Thursday morning UK news briefing: Today's top headlines from The Telegraph

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Telegraph reporters
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rishi sunak spring budget 2021 meghan harry royal family nicola sturgeon alex salmond
rishi sunak spring budget 2021 meghan harry royal family nicola sturgeon alex salmond

Welcome to your early-morning news briefing from The Telegraph - a round-up of the top stories we are covering on Thursday. To receive twice-daily briefings by email, sign up to our Front Page newsletter for free.

1. Rishi Sunak's five-year tax raid after Covid crisis

Rishi Sunak on Wednesday announced a five-year personal tax raid that will bring in more than £21 billion as the bill for vast Government spending during the Covid pandemic was laid bare.

The Chancellor froze thresholds for income tax, inheritance tax, capital gains tax and the pensions lifetime allowance, meaning millions of people will pay more to the Treasury. Read the full story.

2. Duchess of Sussex accuses 'The Firm' of 'perpetuating falsehoods' about her and Prince Harry

The Duchess of Sussex has accused Buckingham Palace of “perpetuating falsehoods” about her and Prince Harry, in her interview with Oprah.

In a second preview clip of the blockbuster interview to be broadcast on CBS on Sunday, the Duchess said the couple “lost a lot” and should not be expected to remain silent. Read the full story.

3. Sturgeon chokes back tears as she rejects 'absurd' claims she was out to destroy Salmond

Nicola Sturgeon today choked back tears and insisted "I would never have wanted to 'get' Alex Salmond" as she rejected as "absurd" his claims of a plot among senior SNP figures to destroy him.

The First Minister told a Holyrood inquiry the "simple" truth was that several women made complaints about Mr Salmond's behaviour and "I refused to follow the usual pattern of allowing a powerful man to use his status and connections to get what he wants." Read the full story.

4. Boris Johnson sparks fresh EU row as UK acts unilaterally to protect Northern Ireland supermarkets

Boris Johnson will act unilaterally to give supermarkets and their suppliers more time to adapt to post-Brexit trade arrangements in Northern Ireland in a major escalation of tensions with Brussels.

The Prime Minister told the Commons: "The position of Northern Ireland within the UK internal market is rock solid and guaranteed... We leave nothing off the table in order to ensure we get this right." Read the full story.

5. UK's Covid death toll fuelled by its obesity problem, say experts

Britain's Covid death toll has been fuelled by its obesity epidemic, experts have said, as global research finds nine in 10 fatalities occurred in countries with a weight problem.

Britain was found to have the third highest death rate in the world and the fourth highest obesity rate, with more than than two in three adults overweight or obese. Read the full story.

Stay up-to-date with breaking news and the latest politics from The Telegraph throughout the day.

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