Rachel Reeves' Tory manifesto mortgage claim 'very speculative', warns Full Fact

Reeves: We are in active negotiations with the US

Rachel Reeves has said she will be having "conversations with the US administration" next week as the UK looks to secure a trade deal with Washington. Report by Faragt. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Reeves: UK focused on US deal while expanding global trade

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the UK is “resolved” to secure the best possible trade deal with the US but is also seeking to boost ties with other countries. She stressed the importance of protecting British jobs and industry while continuing talks with American counterparts. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Reeves: Growth must reach families nationwide

Chancellor Rachel Reeves welcomed February’s strong GDP growth but said more must be done to ensure it’s “felt by families up and down the country”. She said Labour is “not complacent” and is pushing ahead with planning and regulatory reforms to “get Britain building” and drive further economic growth. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Rachel Reeves signs UK-India trade deal

Chancellor Rachel Reeves held her first EFD with India, signing a joint statement to enhance cooperation in defence, financial services, education, and development. Report by Chahalb. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Tories urge Welsh Government to reconsider steel requirement

A Tory minister has urged the Welsh Government to reconsider its requirements around steel as the UK Government races to avert the shutdown of Britain's last primary steelmaking plant. Shadow business minister Dame Harriett Baldwin said it's a "critical part of our national infrastructure" that the Scunthorpe plant is "kept going". Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

MSP Jamie Greene joins Lib Dems after quitting Tories

MSP Jamie Greene has defected to the Scottish Liberal Democrats, just a day after dramatically quitting the Tories. The West Scotland MSP was unveiled as a Lib Dem at the party’s spring conference in Inverness. He had left the Scottish Conservatives on Thursday, writing a stinging letter to party leader Russell Findlay which accused his former party of having a “Reform-lite agenda”. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Tories: We welcome defence boost but growth has flatlined

A shadow Treasury minister says he welcomes the chancellor's £2.2bn boost to defence spending, but adds, "to invest in defence you've got to have a strong economy as well" and that "growth has flatlined". James Wild says, "the threats that we as a country are facing are increasing and we need to step up with our allies to deal with those". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Tories defend local record ahead of elections

Conservative co-chairman Nigel Huddleston says the party has a strong track record of delivering value for money through better services at lower costs. He praised local Tory councillors for their commitment to community issues like road maintenance and social care, while downplaying defections as a normal part of politics. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Tories: Labour needs to be tougher on welfare reform

The Conservatives have branded the Government’s welfare reforms as too little, too late, with Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall being urged to be tougher. Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately told the Commons: "The fact is £5 billion just doesn’t cut it. With a bill so big, going up so fast, she needed to be tougher." Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn