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

Tories acknowledge ‘very competitive’ local elections

Kemi Badenoch, whose party currently holds around half the seats up for election on Thursday, acknowledges that the local elections present her with a challenge. Visiting a farm in Lincolnshire, the Conservative leader says, “it is a very, very competitive political environment” and claims Reform UK are profiting through Labour doing so “badly”. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Badenoch calls for Kneecap prosecution

Kemi Badenoch calls for prosecution of the rap trio Kneecap after a member of the group allegedly called for the death of Tory MPs. Video emerged of the group at a November 2023 gig appearing to show one member saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP." The Conservative leader accuses Kneecap of being "anti-British” and says, “they should be prosecuted”. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Tories admit local elections will be ‘challenging’

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp admits Thursday’s local elections will be “challenging” but insists the Conservative Party will not be doing a deal with Reform UK. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Tories express concern over EU youth mobility scheme

The Opposition have expressed concerns over a potential youth mobility scheme with the European Union. The home secretary and chancellor both said they are "open" to the plans which would allow Europeans to temporarily live and work in the UK. Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said it is a "potentially failing immigration scheme" and urged the government to be more transparent with discussions regarding the plans. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Tories insist ‘no pact’ with Reform UK

Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury Gareth Davies insists the Conservative Party “will not be entering into a pact” with Reform UK but will “win back the centre-right vote” at the next General Election. In an audio recording obtained by Sky News, Robert Jenrick can be heard saying that he wants the "fight" against Sir Keir Starmer's party to be "united". Report by Blairm. 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