Rishi Sunak is not a Conservative but a 'socialist', claims Reform's Richard Tice

Reform UK leader reminds voters to bring their IDs

The leader of Reform UK Richard Tice reminds voters to bring their IDs as local and mayoral elections begin across England. Report by Ajagbef. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

PM: ONS growth data shows we're on right track

Rishi Sunak has said that "after a difficult couple of years", the UK has made the case that it is now the "best place" to start and invest in a business. Speaking at a PM Connect event at Siemens Healthineers factory, the prime minister added that the latest ONS figures showing a 0.6% growth in the economy gives him "enormous confidence and optimism that we are on the right track". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Sunak: Latest ONS figures show UK economy has real momentum

Rishi Sunak has said he is "encouraged" that the economy has "real momentum", after the latest ONS figures show the UK economy is has grown by 0.6% between January and March. The prime minister added "we are heading in the right direction and people will start to feel that change". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Sunak accuses Labour of 'rank hypocrisy' over migration

Rishi Sunak has accused Sir Keir Starmer of "rank hypocrisy" over the Labour leader's plan to establish a new Border Security Command to tackle people-smuggling gangs bringing migrants across the Channel. The prime minister says Labour's plan will "offer an amnesty to illegal migrants" and that the government will get its planes to Rwanda off the ground. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Ashworth: Elphicke shows Conservative shift to Labour

Labour's Jonathan Ashworth says Natalie Elphicke's defection to his party shows how tens of thousands of other Conservatives are doing the same, as they are fed up of 14 years of failed government. Report by Etemadil. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Labour: Government is disintegrating after Tory defections

Nick Thomas-Symonds welcomes Natalie Elphicke to the Labour Party and says her and other recent Conservative Party defections show the government is "frankly disintegrating". Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Starmer: Elphicke's defection shows govt is incompetent

The Labour leader has said Natalie Elphicke has made clear the Conservative Party are "out of road" and "incompetent", following her defection to Labour. Sir Keir Starmer added, "I don't think she's alone", and believes there are "many Conservative supporters and voters" who feel Labour is the "only party that can take our country forward". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Govt: Reform UK votes to blame for disappointing results

Science Minister Andrew Griffith says that people voting for Reform UK is partly to blame for disappointing local election results for the Conservative party. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Labour wins Blackpool South by-election

Labour has won the Blackpool South parliamentary by-election, with Chris Webb securing 10,825 votes, a majority of 7,607. The contest was triggered by the resignation of former Tory MP Scott Benton following a lobbying scandal. The Tories avoided the humiliation of coming third in Blackpool South, but finished just 117 votes ahead of Reform UK. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn