'Starmtroopers' are purging Labour - as Tories scramble to fill dozens of vacancies | Adam Boulton

Tories seek to ban 'disruptive' phones in school classrooms

The shadow education secretary says schools "desperately" need to ban pupils from using phones during the school day. Neil O'Brien adds that phones cause "a huge amount of disruption in class, lower educational standards and it's also bad for kids' mental health". The government has so far resisted calls from the Conservative Party to ban the devices. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

‘Betrayal’: David Amess’ family react to inquiry decision

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has rejected calls from the family of Sir David Amess for a public inquiry into his death. The Conservative MP was murdered at his constituency surgery in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, in October 2021. Sir David’s family have described the government’s decision as “unacceptable” and “insulting”. Report by Jonesia. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Former minister describes aid cut as ‘shameful’

Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell describes the government’s decision to cut international aid to 0.3% of GDP as “shameful” and “wrong”. The former international development secretary says he was “astonished” to hear about the decision, which will fund extra defence spending, insisting “there are many other ways you can raise that money”. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Badenoch suggests 'repurposing' aid budget to boost defence

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says UK defence spending should go beyond a target of 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, suggesting "short-term repurposing" of some of the 0.5% dedicated to development aid. Report by Faragt. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn