A decision by the government to stand down no-deal preparations on Brexit has prompted anger over the £4.2bn spent on the plans.
The halting of all operational planning for a no-deal Brexit with “immediate effect”, has been called “a disgrace”.
A prominent NHS doctor gave a breakdown on how the money could have been spent - including 91,000 nurses or 78,000 doctors.
Labour MP Stella Creasy said just a “quarter of the money ... would have made a massive difference” on tackling knife crime.
The decision to stand down no-deal preparations by the Civil Service was taken at a meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill, according to a leaked email seen by Sky News.
The move follows the agreement by EU leaders to grant a further Brexit delay to October 31.
Critics have questioned how many lives could have been saved if the money had been spent on tackling knife crime or homelessness, while others lamented the chronic underfunding in schools and social care.
Rachel Clarke, a palliative care doctor tweeted how much could have been spent on public sector jobs.
Labour’s Stella Creasy pointed out how funding for early intervention youth work has been cut at the same time as the government was able to find £4bn.
Referring to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling’s doomed Brexit ferry deal, she said: “Even just a quarter of that money wasted, a Grayling Ferry’s worth, would have made a massive difference.”
Actor and comedian David Schneider raised a number of areas the money could have been spent on including building new homes to tackle the housing crisis.
Labour MP Darren Jones joined the chorus of disgust calling the government a “disgrace”.
Meanwhile, Andrew Adonis said the news proved the threat of a no-deal Brexit was “always a bluff”.
Several social media users pointed out that Theresa May must have found a magic money tree, a throwback to a comment she made during the 2017 general election campaign.
At the time, the prime minister came under fire for telling nurses “there is no magic money tree” to increase their pay during an election special of BBC Question Time.
In response to criticism, Brexit minister James Cleverly, defended the decision to shelve plans, saying there was a “world of difference” between ongoing no-deal preparation and the planning required for an imminent no-deal.