Met Police launches investigation into suspended Reform MP Rupert Lowe over 'verbal threats'

Farage wants to see a ‘British DOGE’ in county councils

Nigel Farage says Reform UK will only do a deal with other parties if they agree to review policies like “climate change initiatives” unless something akin to a “British DOGE in every county” is implemented. Mr Farage expects Reform to do “very, very well” at the local elections, which could mean the party becomes power brokers in local authorities around the country. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

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

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 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

Farage: Reform now main opposition in red wall areas

Nigel Farage has claimed Reform UK is now the main challenger to Labour in the Midlands, North, Wales and Scotland, pushing the Conservatives into third place. In a campaign speech, he said voters felt betrayed by the Tories over Brexit and immigration, adding that backing the Conservatives in red wall areas would be a “wasted vote.” Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Southport report rejects 'two-tier policing' claims

There was no evidence of "two-tier policing" in the police's handling of riots that erupted after last year's Southport murders, a new report by MPs has found. The report by the Home Affairs Committee, published on Monday, examined the police response to disorder that broke out following the stabbings in July last year. Commenting on the findings, former Metropolitan Police chief Dal Babu said there are "some lessons for the police to learn particularly around how they deal with social media". Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Boy dies after getting into difficulty in lake in London

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

Russell Brand Charged With Rape and Sexual Assault in U.K., Met Police Confirms | THR News Video

Russell Brand has been formally charged with rape and sexual assault. The U.K.'s Crown Prosecution Service said that it has authorized London's Metropolitan Police to charge a man, identified as 49-year-old Brand, following an investigation by detectives. London's Metropolitan Police said Brand has been charged with one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape and two counts of sexual assault. He will appear in court on Friday, May 2nd.