Labour vows to strengthen role of OBR 'to bring stability back to economy'

Minister blames Labour for Rwanda bill delay

Responding to the record numbers of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel, Gillian Keegan blames Labour for slowing the progress of the government’s Rwanda Bill. The education secretary says, "It is now stuck in the House of Lords and the House of Commons, held up by Labour MPs and Labour peers.” Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Rishi Sunak tears into Labour at a campaign launch event

Rishi Sunak has teared into Labour at a campaign launch at a Derbyshire bus depot this morning by raising the issue of cash-strapped local councils, saying Labour is "unable to balance the books when it is in local government". The prime minister then added “just look what’s happening here, Nottingham Council effectively bankrupt. After having a fire-sale of assets, they still can’t balance the books, in contrast to the extraordinarily well-run Conservative Nottinghamshire County Council". He also said that "whenever Labour runs something, they run it into the ground. In Birmingham, they have effectively bankrupted the largest local authority in Europe. They have saddled their constituents with a 21% council tax rise.” Report by Czubalam. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Labour challenges Sunak to name date of election

Labour has challenged Rishi Sunak to name the date of the next election. The shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth said it was in the “national interest” to declare the date as “businesses want to know what is happening.” Report by Ajagbef. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

PM insists it is ‘very important’ to get debt under control

Responding to The Office for Budget Responsibility’s figures, forecasting that national debt will rise every year for the next four years, the prime minister says it is "very important we have debt under control" and points to the "context" of the last few years, including the pandemic. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

OBR projects net migration to rise to 315,000 a year

The chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility says the chancellor still has £9 billion in headroom after announcing a 2p National Insurance tax cut in his Budget. Richard Hughes adds the OBR has revised projected net migration figures to 315,000 a year, despite the government's promises to cut the number. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn