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

Starmer and Badenoch clash over the economy at PMQs

At Prime Minister's Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says: "Inflation was 2% when Conservatives left office, 2%, it's now nearly double that. When will he recognise that it’s Labour's budget driving up inflation?" Sir Keir Starmer says, “we are taking measures to bring prices down”, citing the government’s trade deal with the EU. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Minister dismisses Labour back bench criticisms

Responding to reports of Labour back bench criticism over policy, cabinet minister Steve Reed insists the government is “absolutely focussed on supporting those people who are struggling the most with the cost-of-living crisis”. The environment secretary lists increases to pensions and the National Minimum Wage plus increased investment in the NHS as a “Labour thing to do”. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn