chancellor and the chief secretary to the treasury, darrenjones met patients and staff at a hospital in maidstoneine services could be improved. speaking to media afterwards, the chancellor was asked whether this spending review will lead to a return to austerity. budgets in this parliament will increase. that is the envelope that we set at the budget and the first phase of the spending review in october. but it is absolutely vital that we get value for money for every pound of taxpayers money spent, especially when taxes are so high. and we're asking people to pay so much. and that's why we're really going to be driving productivity and efficiency and cracking down on wasteful spending in public services to make sure that every pound of taxpayers�* money is spent well. have you bought your christmas presents yet? if not, have you thought about getting something second—hand or pre—loved? known as �*thriftmas�* it�*s a growing trend, as more of us are avoiding buying brand new. nina warhurst reports. giving gifts that have been bought second hand can be a way to cut costs, and research shows it�*s

she'll outline the approach alongside nhs workers today at maidstone hospital , workers today at maidstoneospital, promising savings and efficiencies to focus on the government's so—called plan for change. departments will be pushed to cut waste. aligning budgets with priorities set by prime minister sir keir starmer. the review kicks off as rachel reeves launches phase two of the spending review this afternoon . spending review this afternoon. the boss of thames water has defended paying executive bonuses as the firm pushes for a 59% hike in customer bills to avoid collapse. chris weston says competitive packages are essential to attract top talent. despite a 40% rise in pollution incidents and debts now nearing £16 billion. the regulator , £16 billion. the regulator, ofwat, has already blocked thames from using bills payers money for bonuses and will decide next week if the new proposed increases can go ahead. critics , though, blame the water critics, though, blame the water industry's focus on profits for decades of neglect, with unions now calling for thames water to be taken back int

she'll outline the approach alongside nhs workers today at maidstone hospital , nhs workers today atmaidstone hospital, promising savings and efficiencies to focus on the government's plan for change. departments will be pushed to cut waste, aligning budgets with priorities set by prime minister sir keir starmer. the review kicks off as rachel reeves launches phase two of the spending review later this afternoon. the billionaire nick candy is set to become reform uk's treasurer , accusing the uk's treasurer, accusing the conservatives of too many broken promises as he resigned his tory membership. candy, a close friend of nigel farage, called reform the future of british politics and vowed to raise funds to secure its success in the next general election. the property tycoon, married to actress holly valance, was pictured with donald trump and nigel farage at mar a lago in 2022. reform boosted by tory defections, has described candy's appointment as its latest coup ahead of may's local elections . latest coup ahead of may's local elections. hundreds of latest coup ahead of may's loca