Author: UK News

PMQs – PM faces Starmer ahead of Spring Budget 2023 PM Rishi Sunak will face Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer in this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions. The session is set to focus on the upcoming Budget (that’ll be announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt after PMQs). Starmer will attempt to poke holes in the Tories’ economic plans, and the PM is likely to deflect from questions about the Budget – and instead tell the opposition to wait for the Chancellor’s announcement on the Budget.  Sir Keir has challenged the Chancellor to get the UK “off this path of managed decline” ahead of…

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From pensions to pools: what to expect from Hunt’s spring budget The Guardian says Jeremy Hunt is due to set out the government’s plans for tax and spending in his first budget on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish updated economic forecasts and an assessment of the government’s finances for the next five years – running up to and beyond the next election. Here is what to expect. Government finances The OBR, which is independent of government, is expected to cut its inflation forecast for this year from 7% to nearer 4% and to provide a…

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Today’s news summary – Paper Talk Wednesday’s front pages lead with expectations and predictions for the Spring Budget – set to be announced at noon on Wednesday by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.  Spring Budget 2023 – Chancellor Hunt to unveil at noon The Financial Times reports that the Chancellor will unveil plans to boost business investment, labelling it a “budget for growth” and pledging billions of pounds towards this end. However, a Conservative official has warned that the statement will be deliberately cautious, and right-wing MPs have been cautioned not to expect significant tax cuts. Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph suggests that…

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London hit by 24-hour combined strike by Tube drivers and station staff A 24-hour strike by Tube drivers and station staff has caused major disruption to commuters in London on Wednesday. Transport for London (TfL) advised passengers to check their route before travelling, as almost all of the Underground network was closed and other services were likely to be busier and subject to delays. Roads were expected to be congested, particularly in areas where buses were slowed down. TfL also warned of possible disruption on parts of the Elizabeth Line and London Overground where stations are shared with Tube stops. …

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RAF and German jets intercept Russian aircraft In the first ever joint operation of its kind, RAF and German fighter jets have intercepted a Russian aircraft near Estonian airspace. The interception involved two Typhoons, which were scrambled to intercept an Il-78 Midas refuelling plane that was flying between St Petersburg and Kaliningrad and had failed to communicate with air traffic control in Estonia. The interception was part of planned joint Nato air policing by the British and German air forces in the region. While the incident was routine, it comes amid heightened tensions between Nato and Russia over the Russian…

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