Change of British High Commissioner to Pakistan: Jane Marriott
Ms Jane Marriott OBE has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in succession to Dr Christian Turner CMG who has transferred to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Jeremy Hunt has said the UK has “no alternative” but to raise interest rates to bring down inflation, as households brace for the Bank of England to increase borrowing costs further next week. The chancellor said the government would be “unstinting in its support” for the central bank to “do what it takes” to squeeze high inflation out of the system amid the cost of living crisis. In its most aggressive round of interest rate rises in decades, the Bank has already increased borrowing costs from 0.1% in December 2021 to 4.5%, and financial markets expect another rise of at least a quarter-point at its next policy meeting on 22 June. Predictions suggest rates could peak above 5.5% before Christmas. Growing numbers of households are coming under pressure from the highe...