Chancellor to signal cost-cutting steps as she accuses Tories of fiscal 'cover up'

Tories urge government to build on ‘deep’ ties with US

Dame Priti Patel urges the government to build upon the "deep and enduring" relationship between the US and the UK and “resume talks over a free trade agreement”. Speaking from Washington DC where she will attend Donald Trump’s inauguration the shadow foreign secretary says the prime minister’s non-attendance “might speak to a lack of a relationship” between the president elect and Sir Keir Starmer. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Tories call for review into grooming gangs amid Musk remarks

Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott announces the Conservative Party will be calling for a public inquiry into grooming gangs. She explains this decision did “not come up as a result of Elon Musk” after he attacked Sir Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips for failing children. Report by Ajagbef. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Tories say PM’s speech is a ‘desperate relaunch’

Chris Philp says the prime minister’s ‘plan for change’ speech is a “desperate relaunch in an attempt to rescue the fortunes of a failing government”. The shadow home secretary accuses the government of breaking election promises and imposing “the biggest tax increases in recent history”. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

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

Suspended Labour MP pleads guilty to assault

The suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury has pleaded guilty to assault at Chester Magistrates' Court after he was charged with punching a man to the ground during an alleged assault last October. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Hollinrake: Labour's economic black hole is self-inflicted

The shadow housing secretary says, "it's good the economy is growing because it's not been growing since Labour took over". Kevin Hollinrake's comments come after latest figures show that the economy grew by 0.1% in November says the economic "black hole" that Labour claims it inherited from the previous Conservative government is "self-inflicted" and was caused by pay rises given to public sector workers "without any negotiation, without any strings attached in terms of productivity". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Rachel Reeves welcomes 'modest' economic growth

Rachel Reeves says news that the economy grew by 0.1% in November is "welcome, albeit modestly". The chancellor adds the latest Office for National Statistics figures show "we need to go further and faster in delivering growth to make people in Britain better off". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Reeves: Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal is welcome news

Rachel Reeves says news of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is "welcome news". The chancellor adds that she now wants to see "all hostages released, a surge in aid into Gaza and work undertaken to achieve a two-state solution". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Govt hails unexpected dip in inflation rate

The chief secretary to the Treasury has hailed an unexpected dip in inflation, but admits that the cost of living "is still a pressure for families across the country and there's more work to do". Darren Jones adds the latest Office for National Statistics figures, "shows that the prime minister's plan for change is working". Inflation has fallen to 2.5% in December from 2.6% in November, which will come as a relief to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who has faced criticism given rising government borrowing costs and a slump in the value of the pound. The latest figures could open the door for an interest rate cut next month. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn