Labour pledges 'decade of national renewal' with hospitals, schools and jails revamped

DILAPIDATED schools, hospitals and prisons will be revamped in a 10-year drive to fix the "fabric" of the nation.

- Jonathan Walker

The Infrastructure Strategy, costing at least £725billion, also includes the biggest investment seen in the water sector - £7.9billion on projects including nine new reservoirs.

In a "pipeline" of schemes revealed in the coming weeks, Chancellor Rachel Reeves will also confirm plans for a new "Northern Powerhouse" rail line linking Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield, .

But Conservatives warned a lack of skilled staff to carry out building work, worsened by the decision to push up the cost of hiring staff by increasing national insurance, put the projects at risk.

Shadow Chief Secretary Richard Fuller said: "Labour has increased national insurance and is proposing new employment regulations, both of which will disproportionately affect the construction sector." Mr Fuller also said there was "very little detail" about how most of the money would be spent.