AG百家乐在线官网

Live

Politics latest: Big moment for Rachel Reeves as the chancellor prepares to unveil her spending review

The chancellor will unveil her long-awaited spending review today, which will set out detailed plans for how individual government departments will be funded over the next three years. It will determine how much cash public services receive.

Why you can trust Sky News
Chancellor's spending review is a 'crucial moment' for Labour, says MP

Dr Jeevun Sandher says the spending review is a "crucial moment" for the Labour Party, and is all "about making us better off".

The Labour MP, who sits on the Commons Treasury committee, says that Britain has faced the "most serious and difficult times in almost a century".

He tells Sky News: "These are the most serious times for any government in this century, we have to rise to the challenge, and part of rising to the challenge in a democracy is being honest with people about where we stand."

Addressing the chancellor's spending review directly, Sander says Rachel Reeves is making long-term investments for the future. 

He adds: "We're making decisions today, yes making people better off in the short-run, but also years to come, decades and even generations."

No ministers are speaking to the media this morning, as the government prepares for the spending review. 

The cabinet will be meeting at 9.30am to rubber stamp the review, before the full details (few of which haven't already been trailed already) will then be announced in the Commons at lunchtime.

Politics at Sam and Anne's: Who'll win and who'll lose in the spending review?

Today's Politics at Sam and Anne's has dropped.

After weeks of haggling between government ministers, Labour announce today how they plan to apportion cash around departments for the foreseeable future.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Labour say this comes as the government has "fixed the foundations" and introduced stability to the economy. They say the economy is "turning a corner". 

But is that totally true? And which sectors are the big winners and losers from this major statement of intent from Labour?

Tories accuse government of 'spending money it doesn't have' in spending review

The Conservatives say the spending review will be the "spend today, tax tomorrow spending review".

Mel Stride has argued that the plans due to be unveiled by Rachel Reeves this lunchtime will see the government "spending money it doesn't have, with no credible plan to pay for it".

The shadow chancellor said in a statement: "Rachel Reeves talks about 'hard choices' - but her real choice has been to take the easy road.

"Spend more, borrow more, and cross her fingers. This spending review won't be a plan for the future - it will be a dangerous gamble with Britain's economic stability."

He went on: "Today, we'll hear slogans, spin and self-congratulation - but not the truth. Don't be fooled. 

"Behind the spin lies a dangerous economic gamble that risks the country's financial future."

Stride will respond to the chancellor's spending review in the Commons after she has finished speaking.

More money expected for schools, the NHS and defence in chancellor's spending review

The chancellor will unveil her spending review this lunchtime - and it's thought that some public services will be clear winners. 

The plans, which will lay out how billions of pounds will be spent over the next three years, are expected to give cash boosts for schools, defence and the NHS. 

Rachel Reeves will detail the plans in a speech from the despatch box in the Commons, where she will recognise that "too many parts of the country" are yet to feel the benefits of government investment.

The chancellor will pledge that "renewal is felt in people's everyday lives, their jobs, their communities".

Other big winners of the spending review are expected to include transport in England, where bus fares will continue to be capped at 拢3 - this was due to expire at the end of the year. 

The chancellor will also announce the "biggest-ever local transport infrastructure investment" in England's city regions, totalling 拢15.6bn.

Science and tech will also benefit, with Reeves already announcing billions in funding for the Sizewell C nuclear power station yesterday. 

Meanwhile, 拢39bn for a new Affordable Homes Programme over the next 10 years is set to be unveiled, with the government seeking to ramp up housebuilding to hit its manifesto pledge of 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament.

The chancellor is expected to say the choices made in the spending review "are possible only because of the stability I have introduced", following the autumn budget. 

Reeves will say: "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."

Good morning and welcome to the Politics Hub this Wednesday, 11 June. 

But of course, it isn't any old Wednesday in Westminster - today will see the chancellor finally unveil her spending review. 

This is a massive deal for both Rachel Reeves and the government. 

The spending review will set out detailed spending plans for individual government departments for the next three years. It determines how much cash is spent on public services, such as policing, the NHS, and prisons. 

The funding agreed by the chancellor will also play a key role in determining whether the government can hit its targets on key issues, such as housing. 

The budgets for schools, defence and the NHS are all expected to be boosted, while others are likely to lose out. 

All will be revealed after PMQs at 12.30pm, when Reeves will make a statement in the Commons, which is expected to last about an hour.

She is expected to say that Labour "is renewing Britain" but acknowledge that "too many parts of the country are yet to feel it".

Her speech will be followed by a response from Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, at around 1.30pm.

However, before all of that, ministers will gather in Downing Street for cabinet at 9.30am. 

Then, MPs will file into the Chamber for PMQs, Sir Keir Starmer's weekly jousting match with Kemi Badenoch.

Expect the rest of the day to then be dominated by the spending review and the fall-out from this. 

Coming up on Sky News: 

  • Dr Jeevun Sandher, member of the Treasury select committe; 
  • Richard Fuller, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury;
  • Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrats' Treasury spokesperson;
  • Dame Meg Hillier, Labour MP and chair of the Treasury select committee.

We will bring you all the latest updates on the spending review and more right here on the Politics Hub.

Good night

That's it for tonight.

Join us again tomorrow for the spending review and all the associated coverage.

Here's what to expect from the spending review tomorrow

This spending review is a massive deal. It's a massive deal because of the sums of money and capital the government is about to allocate - 拢600bn over the next three to four years.

But it is also a massive political moment as the Labour government tries to turn the corner on a difficult first year and show voters it can deliver the change it promised.

It is not, say No 10 insiders, another reset, but rather a chance to show 'working people' why they voted Labour. Look at the blitz of announcements over recent days, and this is a government trying to sell the story of renewal.

On Tuesday, the prime minister and his energy secretary, Ed Miliband, announced the biggest nuclear building programme for half a century, with 拢14.2bn being poured into Sizewell C on the Suffolk coastline to create over 10,000 jobs over the next decade and provide energy security.

Last week, the chancellor announced 拢15bn for new rail, tram and bus networks across the West Midlands and the North. She's also expected to green-light a new rail line between Liverpool and Manchester on Wednesday, and invest capital in housebuilding.

In total, there will be 拢113bn of additional capital investment, which the government will frame as the long-promised 'decade of renewal' around the three pillars of security, health and the economy.

US condemns UK sanctions on Israel - and urges U-turn

It was noticeable that the sanctions imposed on Israel by the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Norway were not backed up by the United States.

We've now had a response from Washington.

Marco Rubio, the secretary of state - equivalent to foreign secretary - says he "condemns" the move, and wants the sanctions removed.

He mentions Gaza in his statement, despite the sanctions being targeted on actions in the West Bank - a separate geographic area.

In a post on social media, Rubio says: "The United States condemns the sanctions imposed by the governments of United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia on two sitting members of the Israeli cabinet. These sanctions do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war.

"We reject any notion of equivalence: Hamas is a terrorist organization that committed unspeakable atrocities, continues to hold innocent civilians hostage, and prevents the people of Gaza from living in peace. We remind our partners not to forget who the real enemy is.

"The United States urges the reversal of the sanctions and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel."

A spokesperson for the State Department earlier said the move was "extremely unhelpful".

They added that "it will do nothing to get us closer to a ceasefire in Gaza" - adding that the nations should "focus on the real culprit: Hamas".

The spokesperson said: "We remain concerned about any step that would further isolate Israel from the international community."

拢3 bus fare cap to be extended until March 2027

It's spending review eve, which means announcements are continuing to dribble out ahead of the main event.

The latest is that the 拢3 cap on bus fares will be extended until March 2027.

The bus fare cap - which Labour increased to 拢3 last year - was introduced in January 2023 under Rishi Sunak at 拢2.

It is part of a scheme to improve transport in England, outside of London.

We haven't had any detailed info on the announcement, but Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has posted on social media: "Buses provide a lifeline and opportunity for people across the country.

"Keeping fares affordable is a top priority for me, as our landmark Buses Bill overhauls how services are delivered.

"Better buses are around the corner with Labour."

The Labour Party social media account also shared the news.

When will energy bills start to come down?

The government has been trumpeting its multibillion pound vow to get Sizewell C built today.

The new nuclear plant in Suffolk has been talked about for years, but Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer have today talked up the prospect of finally getting it built - as the UK embraces green power.

Energy minister Michael Shanks joined Ali Fortescue a little while ago, and she asked him when people will benefit via cheaper bills.

"Bills will start to come down the more we push gas off the system," Shanks said. "Gas is the price setter 80% of the time at the moment, it's subject to the volatility of fossil fuel markets set internationally. 

"Every wind turbine we put up, every solar panel we switch on, and every megawatt we generate鈥� will push gas off the system and protect bill payers in the long term."