A major speech Wednesday promises a host of pro-growth policies to turn the UK economy around. But the hurdles in the chancellor’s way are huge.

Prime Minister resists calls to declare China a threat to national security and insists UK needs to strengthen ties with Beijing

HSBC Chairman Mark Tucker leaned into the microphone at a vast conference table in Beijing, telling British business leaders and senior Chinese officials that he spoke for all UK businesses present in hoping for stronger economic ties.

Starmer’s Government is re-making the age-old mistakes in China diplomacy all over again. Those who frame the debate as a choice between whether or not to engage Beijing are proposing a false dichotomy. It is not about whether to talk or trade with China, but how? On whose terms, with what criteria, on what conditions and with what objectives?

Revival of dialogue is a positive step with London badly seeking to boost the national economy and Beijing reaching out under shadow of Donald Trump.

Donald Trump is threatening to block Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the new UK ambassador to Washington unless strict limits are imposed on his actions.

The Metropolitan Police has abruptly dropped its objections to China's planned "super embassy" in London after reviewing a Beijing-funded research document, contradicting its own recent warnings about public safety risks.

In a congratulatory message to this year's "The Icebreakers" Chinese New Year celebration, Vice-President Han Zheng expressed hope that friends from all sectors in China and the UK will continue to uphold the icebreaking spirit, characterized by great courage and forward-looking wisdom, to promote mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation.

"Reeves pledges to create 'Europe's Silicon Valley'", reads the Guardian headline, referring to Chancellor Rachel Reeves "push for growth", which features on many of Wednesday's front pages. The paper says she will reveal plans to create a tech hub between Oxford and Cambridge,

China's AI success has come from policy and Chancellor Rachel Reeves's recent visit to China highlights the importance of a close relationship.

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves’ own cosying up to Beijing, which experts have seen as an attempt to “hedge” against Trump’s unpredictable presidency, an approach which the EU had previously looked on dimly but is now aping.

Companies are cutting jobs at the fastest pace since the global financial crisis, barring the pandemic, after Rachel Reeves announced £40bn of tax rises in the Budget, according to a closely watched survey.