Davey to say Lib Dems will offer people hope - and will accuse Tories of being 'unfit for opposition'

Ed Davey says UK steel industry must be protected

The leader of the Liberal Democrats said the party has given the government their "full backing" to ensure a steel industry remains in the UK. It comes as British Steel staff and civil servants are racing to avert the permanent shutdown of Britain's last primary steelmaking plant. Sir Ed Davey condemned President Trump's tariffs and said it's "essential that we can have steel made in the UK". Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Ed Davey: British Steel must be protected

Sir Ed Davey said Parliament's recall to protect British Steel is essential amid “Putin’s barbaric war” and Trump’s “outrageous tariffs”. He said the Liberal Democrats will work constructively with the Government but warned nationalisation “should not be off the table”. Davey also called on Nigel Farage to apologise for supporting Trump, accusing him of being a “plastic patriot” who owes steelworkers an apology. Report by Covellm. 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

Ed Davey: Trump tariffs are hugely damaging

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey condemns Donald Trump’s announcement of new tariffs on UK exports, calling them “hugely damaging”. Donald Trump has announced a 10% trade tariff on all imports from the UK. Report by Ajagbef. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Ed Davey enjoys rollercoaster ride and bouncy castle

In the latest light-hearted day of campaigning, Sir Ed Davey screams on a rollercoaster and jumps on a bouncy castle in Bideford, Devon. Report by Faragt. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Davey calls for guidance after Supreme Court ruling

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey says he accepts the Supreme Court’s ruling that sex in the Equality Act refers to biological sex. He said the judgment brings clarity to a long-confused area of law but urged the government and Equality and Human Rights Commission to issue clear guidance to help businesses and individuals understand the implications. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Ed Davey warns over UK-US trade deal risks

Sir Ed Davey says a future UK-US trade deal could harm British interests by undermining farming standards and online safety rules for children. Speaking during a campaign visit to Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, the Liberal Democrat leader says any future agreement must be ‘fair’. His intervention follows comments by Vice President JD Vance that the US is ‘working very hard’ with the UK to negotiate a ‘great’ deal. 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 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

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

Badenoch proposes scrapping Net Zero to promote growth

Kemi Badenoch has proposed scrapping the Net Zero agenda and reducing burdens on businesses to promote economic growth. The Conservative leader claimed that Labour have "broken their promises" regarding economic policies. Report by Faragt. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Farage: Reform now main opposition in red wall areas

Nigel Farage has claimed Reform UK is now the main challenger to Labour in the Midlands, North, Wales and Scotland, pushing the Conservatives into third place. In a campaign speech, he said voters felt betrayed by the Tories over Brexit and immigration, adding that backing the Conservatives in red wall areas would be a “wasted vote.” Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Minister clashes with Badenoch over steel deal claim

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says the Conservative leader is wrong to say she had negotiated a modernisation plan with British Steel for electric arc furnaces at Teesside and Scunthorpe. Ms Badenoch posted on X on Friday saying as business secretary in the last Conservative government she had negotiated the proposal, but it was "bungled" by Labour. After intervening, Ms Badenoch says: "Labour cannot negotiate. We were negotiating a modernisation deal that would have had limited job losses, just like we had in Port Talbot”. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Badenoch accuses Labour of grooming gang inquiry U-turn

Kemi Badenoch has accused Labour of dropping plans for five local grooming gang inquiries promised in January. The Conservative leader called for a full national inquiry and suggested a “cover-up”, claiming Labour's refusal to act shows dishonesty and a failure to deliver justice. She pledged to force another vote, warning the public would “see who is on their side”. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn