Transport secretary to look at HS2 revival plans with 'open mind'

Minister refuses to say whether Tories received extra £5m

Transport Secretary Mark Harper declines to say whether Frank Hester has donated an extra five million pounds to the Conservative Party, refusing to comment on "hypothetical" questions. Mr Hester allegedly said in 2019 that Diane Abbott, Britain's longest-serving black MP, made him "want to hate all black women" and that she "should be shot". Reports emerged this week that Mr Hester may have offered £5 million more, which has not yet been published by the Electoral Commission. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Mordaunt and Gove depart the Cabinet Office on Budget day

House of Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove and Transport Secretary Mark Harper leave the Cabinet Office in Whitehall ahead of Jeremy Hunt's Budget announcement. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Mordaunt and Gove arrive at Cabinet Office on Budget day

House of Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove and Transport Secretary Mark Harper arrive at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall ahead of Jeremy Hunt's Budget announcement. The chancellor is expected to announce a 2p National Insurance tax cut and a raft of other measures as he hopes to appease Tory voters. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn