Articles by Athena Stavrou

Technology

Rachel Reeves heads to Saudi Arabia on trade deal mission as Autumn Budget looms

Rachel Reeves will head to Saudi Arabia on Monday as she looks to strengthen the UK’s economic relationship with the country, briefly leaving behind the growing speculation at home on the upcoming Autumn Budget. The chancellor will use the visit to Riyadh to try to make progress on a trade deal with the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), meeting senior Saudi royals, US administration figures and global business chiefs. The Treasury hope an agreement struck with the GCC, which also includes United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, could add £1.6 billion to the UK economy and contribute an additional £600 million to UK workers’ annual wages in the long term. It comes less than a month before Ms Reeves will announce her potentially difficult Budget, with the chancellor thought to be under pressure to break a pre-election Labour pledged not to increase income tax or National Insurance. On the eve of her trip to Saudi Arabia, Ms Reeves said: “I am taking Britain’s offer of stability, regulatory agility and world-class expertise directly to one of the world’s most important trade and investment hubs, making that case in our national interest. “After our landmark deals with the US, EU and India, we’re determined to build on that momentum by going further and faster on partnerships that create good jobs, boost business and bring investment into communities across the UK – from the North East to the Oxford-Cambridge corridor.” The hope of a trade deal and investment from abroad is not likely to stop the ongoing speculation on the Budget in the UK this week, with experts and commentators debating how Ms Reeves will fill a shortfall, estimated to be between £30bn and £40bn. Ministerial sources have told The Independent that changes to the top rate of income tax have been discussed within government. The Mail on Sunday reported Ms Reeves is considering a new mansion tax which would hit owners of properties with an annual charge of 1 per cent of the amount by which its value exceeds £2 million, meaning a £10,000-a-year levy for homes worth £3 million. The Sun on Sunday suggested she was considering a manifesto-busting 2p hike to income tax. Health Secretary Wes Streeting admitted there were issues with the economy and said households were also feeling the squeeze. However, he would not be drawn on “wild speculation about the Budget” ahead of Ms Reeves’ statement next month. He told GB News: “We’re going to wait for the chancellor to set out her Budget. People can see the public finances are in a challenging state. “So is the economy, but also so are family finances, so are business finances, we recognise that, we’ve got to get our economy growing again.” In Saudi Arabia, Ms Reeves is expected to set out an ambition to work constructively towards this on both sides in her conversations with Gulf counterparts, while acknowledging “areas of divergence and cultural differences”, according to officials. She will speak at the Fortune Global Forum on Monday and FII – nicknamed Davos in the Desert – on Tuesday to persuade business leaders that the UK is a stable investment destination.

Technology

Weather map: Where will it rain across the UK on Sunday?

As the clocks go back on Sunday morning, much of the UK will be waking up to a day of rain and wintry conditions. Following a chilly Saturday for most, the evening brought showers across some western and northern areas, merging into longer spells of rain in the west, the Met Office said. Sunday will bring a mainly dry and bright start, however cloud and rain will gradually sweep across the country. This will begin in the northwest, and reach the southeast in the early evening, the Met Office said. “This weather system will move in from the northwest through Sunday and bring some cloud and rain across many areas slowly through the day, introducing showers,” Meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said. “There will be showers from the word go across the west and through the morning it won't be long before the cloud increases across the Northern Ireland and Scotland as a band of rain moves in.” He added: “Then through the day, that weather system sinks its way slowly southeastward, so rain arriving across the rest of England and Wales by the afternoon - though southeast England largely staying dry though becoming cloudy.” Temperatures are forecast to remain at around 8C to 12C, with the UK expecting another chilly day. In the evening, he said the band of rain will continue to push southwards across England and Wales. “Clearer spells [will be] following behind, but plenty of showers,” he said. “Showers frequent across the North and the west of the UK - some of these heavy at times.” The forecaster’s outlook for the beginning of next week says the weather will “remain changeable” with some further rain or showers at times, especially in the northwest. It will be driest and brightest towards the southeast, with temperatures recovering to near average for most. It comes after after Storm Benjamin battered the UK this week with heavy downpours and winds over 70mph. Four yellow weather warnings were issued by the Met Office for Thursday, while over 40 flood alerts were in place in the morning. UK 5 day forecast Saturday night Showers across some western and northern areas tonight, merging into longer spells of rain in the west. Elsewhere, mainly dry and clear allowing it to turn chilly, with a patchy frost particularly in the north. Remaining breezy. A mainly dry and bright start, however cloud and rain will gradually move in from the northwest, but not reaching the southeast until early evening. Feeling cold once again. Outlook for Monday to Wednesday Remaining changeable with some further rain or showers at times, especially in the northwest. Always driest and brightest towards the southeast. Temperatures recovering to near average for most.