'Very symbolic and important' first meeting of chancellor and EU finance ministers since Brexit
Monday, 9 December 2024 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said she is "overwhelmed" by the response to the UK's first attendance at an EU finance ministers' meeting since Brexit.
Rachel Reeves confirmed the UK is currently in “intense negotiations” with the US over tariffs “across the board”. The Chancellor said she “does not want to see tariffs go up”, highlighting her support for “free and open trade”. Report by Faragt. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Rachel Reeves has visited Wellington Barracks in central London after announcing in her Spring Statement that defence spending will increase by 2.5% in GDP. The chancellor and the defence secretary John Healey were shown the first AI-powered strike drone, as they learnt about the work of people on the strategic command's innovation unit. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The chancellor says house building commitments in her Spring Statement will benefit young people and that she is "not in favour of national service". Speaking to ITV News, Rachel Reeves adds watching a Sabrina Carpenter concert in a box was "the right thing to do" given her security needs. 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 has outlined her plans to "strengthen our nation's defences", by increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP and to build 1.5 million new homes. The chancellor acknowledges that the OBR has downgraded the UK's growth forecast for 2025 from 2% to 1%, but adds, "it has upgraded growth for next year and every year after that". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Sir Ed Davey called for Britain to have a "closer relationship to our European colleagues" as Friday marked the fifth anniversary of Brexit. "We need to get rid of the red tape and the barriers that businesses face," Mr Davey added. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said there is "still a lot more to do" on Brexit's fifth birthday. Ms Badenoch called for Sir Keir Starmer to "look at where the opportunities are" as she expressed hopes for a trade deal with the US.
Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said the government is still hoping for a "better deal" five years on from Brexit. "We don't think that the deal the previous government negotiated was a good one - we think there's more that we can do," she added. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn