheered by the Labour MPs behind her.But the reality is that much of the applause will be performative rather than heartfelt.Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner are at odds behind the scenes More

Sir Keir Starmer appears to be heading for a number of major U-turns amid growing concern from MPs about the direction of government and following a devastating performance at the local elections. The prime minister last month announced plans to reverse his controversial cuts to winter fuel payments, saying he wants more pensioners to be eligible for the benefit – a move that has now been confirmed.There is also a growing expectation he will lift the two-child benefit cap. While nothing has been announced yet, the prime minister is privately said to be in favour of lifting the cap – but has refused to commit to anything until the child poverty strategy is published in the autumn. Below, The Independent looks at all the times Sir Keir has U-turned on his promises or let voters down on the journey from Labour leader to prime minister.Sir Keir Starmer has been repeatedly accused of u-turning on key issues More