Four things we learned from speaking to the shadow chancellor

Tories blame ‘tax on businesses’ for ‘slowing growth’

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride blames “a slowing growth picture” on the government “taxing the living daylights out of business” after the rate of GDP growth slowed to 0.3% between April and June (compared to 0.7% between January and March). Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Stride says deportation plan lacks real deterrent

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride has welcomed the Government’s expansion of its “deport now, appeal later” scheme as a step in the right direction. However, he warned it fails to address the lack of a true deterrent at the heart of immigration policy, pointing to the continued high numbers of people crossing the Channel this year. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Stride backs ban on Palestine Action

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride has welcomed the decision to proscribe Palestine Action, calling it a terrorist group that has attacked military assets. He said Parliament acted on security service advice and warned that those breaking the law, including at recent demonstrations, must face consequences. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Sir Mel Stride defends Afghan injunction

Sir Mel Stride defends a super injunction obtained by former defence secretary Ben Wallace to block the reporting a data leak relating to Afghan nationals who supported British forces during the Afghanistan War. The shadow chancellor says people could have been murdered and tortured had the Taliban got hold of the information. Report by Gluszczykm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Tories accuse government of fuelling inflation

Sir Mel Stride, Shadow Chancellor said ''Putting taxes on businesses, borrowing a lot of money and spending a lot of money has kept inflation higher than it otherwise would have been.'' It comes as UK inflation rose to a near 18-month high in June as food prices surged for the third month running, according to official figures. Report by Gluszczykm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn