Labour has been ‘played by its union paymasters’ over train driver pay, James Cleverly says – UK politics live

Shadow home secretary criticises Labour handling of pay dispute as Aslef announces new strikes

Two men have been charged in Sunderland with offences relating to far-right led disorder that spread across England and Northern Ireland in recent weeks. A 32-year-old has been charged with riot, while a 58-year-old has been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence. Over 390 people have now been charged with offences taking pace during the disorder.

Conservative leadership candidate Mel Stride is continuing the Tory strategy of using recent economic data to suggest that the country was doing well under Rishi Sunak's government. He has posted to social media to say:

Our growth remains the strongest in the G7. Yet Rachel Reeves continues to lay the ground for damaging tax rises. Labour cannot keep concocting excuses - the facts speak for themselves. If they raise taxes it is not out of necessity, it's because they always planned to do it.