Minister accuses Tories of being 'bandwagon jumpers who don't care about children' over grooming gangs inquiry calls

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

Tories seek to ban 'disruptive' phones in school classrooms

The shadow education secretary says schools "desperately" need to ban pupils from using phones during the school day. Neil O'Brien adds that phones cause "a huge amount of disruption in class, lower educational standards and it's also bad for kids' mental health". The government has so far resisted calls from the Conservative Party to ban the devices. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Bridget Phillipson: School absences ‘an endemic issue’

The education secretary says the government is using new technology to work with schools in tackling “persistent absence” by pupils. Bridget Phillipson says the problem has become an “endemic” issue in schools and that “if children aren’t in school, if they’re not in their classroom then they can’t learn”. Report by Ajagbef. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Ministers arrive for cabinet meeting at Downing Street

Government ministers arrive in Downing Street for a Cabinet meeting with the prime minister on Tuesday morning. David Lammy, Ed Miliband, John Healey and Bridget Phillipson are seen walking into No 10 ahead of the meeting with Sir Keir Starmer. It comes as the PM defends his decision to cut welfare benefits for working age people. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Minister: We absolutely will get to two and half percent

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson says the government is “determined to get to two and half percent” of GDP for defence spending which she says is “very ambitious”. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Labour promise to deliver a firm and fair immigration system

The Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, says the government will deliver a “firm and fair” immigration system as the Home Office releases new data on increased immigration enforcement visits and arrests. Report by Ajagbef. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

'The inspection and education system needs change'

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has defended her policies, stating that the system 'needs change'. This follows her announcement of the government's launch of a major consultation and review of education regulator Ofsted - including plans to use colour-coding to grade schools. Report by Faragt. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn