Slavery was an evil in which people from every continent and region participated. We should be honest about the whole history, not select the parts that are politically convenient today, especially given Britain's leading role in ending the transatlantic slave trade. If Caribbean countries are asking Britain for a formal apology for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, will they also be asking the same of the descendants of African kingdoms, rulers and merchants who captured, sold and profited from the trade? On demands for reparations, whether through cash or debt relief, we have been down this track before. Twenty-five years ago, Jubilee 2000, Drop the Debt and Make Poverty History argued that cancelling the debts of poorer countries would give them a fresh start. More than $100 billion of debt was eventually written off, but many of those countries have since built up even bigger debts. Labour are already spending too much on Britain's welfare state, now is not the time for Andy Burnham to be providing global welfare. There is no reason British taxpayers today should be held financially responsible for things that happened generations before any of us were born. And I have even less patience for political elites in commonwealth countries who don’t know how to make their own citizens prosperous now looking for another opportunity to blame Britain. As Prime Minister, Andy Burnham should be Britain’s greatest defender. Instead, he is writing articles saying we need to confront our history (as if we haven't done enough of that) and considering another formal historical apology. Tony Blair already expressed Britain’s deep sorrow and regret for our role in the slave trade nearly twenty years ago. There is no need to do so again. This is all another navel-gazing distraction. The Commonwealth should be looking forward, not endlessly backwards. That means economic partnerships to make us all richer and deeper military and security cooperation against common threats. If every Commonwealth summit becomes an exercise in presenting Britain with demands for cash then we need to start asking if it is worth the effort.

Poundland has filed to enter administration, putting 11,000 jobs at risk just weeks before Christmas, including here in Brixton. I stand with Poundland workers and @UsdawUnion. The owners must engage with workers and ministers, exploring every option to save jobs and shops.

PM heading off to the Caribbean shortly, just after a heavily-criticised Budget, with no political reporters allowed. Not the case in the past. The King will be going with the entire royal press pack and will therefore get more scrutiny than the actual Prime Minister.

I warmly welcome the Chancellor’s decision to increase the standard rate of Machine Games Duty from 20% to 25% on high-harm machines, as well as excluding adult gaming centres from business rates relief. These are important steps towards putting our communities first and ensuring the tax system better reflects the risks posed by rapid-play, addictive machines. Gambling can devastate lives, tear families apart and leave communities bearing the cost. The Chancellor is right to act – supporting our high streets should mean backing local businesses that help them thrive, not serving the interests of the gambling industry. We must now build on today’s progress with stronger protections. That means swiftly delivering the Government’s commitment to end ‘aim to permit’ and giving councils greater control over the spread of adult gaming centres. It also means tougher action from the Gambling Commission to enforce existing safeguards, alongside further reforms to close loopholes and bolster player protections. This is about fairness and whose interests we put first. For Halesowen and communities across the country, our high streets should serve local people – and I look forward to working with the Government in bringing forward these important changes.

‘John Healey, if you’re listening, where’s my breathing space?’ Business owner Paul Bowen has criticised the Chancellor’s promise to give ‘breathing space’ through measures in his Budget. #budget #businesses #costofliving

NEW: Andy Burnham has demanded answers about the insolvency of Poundland, which has its largest distribution centre in his constituency of Makerfield. The PM tells @Telegraph: "If there was a potential owner to avoid this that hasn’t been accepted, then the Business Secretary and I want to know why that is the case. We stand ready to support the workforce however we can.” Burnham wants to know why Gordon Brothers, the chain's owner, rejected a solvent bid from Ireland’s Martin Property Group for the entire Poundland business earlier this week. Story here with @LukeVanceBarr: telegraph.co.uk/business/202…

Andy Burnham's spokesman says the government won't be setting an "arbitrary target or timetable" on reducing the welfare bill. Pressed if Healey misspoke in his Today interview, the spokesman says: "The chancellor is completely in line with what the PM has said over the last few months that the welfare bill needs to come down, and as I say, we're not setting an arbitrary target or timetable on that."

6am: Healey tells BBC he will bring down benefits bill before election 8:20: Treasury dispute the story 1pm: No10 disown it saying they have never set a target 2pm: PM says cuts as soon as possible 4pm: Healey says Labour won't bring bill down this Parliament

BREAKING: after Healey’s Budget today, MoD spending will be £1bn per year lower than in the Defence Investment Plan he resigned over👇