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ToryministerMark Harper was asked if his party “has a problem with young people” as he was grilled on the Conservative plans to bring back national service.The transport secretary was quizzed on his party’s plans by Victoria Derbyshire when he appeared on BBC Newsnight on Tuesday (28 May).Referring to the Consevative’s pledge to bring back national service, the extension of student loan repayment terms and rising rent costs, Ms Derbyshire asked: “Have the Tories got a problem with young people?”Mr Harper responded: “No, not at all.” More

The investigation process into Diane Abbott was “designed to humiliate” her, Tony Blair’s former director of political operations has said.John McTernan, who advised Blair from 2005 to 2007, said whoever is responsible for the investigation into Ms Abbott should “hang their heads in shame” when he was interviewed on Times Radio today (29 May).Ms Abbott has said that the Labour Party will ban her from standing as a candidate at the upcoming general election.The MP for Hackney North had the party whip restored on Tuesday after she was suspended last April over a letter she wrote in The Observer suggesting Jewish people are not subjected to the same racism as some other minorities. More

Bim Afolami defended Conservative Party smears of Angela Rayner after it was announced the police would be taking no further action over the house row.The deputy Labour leader had faced claims she may have broken electoral law and dodged council tax because of the way she and her then-husband used separate homes.Greater Manchester Police and Stockport Council both confirmed on Tuesday (28 May) they would take no further action against the Ashton-under-Lyne MP.Economic secretary Mr Afolami was asked if he would like to apologise to Ms Rayner when he appeared on Sky News, telling presenter Sophie Ridge: “No, I’ve got nothing else to add.” More

Rachel Reeves recalled how her mother’s attitude to finances has inspired her economic policies in a major general election campaign speech on Tuesday, 28 May. The shadow chancellor described how her mother would sit at the kitchen table “combing over, line by line, her bank statements and her receipts.”Every penny mattered… The basic test for whoever is chancellor is to bring that attitude to the public finances.”Speaking from a Rolls-Royce factory in Derby, Ms Reeves said Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt are “singing from the same songbook” as Liz Truss. More

Sir Ed Davey fell off a paddleboard into Lake Windermere as the Liberal Democrats hit the campaign trail on Tuesday, 28 May.The Liberal Democrat leader visited the Lake District to outline his proposals to hold the water industry to account.In the run-up to the general election, the party has unveiled plans to abolish Ofwat, the body responsible for economic regulation of the privatised water and sewerage industry in England and Wales, and introduce a new water regulator to tackle the sewage crisis.The party would also ban water CEO bonuses. More

Labour would not commit to a similar policy to the Conservatives’ “triple lock plus”, shadow business minister Jonathan Reynolds has said.Rishi Sunak has promised to increase the income tax personal allowance for pensioners, giving them a tax cut worth around £95 in 2025-26, rising to £275 in 2029-30.Mr Reynolds told BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, 28 May: “We think it’s absolutely desperate.“The only reason the state pension is anywhere near the personal allowance is because the Conservative Party has frozen the personal allowance for so long… I’m not going to say what will happen in future budgets.” More

Parents will not face sanctions if their teenager fails to complete a form of compulsory national service, a Tory minister has said.The policy would see see 18-year-olds forced to either sign up to the military or cyber defence force or undertake community volunteering work.Rishi Sunak has defended the plans, saying they would “foster a culture of service which is going to be incredibly powerful for making our society more cohesive.”“This relates to an adult who is 18 years old and it is their responsibility to engage with the programme,” Mel Stride told LBC on Tuesday, 28 May. More

Lucy Allan backing a Reform candidate is “vindication” for the party’s policies, leader Richard Tice has said.The Tory MP for Telford, who is leaving parliament, said Alan Adams would offer an alternative to “more of the same politics and more of the same politicians”.Her party responded by suspending her with immediate effect, but Ms Allan said she had resigned to support Mr Adams rather than Conservative Hannah Campbell.Mr Tice told Sky News on Monday, 27 May: “[Reform] policies… can get our country growing again.“Her endorsement… is sort of vindication and verification of that.” More