A visit to China by Chancellor Phillip Hammond has been called off amid reports a speech by the UK’s defence secretary Gavin Williamson angered Beijing.
There were plans for trade talks between Mr Hammond and senior Chinese government figures during the brief visit next week.
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Accountancy giant EY has won the contract to audit Vodafone’s accounts after the telecoms company dropped PwC because of legal action linked to the collapse of mobile phone retailer Phones4U.
The switch makes EY the third Big Four firm to audit one of Britain’s largest companies in six years. PwC was awarded the contract in 2014 when Vodafone put the contract up for tender after 26 years with Deloitte.
