‘Not clear’ who was behind FCDO hack, says minister, amid reports of China link – UK politics live

Chris Bryant confirms October cyber-attack as the Sun names Storm 1849, a Chinese hacker group, as being responsible

UK borrowed more than expected in November amid pre-budget pressure

ONS figures show public sector net borrowing was £11.7bn – £1.9bn less than in same month last year

House of Lords report says tools such as raising pension age and increasing immigration will not be adequate

PPE Medpro owes government £148m for supplying unusable personal protective equipment during Covid-19 pandemic

Other lives: Highly regarded branch secretary of the Prospect union, singer, sports fan and lover of craft beer

Business case must be submitted for mass transit system with lines connecting Leeds and Bradford before work continues

Argument for ensuring ethylene production at Grangemouth is strong, yet policymaking on deindustrialisation is disjointed

Drop in November annual rate adds to case for Bank of England cut to interest rates on Thursday

Funding for billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos plant in Scotland will help safeguard 500 jobs

Former Tory chancellor tasked with helping ChatGPT owner develop ties with governments

Jobs market slowdown likely to become policy focus and will also have impact on interest rates decision

Chancellor’s claim to be helping trade met with disbelief in England and Wales amid soaring staff costs, energy bills and other overheads

Pledge to invest billions in UK paused, with Washington citing lack of progress on trade barriers across pond

Party leader says Labour ‘has abandoned any sense of progressive politics’

Many critical details have been deliberately left to be resolved in secondary legislation – including the introduction of guaranteed hours contracts