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.