The Tories are expecting a pounding at the local elections - but could that mean Labour have the harder job?

PM accuses Tories of running ‘experiment in open borders’

Sir Keir Starmer has accused the last government of a “one nation experiment in open borders”. In a press conference in Downing Street, the prime minister accused the Conservatives of a “different order of failure” that happened “by design not accident”. Starmer said: “Time and again the Conservative Party promised they would get the numbers down. Time and again they failed, and now the chorus of excuses has begun.” Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Tories urge govt to ‘stick to their promise’ on defence

Shadow Treasury minister Gareth Davies urges the government to “stick to their promise to meet 2.5% of GDP on defence spending” claiming they “have not actually set out a timetable for the timetable” to do this. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Tories blame Reeves' tax hike for adverse market reaction

Gareth Davies says people will be asking "what is this Budget for if it's not for growth?", after Rachel Reeves raised taxes by £40bn. The shadow exchequer to the Treasury adds the chancellor's tax increases have sparked a hostile market reaction. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

UK Conservative Party choose Kemi Badenoch as new leader

Britain's Conservative Party has elected Kemi Badenoch as its new leader, becoming the first Black woman to lead a major political party in the UK. Badenoch succeeds former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, whose tenure was marked by the Conservatives' worst election performance since 1832.