Sunday Papers – ‘By-election doom looms over Tories’
The upcoming by-elections are a hot topic in the news today, with reports that Conservative MPs have “predicted fresh attacks on Rishi Sunak’s leadership within days” in the run-up to by-elections in Wellingborough and Kingswood.
The party has descended into a ‘death spiral’ according to some MPs and if the Tories lose the upcoming elections it will only add more pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – who’s already faced a difficult week with two major stories over his behaviour. His £1,000 bet on asylums with Piers Morgan and his trans jibe in the House of Commons in front of Brianna Ghey’s mother have been met with widespread backlash. Brianna Ghey was stabbed to death by two fellow teenagers.
Elsewhere, several of the front pages feature comments from King Charles, who thanked the nation for their support since his cancer diagnosis.
England’s win over Wales in the Six Nations and other domestic political stories feature on the front pages.
‘King Charles thanks the nation’
The Sunday Mirror’s headline, “My heartfelt thanks to you,” captures this sentiment. The Sunday Express dedicates its front page to the King’s “most heartfelt thanks” to the nation for the outpouring of support The paper reports the Charles’s “deepening … lifelong admiration” for healthcare workers and cancer charities since beginning treatment.
The Sun on Sunday also features the King’s message on its front page. Its main story however is about Billie Piper’s split with her partner of eight years, musician Johnny Lloyd.
However, the Mail on Sunday uncovers a concerning revelation, reporting that purportedly authored books about the King’s health, already on sale online, are the creation of Artificial Intelligence. Buckingham Palace denounces these accounts as “intrusive” and “insensitive,” with legal action being pursued.
The Sunday Telegraph highlights judges’ apprehension regarding asylum seekers faking conversion to Christianity to evade deportation, a concern echoed by former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey. He attributes this phenomenon partly to the Church of England’s stance on migration issues, urging bishops to engage more with affected communities.
The Independent On Sunday investigates how criminals exploit trial delays, pleading not guilty to manipulate the system. They report a drastic increase in cases awaiting verdicts for more than three years since 2019, coupled with a significant decrease in early guilty pleas.
Housing Secretary Michael Gove, as featured on the front page of the Sunday Times, warns of the urgent need for his party to appeal to younger demographics, citing housing affordability as a critical issue that could lead to disillusionment with capitalism and democracy.
The Observer reveals internal concerns within the Conservative party about potential losses in upcoming by-elections. Some members anticipate defeat, attributing it to what they perceive as a lack of effective leadership and strategy, with criticism directed at Rishi Sunak’s handling of two formerly safe Tory seats.
THE SUNDAY PAPERS – REVIEWED AND SUMMARISED
The Observer – We’ve given up the fight, say Tories as poll defeats loom
The Observer reports that Conservative MPs have “predicted fresh attacks on Rishi Sunak’s leadership within days” in the run-up to by-elections in Wellingborough and Kingswood. The paper also reports that schools are having to “cut” teachers and support staff to save money.
England’s fightback to beat Wales in the Six Nations also makes the front splash. England currently sits top of the table having won both their opening games.
Sunday Mirror – King Charles: My Heartfelt thanks to you
The Sunday Mirror also carries the King’s first words since his diagnosis. The paper adds comments from Queen Camilla that the family has been “touched” by the public’s support.
In other news, Sara Davies MBE is reported to have “begged” her Strictly Come Dancing co-star Amy Dowden to have chemotherapy for breast cancer.
The Sun On Sunday – Star Billie in love split
The Sun leads with actress Billie Piper’s split with her partner of eight years, musician Johnny Lloyd. Like many other Sunday papers, the tabloid also features the King’s thanks to the public for its support following his cancer diagnosis.
The front page is shared with King Charles’s thanks to the nation for their support during his cancer diagnosis. It’s the first time the king has spoken about his cancer.
The Sunday Times – Gove warns that democracy is in danger if young can’t get houses
The front page of the Sunday Times carries a warning from the Housing Secretary Michael Gove that his party must urgently appeal to younger people, or risk them turning their backs on capitalism and democracy. Mr Gove says housing and the fact that young people struggle to get on the property ladder is a key issue.
The paper quotes him as saying that a failure to address the housing crisis will make people feel they are being “shut out”.
The Sunday Telegraph – Army eases security checks in drive for diversity
The Sunday Telegraph leads with a report about the British Army wanting to “relax security checks” for overseas recruits in an attempt to “boost diversity and inclusion”.
It also features a story about claims there are ongoing issues with the Post Office Horizon software, resulting in postmasters continuing to receive demands for thousands of pounds.
Meanwhile, King Charles is the papers lead image – along with a story about the publics support offering him ‘great comfort’ amid his cancer treatment.