A murky mild start in the south with strong winds, strongest being across the Pennines and exposed western coasts with rain spreading eastwards later. Turning
Outbreaks of rain soon spreading into Northern Ireland and Scotland, then spreading erratically eastwards into Wales and western England during the afternoon. Largely dry but often cloudy elsewhere. Feeling mild, but winds strengthening throughout the day, especially in the west. Tonight: A windy night, with outbreaks of rain spreading across all parts. Heaviest and most persistent rain across western hills, with some clearer albeit showery conditions arriving into the northwest later.
Yang Tengbo – also known as Chris Yang – has been named as the alleged Chinese spy who was close friends with Prince Andrew. PM Keir Starmer has played down allegations of a Chinese network of spies operating across Britain, and Andrew has been uninvited from royal events this Christmas.
Yang also had contact with two former British prime ministers – Theresa May and David Cameron. Allegations of spying have led for calls for Britain to reassess how it manages its relationship with Beijing.
Lucy Letby’s defence team is to seek a fresh appeal on the grounds that the chief medical witness for the prosecution changed his mind about how some of the babies in her case died. Letby’s barrister Mark McDonald said he would take the ‘exceptional, but necessary, decision’ to apply to reopen her case.
The rate of price rises in the UK increased to 2.6 per cent in November, as a hike in tobacco duty and petrol costs drove inflation higher.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced the latest monthly Consumer Prices Index (CPI) reading on Wednesday, up from 2.3 per cent in October.
The inflation level swung back above the Bank of England’s 2 per cent target in October, largely because of household energy bills being pushed up as the price cap rose.
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UK inflation increases as cigarettes and petrol drive price rises
The naming of the alleged Chinese spy makes the front pages – as does his friend Prince Andrew, who’s continuing to feel the heat over his connections to the businessman that MI5 believe is a security threat to Britain.
There is coverage of several ongoing domestic stories including calls from Lucy Letby’s lawyers for a review of her murder conviction after a key witness ‘changed his mind.’ There’s also a light splattering of Brexit and budget stories on the front pages.
The latest Premier League gossip leads the back pages, with scandal at the heart of Man Utd following a line-up leak and assessments of the dire situation Manchester City have found themselves in this season so far.
Metro reports that Yang Tengbo – also known as Chris Yang – has been named as the alleged Chinese spy who was close friends with Prince Andrew. The paper notes Yang asked for the court order that kept him anonymous to be lifted so he could deny the allegations against him.
The FT reports on Yang’s denial of being a Chinese spy in which he says he has “fallen victim” to a changed “political climate.” The paper says the case has “reignited debate about the extent to which the UK government should be reviving relations with Beijing”.
The i has a similar take and looks at the allegations against Yang in the context of politics. The paper says the government is planning to allow UK security services to “monitor foreign nationals” like Yang. It means individuals linked to states like China, Russia and Iran will face “fresh scrutiny,” the paper adds.
The Guardian leads on those plans. The paper looks at the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme and highlights comments from the security minister who said the government would lay the regulations for the scheme in the new year. The paper also highlights that no decisions have been made on whether China would be designated as an enhanced risk country.
The Daily Mail also has a political take asking why the prime minister is still ‘sucking up to Beijing’. The paper says the PM admitted he was concerned about the challenge but “doubled down on his policy of engagement and co-operating with the state.”
The Daily Telegraph looks closer at the relationship between Yang and Prince Andrew. The paper says Yang’s links to the prince include that he was a founding member of Prince Andrew’s Pitch@Palace China scheme, which, according to the paper, Andrew financially benefitted from.
The Times says Yang was Andrew’s “chief representative in Beijing” and highlights that the Chinese national had “contact” with at least two prime ministers and “senior business representatives”.
The Daily Mirror asks “How many more?” whilst expressing fears over a “growing network of Beijing spooks at large in Britain.” The paper highlights comments from former Tory leader Ian Duncan Smith who said “There are many more involved in this kind of espionage. China is very clear on that.”
The Sun reports that Andrew’s latest scandal has seen him uninvited from royal Christmas events. Sources tell the paper that Andrew won’t be joining his relatives at Sandringham this year and will stay in Windsor with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
The Daily Telegraph reports Lucy Letby’s defence team is to seek a fresh appeal on the grounds that the chief medical witness for the prosecution changed his mind about how some of the babies in her case died.
The Independent says Lucy Letby’s barrister Mark McDonald said he will take the ‘exceptional, but necessary, decision’ to apply to reopen her case.
The Daily Express says McDonald has delivered a press conference where he claimed fresh evidence will “significantly undermine” her convictions.
The problem isn’t the Chinese businessman. The problem is Prince Andrew.
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The Bank of England is poised to leave interest rates on hold this week after a jump in inflation and uncertainty over the Budget’s economic impact.
Policymakers are expected to keep rates at 4.75 per cent at their next meeting on Thursday after making cuts in August and November.
Although inflation fell below the BoE’s two per cent target in September, the latest official figures showed it jumped back up to 2.3 per cent in October.
The reading marked the sharpest rise in two years and was higher than economists had expected, mainly due to rising energy bills.
https://www.cityam.com/bank-of-england-set-to-hold-interest-rates-after-inflation-surprise/
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