Good night. Oliver Dowden has insisted the government is taking steps to guard against foreign interference in response to China’s espionage allegations. Furthermore, Jeremy Hunt outlined his priorities ahead of the Autumn Statement.
Dowden on China: UK in state of ‘constant vigilance’
The Deputy Prime Minister has said that the Government maintains a state of “constant surveillance” to guard against foreign interference after the revelation that a parliamentary investigator had been arrested on suspicion of spying for China. We are expanding our live political coverage tonight to bring you the latest updates as the story develops. Oliver Dowden told the House of Commons that the Government will do “whatever is necessary to protect our national security”.
Hunt says tax cuts ‘unlikely’
Jeremy Hunt has said that it is Tax cuts ‘unlikely’ in the November Autumn Statement. The Chancellor said there will be no more money to spend because inflation has been “tougher and interest payments on debt higher”. Hunt said his priority would be to reduce inflation and that he was being careful not to “pump extra money into people’s pockets”. Adam Mawardi brings you the latest updates about our Business Live Blog Until the night.
Pubs will charge more for pints when they are busy
Britain’s biggest pub chain is charging drinkers more at peak times, making a pint of beer 20p more expensive at the weekend. Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, has introduced so-called “dynamic pricing” at around 800 sites across the country. The plan involves pubs increasing the price of a pint when their premises are busiest to help cover rising costs.
Afternoon Briefing: Today’s Essential Headlines
Sara Sharif | Five children who traveled from the United Kingdom to Pakistan with Sara Sharif’s father They have all been found by the police. at his grandfather’s house. Muhammad Sharif, Sara’s grandfather, who has repeatedly denied having been in contact with her fugitive son, the children said He had been hiding inside his home, but did not say for how long.
