The chancellor will promise “historic” investment in roads, railways, broadband and scientific research in his first budget, as the government tries to deliver on its promise to level up the UK.
Much of Rishi Sunak’s first major statement on Wednesday will be devoted to the emergency measures the Treasury will take to cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus.
But he will also seek to draw a line under a decade of Conservative austerity, by promising to boost spending on infrastructure and innovation. It is understood the funding could be more than £600bn over the five-year parliament – although most of this is money already pledged.