RISHI SUNAK promised today to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 — despite the release of documents showing possible delays of up to five years.

The Prime Minister doubled down on the 2019 Tory manifesto pledge the day after he called the general election.

But contracts for the New Hospital Project have been quietly updated by the government to “reserve the right to extend the term of the contract, in whole or in part, for up to a further four years, to no later than March 31 2035,” the Mirror revealed.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said the Prime Minister was “either lying to the public or doesn’t have the first clue what’s going on in his own government.”

The public accounts committee in November said it had “extreme concerns” about the “lack of progress” on the new hospitals programme.

The government has not yet announced a winning bidder, with costs to rise up to £800 million if extended until 2035.