Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Several political stories are dominating Thursday’s front pages as there is a growing demand for a culture change at Westminister after a Tory MP was accused of watching pornography on his mobile phone in the Commons.
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‘Culture change needed at Westminister’ – another Tory MP scandal
The Express leads on those demands. The paper quotes Labour’s Harriet Harman who said it should not be necessary to tell MPs not to behave in such way, but that a rule might need to be added to their code of conduct.
For the Metro, the paper reports that a female MP tried to take a photo of the unnamed man viewing pornography but was unable to capture it. Whilst the Mirror describes it as a “new low” for what it describes as the “sleazy party.”
The Telegraph’s political lead is an interview with Chancellor Rishi Sunak in which he said he would consider introducing a windfall tax on energy companies’ profits if they failed to make “investments in our country and in our energy security.” The paper points to a split at the top of government, as PM Boris Johnson said the measures would be a “tax on business.” The i also leads with Sunak. The paper notes that in the same interview the chancellor said it would be “silly” to set out further support to help those affected by rising energy bulls before it is clear what will happen with the price cap later in the year.
‘Brink of major energy crisis’
The Guardian leads with fears that Europe is on the “brink of a major energy crisis and could further drive up household bills” after Russia halted gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria. The Financial Times says the price of wholesale gas “soared” after Moscow “turned off the taps.”
The front splash of the Daily Mail leads on Keir Starmer after reports that police are considering a request from a Tory MP to review the decision to clear Starmer of an alleged breach of lockdown rules.
The Times claims Dominic Raab has told prison officers to stop referring to inmates as “residents” and to cells as “rooms”. The paper claims it’s due to fears that so-called “woke” language is damaging public confidence in the criminal justice system.
And finally, the Sun leads with boxer Tyson Fury who claims he’s quitting for good after defending is title against fellow Brit Dillian Whyte.