With only two days remaining until the government reveals its much-anticipated Spending Review, supporters and critics alike wait with bated breath amid cabinet disagreements and arguments.
On the 11th of June Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves will take centre stage in unveiling the spending review, during which she is expected to focus heavily on the £113 billion of new capital investment. The shift comes in a bid to achieve a level of tangible change ahead of the next general election as public discontent grows for Labour’s docile economic approach.
The most contentious point of the review would appear to be police funding, which has seen Home Secretary Yvette Cooper continuously at odds with Reeves, arguing a lack of police funding needs to be addressed before Wednesday if the government wants to deliver on its crime-related promises.
Elsewhere, housing has been shrouded in disagreement and dissatisfaction, stemming from the camp of Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, who does not think the Review adequately reflects Labour’s identification of housing as a priority issue.
During her address, Reeves will argue the spending review will prove the government’s extensive borrowing has not gone to waste, instead fuelling economic growth, employment opportunities and private investment.
It is projected the major winners of the review will be health, defence, transport, and justice, with funding for a series of large infrastructure projects also to be unveiled, such as the new Sizewell C nuclear power station and East West Rail.
The capital investment fund is also likely to include schemes aimed at housebuilding, as Labour attempts to meet its new home target of 1.5 million, alongside school and hospital rebuilding.
However, according to The Guardian, capital spending cannot stop expected cuts in day-to-day spending, meaning extremely tight settlements for departments, with savings expected to be sourced from policing budgets, local government, civil service cuts, foreign aid, education, and culture.
What exactly the spending review has in store for the UK and its many struggling sectors remains to be seen. Atticus Partners will closely follow Reeves’ announcement, along with the plethora of commentary it is sure to receive throughout the week.
What’s on in Parliament
Monday 9th June
House of Commons
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Oral Questions: Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Legislation: Planning and Infrastructure Bill – remaining stages (day 1)
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Backbench Business: Breast cancer screening rates in Bassetlaw.
House of Lords
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Oral Questions: Regulations of spending by political parties on elections.
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Oral Questions: Changes to National Insurance contributions effect on charities.
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Legislation: Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill – Committee Stage (day 3)
Tuesday 10th June
House of Commons
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Legislation: Planning and Infrastructure Bill – remaining stages (day 2)
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Oral Questions: Energy Security and Net Zero
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Legislation: Data (Use and Access) Bill [Lords]: consideration of Lords message.
House of Lords
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Oral Questions: Reducing delays for taking a driver test
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Oral Questions: Reasons for reported rise in corporate liquidations
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Legislation: Employment Rights Bill – Committee Stage (day 8)
Wednesday 11th June
House of Commons
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Prime Minister’s question time
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Oral Questions: Wales
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Legislation: Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill: Second Reading
House of Lords
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Oral Questions: Protecting children against abusive online communication
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Oral Questions: UK’s job market
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Legislation: Holocaust Memorial Bill – Report Stage
Thursday 12th June
House of Commons
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Oral Questions: Business and Trade
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Backbench Business: General Debate on the Distibution of SEND Funding
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Backbench Business: General Debate on the Fifth Anniversary of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
House of Lords
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Legislation: Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Committee Stage (day 4)
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Oral Questions: Establishing an ethics and integrity commission
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Oral Questions: Ensuring young people over 16 receive adequate financial education
Friday 13th June
House of Commons
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Private Members’ Bills: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Remaining Stages.
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Private Members’ Bills: Access to Telecommunications Networks Bill: Second Reading
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Private Members’ Bills: Public Sector Exit Payments (Limitation) Bill: Second Reading
House of Lords
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Legislation: Statutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill – third reading
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Legislation: Environmental Targets (Public Authorities) Bill – committee stage
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Legislation: Asylum Report (Prescribed Period) - committee stage =
Consultations
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Regulation of the debt enforcement sector – closes 21st July
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New prison in Buckinghamshire – closes 29th June
Statistics
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Wholesale fruit and vegetable prices – Published 9th June
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General Enquiries Service Standard Data – Published 9th June
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Supporting Families programme: annual report 2024 to 2025 – Published 9th June