Rayner 'hoping' for winter fuel update within weeks - and says she 'never' wants to be Labour leader

Angela Rayner gives update on benefits cap

Angela Rayner has refused to say if the government plans to scrap the two child cap on benefits. The deputy prime minister said: "We're looking at all the different issues that affect child poverty. What we inherited was child poverty on the increase. We will be coming forward with our strategy later this year." Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Pope Leo XIV Meets Zelensky at Inauguration Mass | 1st American Pope Vows to end Russian-Ukraine War

In a historic and politically charged moment at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, shook hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska as his inaugural Mass drew to a close. But the gesture was more than ceremonial. In his first global address, Pope Leo XIV vowed to make “every effort” to help end the war in Ukraine and later condemned the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying people had been “reduced to famine.” World leaders—including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney—looked on as faith and geopolitics collided in St. Peter’s Square. Is the new pope signaling a bold new era of Vatican diplomacy? Can faith intervene where politics has failed? #PopeLeoXIV #Zelensky #Vatican2025 #PapalInauguration #UkraineWar #GazaCrisis #CatholicChurch #FaithAndPolitics #FirstAmericanPope #JDVance #StPetersSquare #VaticanNews #WorldLeaders #PopeAndPeace #HumanitarianCrisis #ReligionAndGeopolitics ~HT.410~PR.274~ED.102~GR.124~

Deputy PM 'confident' furnaces will continue firing

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner confirmed that the government has secured the raw materials needed to keep Scunthorpe steel plant going. It comes as the government stepped in over the weekend to take it over from Chinese company Jingye after it threatened to shut down one of the furnaces today. "We've got the raw materials, they've been paid for and we're confident that the furnaces will continue to fire," Ms Rayner said. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Starmer: 'People in the North have been underestimated'

The Prime Minister has claimed that people in the North of England have "long been underestimated", as he and Angela Rayner visited South Yorkshire to ramp up Labour's campaign ahead of next month's local elections in England. Report by Chahalb. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Russell Brand leaves court following not guilty plea

Comedian and actor Russell Brand departs from Southwark Crown Court after he pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault. He is accused of raping a woman in a hotel room while she attended a Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, and grabbing a TV worker’s breasts and orally raping her after dragging her into a male toilet. 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 arrives at court to face rape charges

Comedian and actor Russell Brand arrives at court to enter pleas to sex offence charges including rape and indecent assault. The 49-year-old appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court earlier this month where he heard details of allegations against him – including that he raped a woman in a hotel room when she attended a Labour Party conference. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Conservatives ‘alarmed’ by early release scheme

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whatley says the government’s plan to release prisoners early is “alarming”. According to Whatley, Labour have made a “mess of their early release scheme, including accidentally releasing prisoners like violent domestic abusers”. Report by Ajagbef. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn