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The chancellor will dismiss “gloom” about the prospects for the UK economy and say the government will bring about long-term prosperity in a plan “energised” by Brexit.

Mr Hunt will deliver an upbeat message in a keynote speech today, where he will say the government has a plan to use “British genius and British hard work” to boost economic growth and make the country “the world’s next Silicon Valley”.

He will go on to say the UK is “poised to play a leading role in Europe and across the world in the growth sectors which will define this century”.

According to advance extracts from his speech released by the Treasury, he will also say “declinism about Britain was wrong in the past and it is wrong today”.

Speaking at Bloomberg’s European headquarters in London, Mr Hunt is also expected to continue to resist calls from some Tory MPs for tax cuts to kickstart flagging economic growth.

Instead he will say the UK should exploit the opportunities provided by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU to raise productivity while using the proceeds of growth to support public services.

Mr Hunt will say that some of the “gloom” about the current economic outlook is based on statistics that “do not reflect the whole picture”.

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“Like every G7 country, our growth was slower in the years after the financial crisis than the years before it,” he will say.

“But since 2010, the UK has grown faster than France, Japan and Italy. Since the Brexit referendum, we have grown at about the same rate as Germany.

“If we look further ahead, the case for declinism becomes weaker still. The UK is poised to play a leading role in Europe and across the world in the growth sectors which will define this century.”

Mr Hunt will also say: “Our plan for the years that follow is long-term prosperity based on British genius and British hard work.

“(And) world-beating enterprises to make Britain the world’s next Silicon Valley.”

The chancellor will add: “It is a plan necessitated, energised and made possible by Brexit which will succeed if it becomes a catalyst for the bold choices we need to take.

“Our plan for growth is a plan built on the freedoms which Brexit provides. It is a plan to raise productivity.

“It is a plan to use the proceeds of growth to support our public services at home, to support businesses in the new low-carbon economy and to support democracy abroad.

“It is the right course for our country and the role in the world to which we aspire.”

Mr Hunt will also use his speech to announce that the government is to proceed with reforms to so-called “Solvency II” – an EU directive that governs the amount of funds British insurers are required to hold in reserve.

The Treasury pointed to an estimate by the Association of British Insurers which suggested the changes could unlock up to £100bn of private investment into UK infrastructure and clean energy – such as nuclear power – over the coming decade.

His address will come after a cabinet away day at Chequers yesterday, where Mr Hunt told ministers they must maintain their “disciplined approach” if they are to get inflation under control.

The chancellor is facing calls from some Tory MPs to cut taxes in his budget in March to inject growth into the economy.

But at Chequers, both he and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasised the priority remained inflation which was only predicted to fall because of the “tough decisions” taken to stabilise the economy following former PM Liz Truss’s catastrophic mini-budget tax giveaway.

“The chancellor said it would be necessary to retain this disciplined approach in order to reduce inflation, because it is the greatest driver of the cost of living,” according to a No 10 readout of the meeting.

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Violence breaks out at St George’s Day event in central London

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April 23, 2024

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Violence breaks out at St George's Day event in central London

Violence has broken out at a St George’s Day event in central London.

The Metropolitan Police released footage showing a group of men – some draped in St George’s flags – clashing with officers in Whitehall.

At one point in the footage, a man appears to hit a police horse with an umbrella.

The Met had earlier warned that those attending the event were expected to include “far right groups and groups linked to football clubs travelling from elsewhere in the UK”.

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Shortly after 2pm, the force posted on X: “The event is not due to start for an hour and regrettably officers are already dealing with disorder.”

“There is an area allocated for this event in Richmond Terrace. This group went past it and continued up Whitehall.

“When officers formed a cordon and asked the group to turn round, they reacted by violently forcing their way through. Mounted officers intervened with horses to restore the cordon.”

The disorder was broken up and the Met said there have been “no further incidents since that altercation”.

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The Met earlier said an order was in force in Lambeth and Westminster giving officers the power to require the removal of face coverings after it said several people were seen to be wearing masks.

It added a Section 60 order was issued allowing police to ramp up stop and searches.

St George’s Day is celebrated on 23 April every year, honouring the patron saint of England.

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Photo of Prince Louis taken by Kate released to mark his 6th birthday

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17 mins ago

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April 23, 2024

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Photo of Prince Louis taken by Kate released to mark his 6th birthday

A photo of Prince Louis taken by the Princess of Wales has been released to mark the young royal’s sixth birthday.

The image of a smiling Louis was shared on social media along with the caption: “Happy 6th Birthday, Prince Louis! Thank you for all the kind wishes today.”

The photo was taken in the last few days in Windsor and is understood to be unedited.

It is understood William and Kate released the image as a way to thank those who sent good wishes while also protecting their privacy.

Prince Louis. Pic: The Prince and Princess of Wales / Instagram
Image:
Pic: The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram

The same process – a deviation from the usual issuing of the pictures to the press in advance under an embargo – is expected to be followed for Princess Charlotte’s birthday in May.

The change in process is understood to be due to the unprecedented time the family is experiencing.

Photograph’s release breaks with tradition – but these are unprecedented times

A happy little boy smiling for his mum behind the camera, Prince Louis again looks every bit the fun, cheeky boy who has stolen the show at big royal events in recent years.

He is growing up fast, and we’re told the Prince and Princess of Wales are hugely grateful for the birthday wishes they’ve had as he turns six.

But unlike previous years, it wasn’t a given that we were going to see a new photograph of him. Usually, like clockwork, birthday photographs of the children are released, normally taken by the Princess.

But these are described as unprecedented times for them, with Kate being treated for cancer, and their heightened desire for privacy.

There would undoubtedly have been discussions about whether a new picture would just draw the spotlight back onto them, especially when you consider the furore over the last photograph they released for Mother’s Day.

On balance, they clearly decided they wanted to put something out on their social media as any parent would, an unedited picture taken by mum, but not release it to the media the night before as they have done previously.

At the moment, with everything they have going on, you can’t begrudge them for wanting to do things their way.

The past few months have been an eventful period for the family due to Kate and the King’s cancer diagnoses.

The Princess of Wales announced in March that she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy.

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March: Princess of Wales reveals she is having treatment for cancer

Louis, meanwhile, was last seen in public on Christmas Day when the Royal Family made their traditional festive appearance on the King’s Sandringham Estate to walk to church.

The release of the photograph comes after Louis’ father, Prince William, resumed royal duties last week in his first public engagement since Kate’s cancer announcement.

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The prince visited a food distribution charity, Surplus to Supper, in Surrey, where he saw how extra food from across the local area was redistributed to small community organisations.

Photos showed him getting busy in the kitchen at the charity’s hub in Sunbury Cricket Club as he made chilli con carne and chopped ingredients under the supervision of head chef Mario Confait.

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The 41-year-old heir to the throne was also pictured in a hi-vis vest joining volunteers in loading prepared meals into delivery vans.

The Prince of Wales then headed to Hanworth youth centre in west London which benefits from the organisation’s deliveries and unloaded the crates.

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Prince William receives cards for Kate

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Earlier this month, William and his eldest son Prince George attended an Aston Villa football game together, in their first public outing since Kate’s cancer announcement.

William, Kate and their three children missed the Easter Sunday service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, following the news, despite attending last year.

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King recognises Queen and Prince William in honours list and creates new role for Kate, Princess of Wales

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29 mins ago

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April 23, 2024

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King recognises Queen and Prince William in honours list and creates new role for Kate, Princess of Wales

The King has recognised the public service of his family in a new list of honours, including creating a new role for the Princess of Wales.

King Charles has thanked his daughter-in-law, in a way that only royals can, by making her the Royal Companion of The Order of the Companions of Honour.

The palace say this is a new appointment to the Order.

Royal watchers will see it as a significant move by the King as it’s the first time a member of the Royal Family has ever been appointed to the Companions of Honour.

It was founded by King George V in 1917 to recognise outstanding achievements in the Arts, Sciences, Medicine and Public Service.

The monarch has also appointed Queen Camilla to be Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. It was a role fulfilled in the past by Prince Philip.

The Order honours a broad cross-section of society, both military and civilian.

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Meanwhile Prince William has been presented with a title held by his father, until he became King in 2022, becoming Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

The order was established by King George I in 1725 but is believed to date back as far as the eighth century, recognising members of the military or civil service for exemplary service.

The new appointments come at a time when the King has relied on his family for more support in his duties since his cancer diagnosis.

In new appointments to the Order of the Garter, which are traditionally announced on St George’s Day, The Duchess of Gloucester has been made a Royal Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

She is joined by composer Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber who is made a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, along with Air Chief Marshal the Lord Peach, and Lord Kakkar, known for his services to healthcare.

The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain.

Each year, it is celebrated with a procession and service in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

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