Budget cuts Plans justified as ministers 'mission wash'

Ministers are trying to "mission-wash" every item of spending in their departments, according to officials, before a spending review at which Rachel Reeves has demanded they justify every pound they receive.

- Kiran Stacey Jessica Elgot

Sources have told the Guardian that secretaries of state and their officials are looking for ways to link their spending to one of Labour's main priorities - growth, net zero, crime, education, immigration and the NHS - to avoid sharp budget cuts this summer.

The chancellor has demanded that departments justify how all their programmes serve the government's main priorities or risk having their funding removed as she is expected to look for cuts to unprotected departments of at least 1% a year.

Anything that negatively affects growth will not be approved, the Treasury has told departments.