Cabinet ministers have written to the Treasury to complain about departmental cuts being proposed ahead of this month's Budget and spending review. Whitehall sources have suggested that the government is facing a £40bn gap in funding public services that would have to be filled by tax rises.

Senior UK ministers have written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressing their alarm at the scale of spending cuts that their departments face in the country’s Oct. 30 budget, people familiar with the matter said.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday joined forces with chancellor Rachel Reeves to face down a cabinet revolt over plans for “grim” curbs to public spending next year. Reeves has faced resistance from a number of ministers over her plan to rein in public spending in 2025-26,