Chancellor in Saudi amid weapons row
Lord Howell EXCLUSIVE BY MIKEY SMITH CHANCELLOR Philip Hammond plans to travel to Saudi Arabia next week, amid fresh criticism of arms sales to the regime.
The Lords International Relations Committee hit out at such sales during the kingdom’s involvement in hostilities in Yemen.
The UK has licensed some £4.7billion of arms to Saudi and £860million to its coalition partners since the conflict began in 2015.
The LIRC urged suspension of key export licences.
Chairman Lord Howell said: “We do not agree with the Government’s assertion that it is narrowly on the right side of international humanitarian law.”
The Treasury refused to confirm Mr Hammond’s travel plans. The Foreign Office did not comment. Mark Waterfall BY ADAM ASPINALL A LUCKY couple have told how the thrill of their EuroMillions win led to their baby arriving a month early.
Natalie Metcalf and fiance Andrew Symes, who both live at his mum’s house, added their win came as they were struggling to afford to move out.
The pair welcomed little Poppy into the world just three days after they found out they had scooped £1million on the UK Millionaire Maker draw.
Poppy was not due until March 2, but the couple joked the youngster could not wait to celebrate with them.
Natalie, 37, said: “I think the excitement of the win must have played a part in Poppy turning up early.
“I think she just wanted to be part of it, and what an entrance it was.”
Andrew, 40, added: “She must have got wind and thought, ‘Oh, I’ll have a bit of that’.” The pair learned of their win on February 2, a day after the draw. Natalie’s contractions started the next day as they were viewing houses.
She went into hospital a day later and Poppy was born the following lunchtime, on February 5.
It came as the couple, from Thornbury, Bristol, wondered how they could afford to buy a home of their own.
Nursery manager Natalie said: “We
NATALIE METCALF ON BABY POPPY’S EARLY ARRIVAL, JUST AFTER LOTTO WIN