London

UK CHANCELLOR Rishi Sunak fired the starting gun on a comprehensive review of government spending for the coming years, warning of "tough choices" for some departments in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The review, which had been planned before the outbreak hit, will be published in the latter half of the year, the Treasury said in a statement Tuesday. Budgets will grow above inflation as the government seeks to reduce economic disparities and boost infrastructure.