James Cartlidge says the Conservative Party will take its time over deciding who the next leader should be and hopes for a “hustings party conference” in the autumn.
The shadow defence secretary also calls for the party to conduct itself “in a dignified fashion” and “come together” over the issue.
Report by Blairm.
Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge says the government needs to be “transparent with the British people” over the amount of extra money being spent on defence. Earlier today Defence Secretary John Healey suggested the real-terms increase in defence spending year-on-year will be only around half the £13.4 billion figure cited by the prime minister yesterday. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Ahead of Sir Keir Starmer's meeting with Donald Trump this week, Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge says there cannot be a Ukraine peace settlement that is seen as a "win for Russia". Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride warns that the UK could face higher prices, job losses, and lower wages without a trade deal with the US. He said that businesses, investors, and stock markets are unhappy, urging the government to accelerate negotiations and secure a deal quickly to avoid economic difficulties. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The Tories have criticised the government for not being “quicker” with talks about tariffs imposed by the US. Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said Labour’s comments about Trump whilst they were the opposition were “unhelpful” and could have “soured” relations with the Trump administration. Report by Faragt. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Kemi Badenoch has accused Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement as being "all smoke and mirrors", pointing to rising inflation, increased unemployment and low growth. The Conservative Party leader added, "something has to change, this is chaos". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Sir Keir Starmer says banning phones in schools is "not necessary" and instead there is an "emerging battle" to ensure that the content children are consuming online is "suitable for their age". His comments come as the Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch tells the prime minister at PMQs, "teachers and headteachers say the evidence already shows that schools that ban phones get better results". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Sir Keir Starmer has left Downing Street for the House of Commons where he will face questions from Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch. After PMQs, the prime minister will listen to Chancellor Rachel Reeves deliver her Spring statement. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
A teenager has died after he “got into difficulty” in a lake in south-east London, police said. Officers and paramedics were called to Beckenham Place Park in Lewisham shortly after 3pm on Friday. The Metropolitan Police said on Saturday that the search for the 15-year-old had been stopped after a boy was found on Friday night. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Police officers and staff are being urged to share their views in the Angiolini Inquiry into Sarah Everard’s murder by ex-officer Wayne Couzens. A new survey follows last year’s report, which found Couzens should never have been hired. Former Metropolitan Police Officer Parm Sandhu criticised the lack of action, saying: “We’re building shelves of reports with little activity… Instead of reports, just do something about it.” 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 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
A mother who suffocated her newborn baby and left his body in woodland 25 years ago has been given a suspended prison sentence. Joanne Sharkey, 55, admitted responsibility over the death of the baby boy, who was named Callum by police investigating his death in 1998. Today, at Liverpool Crown Court, she was given a two-year prison sentence for manslaughter, suspended for two years. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Outside court, Livia Tossici-Bolt called her conviction for breaching a buffer zone a “dark day for freedom,” insisting she hadn’t protested or harassed anyone but only offered consensual conversation. She warned that the case posed a serious threat to free speech in the UK, claiming it had global implications for freedom of expression. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Shadow Treasury minister Gareth Davies says that the selection of a new Tory party leader may take time, so the party can ensure the "right person" is picked who would be able to "rebuild trust" in the..