By Amanda Cooper LONDON (Reuters) – The British pound edged up against the dollar on Thursday ahead of U.S. data that could reinforce the expectation that the Federal Reserve will soon start cutting interest rates, thereby giving sterling a greater competitive edge. Sterling was last up 0.1% at $1.275. Against the euro, the pound was up 0.1% at 86.02 pence. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey on Wednesday addressed lawmakers. He said he did not wish to discuss the economic outlook, but pointed to the decline in mortgage rates as markets have shifted to the view that the BoE’s benchmark rate…