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Added on the 15/03/2023 13:09:38 - Copyright : Euronews EN
Britain's economy will rebound this year and not shrink as initially thought, but will grow far less than expected next year, finance minister Jeremy Hunt says as he presents his Autumn Statement to parliament. Gross domestic product will expand 0.6 percent in 2023, Hunt said citing the Office for Budget Responsibility fiscal watchdog, upgrading its prior forecast of minus 0.2 percent. GDP is then set to grow by 0.7 percent in 2024, which was sharply down from previous guidance for a 1.8-percent expansion. SOUNDBITE
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer (finance minister) Jeremy Hunt makes the traditional appearance with the Secretary of State's red box as he leaves 11 Downing Street to deliver his first budget to Parliament. The budget is expected to include more help on soaring energy bills and childcare costs, but the government is set to stand firm on rising public sector pay demands as the country endures a fresh wave of strikes. On Wednesday, teachers, civil servants, junior doctors, BBC journalists and London Tube drivers all walked out with UK inflation remaining above 10 percent. IMAGES
New British Prime Minister Liz Truss says she will "take action this week" on the energy crisis in the United Kingdom, as Britons tighten their belts in response to double-digit inflation and soaring energy costs. SOUNDBITE
Fuel tankers leave a depot in Grays, Essex, as the British army is set to begin delivering petrol to fuel stations after fears over tanker driver shortages led to panic buying and forced the government to offer visa waivers to foreign truckers to plug the shortfall. IMAGES
Britain says it will suspend 30 out of 350 arms exports licences to Israel, citing a "clear risk" they could be used in a serious breach of international humanitarian law. "These include equipment that we assess is for use in the current conflict in Gaza," says British Foreign Minister David Lammy. SOUNDBITE
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says people taking part in far-right riots will "feel the full force of the law", following hundreds of arrests and ongoing convictions, while visiting a mosque and meeting members of the Muslim community in western England. "We need to make sure that in the coming days, we can give the necessary reassurance to our communities. Many of whom, I've been talking to some this morning, are very anxious about the situation," he tells reporters. IMAGES