The key facts
- The Daily Mail reports that Scotland Yard is searching for a letter with allegations against Meghan's father; the Telegraph writes that in 2018 she was advised not to speak about it publicly
- FT: the budget will announce £20bn for the National Wealth Fund and the British Business Bank, aiming to create 100,000 jobs by 2035
- Former Bank of England economist Andy Haldane fears a 'budget for tomorrow'; according to the i Weekend, the Cabinet is split over a referendum on returning to the EU
Scandal surrounding the Duchess of Sussex's father
The Duchess of Sussex dominates the front pages of many British publications. The Daily Mail reports that London's Metropolitan Police are searching for a letter received by the newspaper containing allegations against Meghan's father — Thomas Markle. According to The Daily Telegraph, in 2018 the Duchess was, the paper claims, advised against speaking publicly about these allegations so as not to jeopardise a possible investigation. The Sun carries new allegations against Thomas Markle and calls Meghan's statement, made on Friday, Thomas Markle himself denies possessing sexual images involving children.
Budget: £20bn for funds and a warning about a
The Financial Times writes that next week's budget will announce an additional £20bn in funding for the National Wealth Fund and the British Business Bank. The aim is to create 100,000 jobs by 2035 in sectors such as artificial intelligence, defence and green energy. Additional borrowing to support lending is expected to begin in 2028. Andy Haldane, the former chief economist of the Bank of England, told The Times he feared the budget could become a called the economy the prime minister's.
Cabinet split over returning to the EU
According to the i Weekend, the government is divided over whether the UK should seek to return to the EU. A narrow majority of ministers favour returning, however, the paper writes, there is no consensus either on whether a referendum will be held, or on whether the goal risks reopening the wounds inflicted by Brexit.
England's oldest pub determined
An archaeologist at Historic England says he has settled a long-running dispute over which pub is the oldest in the country: around two dozen establishments had claimed the title. As the Guardian and the Daily Mail report, Dr James Wright, having examined the buildings' original purpose, tree-ring dating of the timber beams and surviving structures, awarded the title to the George Inn in Norton St Philip, in Somerset. According to Wright, the establishment has been in continuous operation for more than 600 years.
Why it matters
These stories will set the agenda for the coming weeks: the budget with £20bn for the funds will affect employment in the tech and green sectors, while the dispute over returning to the EU could shape the country's constitutional agenda, given the lack of consensus in the Cabinet. The scandal surrounding Thomas Markle touches on the royal family's reputation and the course of a possible investigation, the outcome of which remains unknown. Practically speaking, readers should expect concrete budget decisions next week and further coverage of the Markle case.
Image source, Getty Images 
