Liz Truss to push ahead with unlimited ‘investment zones’ despite costs row

Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng in Kent earlier this month. The chancellor did not put a costing on the policy in his mini-budget last week. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Liz Truss is preparing to push ahead with an unlimited number of “investment zones” despite a row within the government that it could hand an uncosted blank cheque of tax breaks to businesses.

The Treasury is believed to have raised concerns about “carpet bombing the entire country” with investment zones, with the government about to announce an appeal for areas to apply within days – as the Conservatives prepare for their annual conference in Birmingham.