Anneliese Dodds has resigned as international development minister over the decision to cut overseas aid to fund a boost to defence spending.
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner reacted as the news broke on Friday, saying she is "really sorry" to hear the news of the resignation.
"It is a really difficult decision that was made but it was absolutely right that the prime minister and the cabinet endorse the prime minister's actions to spend more money on defence," she added.
Report by Kennedyl.
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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
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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
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
Ministers arrive at Downing Street for a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer before the House of Commons pauses for Easter recess. Arriving at Number 10 were Jonathan Reynolds, Yvette Cooper, John Healey, Angela Rayner, Ed Miliband and other members of the cabinet. Report by Faragt. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan visited Ronnie Scott's jazz bar in London after the government announced new steps in collaboration with business leaders to boost the UK's hospitality sector. The move could see bars open later and more al fresco dining. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Children being bombed and the prospect of starvation in Gaza is “intolerable”, Sir Keir Starmer has said, after his Government launched fresh sanctions on West Bank settlers and paused trade talks with Israel. Report by Gluszczykm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
David Lammy announced new measures against Israel but Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat backbenchers urged him to go further. The Government will impose new sanctions on three individuals and four entities involved in the settler movement, and has suspended negotiations with the Israeli government on a new free trade agreement. Report by Gluszczykm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The Prime Minister visited a Lidl in north London on Tuesday afternoon as he sought to promote the impact of his trade deal with the EU. Speaking to broadcasters, Sir Keir Starmer said: ''We are in Lidl because the deal that we struck yesterday will mean lower prices in our supermarkets.'' Report by Gluszczykm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Senior government ministers depart Number Ten following Sir Keir Starmer chaired his first Cabinet meeting since the government agreed new arrangements with the European Union on Monday. Report by Gluszczykm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel urges the government to provide details on the new deal with the European Union and to face scrutiny in the House of Commons. Report by Gluszczykm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Rachel Reeves has defended Sir Keir Starmer's decision to cut the foreign aid budget. It comes as international development minister Anneliese Dodds has resigned over the budget cuts. The chancellor..