Departments like Defra and Culture, Media & Sport are facing outright cuts, and not only to staff costs. Funding for the Home Office is squeezed and if "stopping the boats" doesn't succeed and spend in asylum support doesn't fall then other areas will need to adjust. Overseas aid was cut by 40% and

departments are supposed to "find efficiencies" equivalent to 5% of spend, which is another way to say cuts. This is Spending Review 2025

The govt have already cut the asylum backlog in half, saving £bns. Yes govt departments are cutting their spend, but mainly by headcount reductions. You’re seeing tories where there aren’t.