Jenrick or Badenoch to be crowned Tory leader - but whoever wins contest faces daunting task

Jenrick: Two-tier sentencing is unfair against white men

Robert Jenrick says the justice secretary's decision to override independent guidance on how ethnic minorities should be sentenced is "unfair" and "discriminatory". The shadow justice secretary adds, "she has failed totally in her duty to uphold the rule of law". He adds "two-tier sentencing" is "biased" against men, white people and Christians. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Jenrick: An end to fighting in Ukraine must be sustainable

Robert Jenrick says an end to the fighting in Ukraine must be "sustainable" and ensure Vladimir Putin "doesn't just come back for a second bite of the cherry in the months or years to come". The shadow justice secretary adds that Donald Trump was wrong to call Volodymyr Zelenskyy a dictator, but is "absolutely right" that Europe needs to "step up" on defence spending for NATO to survive. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Jenrick: Abolishing NHS England must come with reforms

Robert Jenrick says "there is an argument for abolishing NHS England", provided it is accompanied by "serious reforms that get waiting lists down". The shadow justice secretary adds, "we haven't yet seen serious reforms from this Labour government". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Jenrick: Confidence has collapsed in our economy

Robert Jenrick says "confidence has collapsed within our economy", after the latest Office for National Statistics figures show it contracted by 0.1% in January. The shadow justice secretary says the figures are a result of Rachel Reeves' "disastrous" Autumn budget, and urges the chancellor to stop her "anti-growth measures" and "put the economy back on firm footing again". Report by Brooksl. 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

Badenoch backs court ruling on legal definition of 'woman'

Kemi Badenoch has welcomed the Supreme Court ruling that sex in the Equality Act refers to biological sex, calling it a victory for women defending their rights. Badenoch said single-sex spaces should be protected, with alternative provisions made for transgender people where needed. 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

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

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