The prime minister’s spokesperson warned ministers that their departments would just have to be “more productive” after members of the cabinet complained about potential spending cuts from the Budget.

But there are fears that steep spending cuts will also be needed to meet what Whitehall sources have suggested is a £40bn funding gap. In what some say is an unusual move, ministers from hard-pressed departments are calling for a last minute rethink of the Budget,

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,

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.

Some Cabinet members are alarmed at the scale of cuts being sought to plug a rumoured £40bn gap.