Tory pledge to build 40 ‘new’ England hospitals likely to be delayed until after 2030

Exclusive: Delay to key pledge of last Conservative manifesto likely to anger MPs who wanted action before next election

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The health secretary is set to signal a major delay to one of the headline promises in the last Conservatives manifesto by suggesting the delivery of 40 new hospitals in England is likely to be pushed back until after 2030.

In a move that will spark anger among MPs who wanted “spades in the ground” before the next election, government sources said Steve Barclay would make the announcement on Thursday.