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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Jack Simpson

Blow to AstraZeneca vaccine project as Reeves plans funding cuts

AstraZeneca Jeremy Hunt Merseyside Rachel Reeves
Vials labelled 'AstraZeneca Covid-19 Coronavirus Vaccine' and a syringe in front of an AstraZeneca logo
AstraZeneca’s chief executive announced last month that it was ‘absolutely ready to go’ with the scheme and hoped the investment could be concluded quickly. Photograph: Dado Ruvić/Reuters

A £450m plan to expand an AstraZeneca vaccine-manufacturing site in Merseyside has suffered a blow after it emerged the government plans to cut some of the funding for the scheme.

It is understood the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is considering reducing the state aid earmarked for the scheme by more than £20m after her predecessor, Jeremy Hunt, had promised the pharmaceutical company £65m.

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