UK Spending Review 2025 delivers 'mixed bag'
Owen Mapley, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), has called the Spending Review 2025 a 'mixed bag'.
'Much to welcome, but long-term sustainability remains unresolved for many public services,' Mapley said in response to the UK government's Spending Review announced on 11 June 2025.
Mapley noted that while additional funding for the NHS and defence was confirmed, many unprotected areas received little relief.
'For frontline services, significant pressures and concerns around long-term stability are likely to endure,' he said.
Local government was highlighted as a sector set to benefit from a longer-term funding settlement.
However, Mapley expressed reservations, stating: 'Serious concerns remain about the sector's overall sustainability.'
He said that key challenges including funding gap for social care remain unaddressed.
On the NHS, Mapley acknowledged the positive impact of increased investment but cautioned that 'the demands on these resources will be immense.'
He emphasised that delivering transformation through technology and modernisation would be crucial for the NHS to achieve sustainability and support the forthcoming ten-year health plan.
Mapley concluded by noting the complexity of the review, saying, 'Crunching the Spending Review numbers, and considering the multiple documents released alongside the review, may reveal a clearer picture. CIPFA looks forward to considering the details over the coming days and weeks.'
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an additional £29bn per year for the NHS in England, alongside increased funding for defence and housing, as part of the government's spending plans extending to the end of the decade.
Reeves also pledged further investment in artificial intelligence and transport projects. However, the review brought tighter budgets for some departments, with the Foreign Office and environment department facing constraints on day-to-day spending.
"UK Spending Review 2025 delivers 'mixed bag'" was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand.
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