Rachel Reeves orders investigations into £600m of Covid contracts

Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, will say in her speech that ‘billions of pounds of public money’ was given to ‘friends and donors of the Conservative party’. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Rachel Reeves will announce on Monday that she has ordered investigations into more than £600m worth of Covid contracts awarded under the Conservatives as Labour struggles to get back on the front foot over questions of ethics.

After days of bruising allegations over donations, the chancellor will confirm that she will refer more than half of contracts for material such as masks to the incoming Covid corruption commissioner, after the previous government recommended dropping any attempt to investigate them.