The shadow chancellor of the exchequer has defended the previous government for the rise in inflation, instead blaming Chancellor Rachel Reeves' budget and other government decisions, including increased spending and borrowing.
Mel Stride's comments come after government ministers pointed blame at the previous Conservative government after new data from the Office for National Statistics estimated that the rate of UK inflation rose from 2.5% in December to 3% in.
Report by Faragt.
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The Conservatives have supported the government's standpoint that Ukraine must be present at peace negotiations attempting to put an end to the conflict with Russia. Shadow Levelling Up Secretary Kevin Hollinrake said he "welcomes Trump's efforts" to end the conflict but said that Ukraine "must be at the table, not on the table". Report by Faragt. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The Conservatives have said that the "disappointing" rise in inflation is a cause of worry. Kevin Hollinrake, Shadow Levelling Up Secretary, said the 0.5% rise in inflation from December to January was a direct result of Rachel Reeves' budget. Report by Faragt. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Conservative shadow cabinet minister Alicia Kearns has urged the prime minister to make the case that “we don’t need a European army”, ahead of Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to Paris for a European emergency summit on Ukraine. The shadow Home Office minister said: “We all have to focus on our commitments to Nato, not a distraction by creating a new force.” Report by Jonesia. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The shadow farming minister has accused Rachel Reeves of lying on her CV and hiding expenses while working for a retail bank. Robbie Moore adds Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is "wrong" to back his chancellor and that the allegations are "absolutely damning". But a cabinet minister has claimed that allegations over Reeves' expenses while working for Halifax Bank of Scotland are "totally inaccurate". 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 says she is "absolutely committed" to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence and will "set out a pathway" to do so "in the proper way". The chancellor adds, "a strong economy depends on strong defences". 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 the government is ready to support creative industries, after announcing film studios in England are to receive business rates relief for the next nine years. On a visit to the Warner Bros Studio in Leavesden, Rachel Reeves adds "that's something that this government wants to get behind to back growth and back British workers". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Shadow chancellor Mel Stride has criticised the new growth figures released by the ONS. Mr Stride accused the government of "talking down the economy" and referenced the "disastrous budget" set out by Rachel Reeves.
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The shadow chancellor has argued that Rachel Reeves's plan to expand Heathrow Airport doesn't do enough to tackle economic issues affecting people now, claiming it will only come into effect in the next 10-30 years, if at all. Mel Stride did, however, assert his support for Reeves's planned Heathrow expansion, despite citing Labour divisions about the issue including Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan's objections. Report by Faragt. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride says Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer "should have acted earlier" to ensure Tulip Siddiq left the government over an anti-corruption investigation into her wider family in Bangladesh. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The shadow chancellor says the Treasury "should not be popping champagne corks" over the unexpected dip in inflation to 2.5% in December. Mel Stride adds the government has "killed growth stone dead" after inheriting an economy that was "much better than they make out". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Dame Priti Patel has hailed Donald Trump's "extraordinary mandate" as US President, and says the Conservative Party believes in the UK's "special relationship" with the United States. The shadow foreign secretary made the comments despite disagreeing with Trump's description of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a "dictator" and his echoing of Russian rhetoric on the war. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
After a former Tory prime minister and the current Liberal Democrat leader made the running on the Trump-Zelenskyy war of words, Kemi Badenoch finally broke her.. Sky News
A friend of Jaysley Beck has said sexual abuse in the Army is still going on years after the former Royal Artillery gunner's death. The body of the 19-year-old was found in a locker room at Wiltshire's Larkhill Camp in 2021. She had been subjected to relentless harassment from her line manager, Bombardier Ryan Mason, an inquest was told. Beck had also filed a complaint against Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber who "pinned her down" and tried to kiss her at a work social. Former soldier Tamzin Hort compared being a woman in the Army to being "a piece of meat in a tank of sharks" and that "people get sexually assaulted left, right and centre, but nothing's done about it". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Jaysley Beck's mother has accused the British Army of covering up the sexual assault her late daughter suffered in 2021. The body of Leighann McCready's 19-year-old daughter was found in a locker room at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire. She had been subjected to relentless harassment from her line manager, Bombardier Ryan Mason, an inquest was told. Beck had also filed a complaint against Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber who "pinned her down" and tried to kiss her at a work social. An inquest has found the Army's handling of the complaint played "more than a minimal contributory part in her death". McCready said, "it's been made clear through the findings that the Army have failed our daughter". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Celebrity couple Michelle Keegan and husband Mark Wright reportedly barricaded themselves in their bedroom during a break-in at their mansion. Essex Police said it received a call at around 6.20pm on Tuesday, and it was reported four suspects had forced entry and searched the address before fleeing. Report by Brooksl. 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 has admitted that the next few months could be a "bumpy ride" following new data from the Office for National Statistics estimate that the rate of UK inflation rose from 2.5% in December to 3% in. Report by Faragt. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The UK economy grew in the final quarter of last year after better-than-expected expansion in December, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.1% higher between October and December. Rachel Reeves said she is "still not satisfied with the level of growth our economy is achieving" as she pledged to go "further and faster" to boost growth. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
UK retail sales unexpectedly declined last month in a blow to the sector during the all-important festive shopping season, new official figures show. The volume of retail sales – which measures the quantity bought – fell by 0.3% in December, the Office for National Statistics said. Retail analyst Kate Hardcastle said that the flop in sales was down to "savvy" customers who "cut corners" to save money. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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