Asked earlier if there would be a cut to the welfare bill before the next election, the chancellor said: ‘There will be a reduction in the benefits bill’

As Peter Walker reports, Andy Burnham has written to cabinet ministers telling them that, as he opens a national debate on improving the UK’s relationship with the EU, he does not want them to “advocate for specific options or opine on the likely outcome of the process”.

John Healey stuck to this in his interviews this morning. But, speaking to GB News, he did hint that he might not be 100% enthusiastic about taking the UK back into the EU single market after the next election.

No, freedom of movement is not on the agenda, and certainly for this parliament it’s ruled out.

No, I’m in favour of accepting that we’ve got a Brexit decision. And I’m in favour of the job we need to do now, which is to make the best of the terms we’ve got.