Liz Truss has sent her congratulations to the far-right leader set to become Italy’s first female premier.
In a message to Giorgia Meloni, whose party the Brothers of Italy is expected to deliver the country’s first far-right-led government since the Second World War, the Prime Minister described the UK and Italy as “close allies”.
Ms Truss tweeted: “Congratulations to @GiorgiaMeloni on her party’s success in the Italian elections.
“From supporting Ukraine to addressing global economic challenges, the UK and Italy are close allies.”
Italy’s left wing has warned of “dark days” ahead as near-final results show Ms Meloni’s party has won the most votes in the country’s national elections.
But right-wing political figures from across Europe, including France’s Marine Le Pen and Spain’s Santiago Abascal, have sung her praises.
In a victory speech earlier on Monday, Ms Meloni said: “If we are called to govern this nation, we will do it for everyone, we will do it for all Italians and we will do it with the aim of uniting the people.
“Italy chose us. We will not betray it as we never have.”
King Charles’s new royal cypher revealed
The King’s new cypher has been revealed ahead of the official period of royal mourning ending.
Charles’ monogram will appear on government buildings, state documents and on some post boxes in the coming months and years.
The cypher feature’s the King’s initial C intertwined with the letter R for Rex – Latin for King – with III within the R denoting Charles III, with the crown above the letters.
The new monarch travelled to Scotland soon after the Queen’s funeral last Monday, with the period of royal mourning lasting for seven days after the late Queen’s burial.
The monogram is Charles’ personal property and was selected by the monarch from a series of designs prepared by the College of Arms. A Scottish version features the Scottish Crown, and was approved by Lord Lyon King of Arms.
It will be used by government departments and by the Royal Household for franking mail and the decision to replace cyphers will be at the discretion of individual organisations.
The process will be a gradual one and in some instances, the cyphers of previous monarchs can still be seen on public buildings and street furniture especially post boxes.
The College of Arms, which designed the cyphers, was founded in 1484 and is responsible for creating and maintaining official registers of coats of arms and pedigrees.
The heralds who make up the College are members of the Royal Household and act under Crown authority.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said of replacing the late Queen’s cypher with the Charles’ monogram: “Where changes can be made easily, such as digital branding, they can be made immediately.
“Physical items such as signage or stationery will be replaced gradually over time as the need arises.”
Three lenders – Halifax, Virgin Money and Skipton Building Society – have so far withdrawn some of their products amid the uncertainty. (Photo: SOPA Images via Getty Images)
Economic and political leaders have failed to ease fears over the pound plunging to an all-time low – with banks and building societies withdrawing some of their mortgages from sale.
Following an adverse reaction to the Tory government’s £45 billion package of tax cuts set out on Friday, sterling fell close to $1.03 early on Monday before regaining some ground to stand at $1.08.
In a bid to calm the jitters, the Bank of England said it “will not hesitate” to raise interest rates to prop up the value of sterling, and chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced he would bring forward an announcement of a “medium-term fiscal plan” to start bringing down debt levels.
While the pound was still above its record lows set on Monday morning in early trading on the Asian markets, there were signs fears were spreading – with some UK lenders saying they were halting new mortgage deals.
Three lenders – Halifax, Virgin Money and Skipton Building Society – have so far withdrawn some of their products amid the uncertainty.
Such was the market turmoil on Monday there was growing speculation that the Bank would make an emergency interest rate rise after it hiked rates only last week to 2.25% from 1.75%.
Instead, with the pound fragile and bond prices still tumbling, Kwarteng issued a statement just before the British stock market closed to say he would set out medium-term debt-cutting plans on November 23, alongside forecasts from the independent Office for Budget Responsibility of the full scale of government borrowing.
The central bank welcomed “the commitment to sustainable economic growth” from Kwarteng and the independent scrutiny that the OBR growth and borrowing forecasts would bring.
But fears over increased borrowing costs – and the potentially ruinous impact for homeowners if rates surge – have bedded in.