Watchdog considering review into Boris Johnson’s 40 ‘new hospitals’ pledge

Boris Johnson’s election pledge to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 is facing a review by the Government’s official spending watchdog. The National Audit Office is planning a “value for money review” that could consider increasing costs due to spiralling inflation and whether the hospitals will be new. The investigation emerged in a letter from NAO comptroller Gareth Davies to shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, after the Labour MP warned of a waste of taxpayers’ money.