Editorial 21 June 2024.
Friday’s front pages feature a variety of topics, with domestic politics the most popular. The latest scandal plaguing the Conservative Party – an election betting scandal – makes several of the more liberal front pages.
Several papers – right and left – pick up on Sir Keir Starmer’s comment that Jeremy Corbyn would have been a better prime minister than Boris Johnson.
Across the papers, England’s drab performance against Denmark – which resulted in a 1-1 draw, makes most of the papers. The coverage is continued across the back pages with critics saying England’s performance was ‘tame’ ‘laboured’ and ‘disjointed’.
‘Corbyn would have been a better PM than Boris’
One of the stories that are splashed across both left and right-leaning newspapers is the comments from Labour’s Sir Kier that Jeremy Corbyn would have made a better prime minister than Boris Johnson. The comment was made during last night’s TV debate.
The Daily Telegraph says that Sir Keir was “pinned down” over his past support of Jeremy Corbyn in 2019. The paper notes Starmer initially refused five times to stand by the comments he previously made – that Corbyn would make a great prime minister.
The Daily Mail calls Sir Keir’s comment “extraordinary”. The paper claims Sir Keir was “flustered” and “left squirming” during his appearance on Question Time.
‘Tory betting scandal’
Two Tory candidates are being investigated by the Gambling Commision over alleged wagers placed on the date of the 4 July general election.
The incident comes after the prime minister’s close protection officer was arrested and suspended over alleged bets about the timing of the election.
More political figures are now being looked at, and more names are expected to be released.
The FT refers to the “flurry of bets” as four people linked to the prime minister are being looked into over allegations of bets on the date of the July election. The paper also picks up on the prime minister’s comments, during BBC’s Question Time, that he was “incredibly angry” to learn of the allegations.
The i newspaper says the controversy has derailed the Tory campaign “amid fears that more names will emerge.”
The Daily Mirror asks: “What are the odds on that?” The paper says the scandal deepened last night and probes into three began.
The Telegraph’s front page mentions the “huge spike in bets” with a cartoon showing a door-to-door campaigner above the caption: “I’m your Tory candidate. I bet you a tenner that you’re not going to vote for me.” The paper notes the prime minister has said he will “boot out” anyone found to have broken gambling laws.
The Times also reports on the comments that Sunak will kick out any one found to have broken the rules.
The Metro calls it a “flutter shambles” and pictures Conservative campaign chief Tony Lee and his wife, Tory candidate Laura Saunders. Ms Saunders said on Thursday that she “will be co-operating with the Gambling Commission and has nothing further to add”.
Elsewhere, other political stories make the front pages.
The Times leads on Labour which has said it will not impose VAT on private school fees before 2025 as it “wouldn’t be the right thing to do” so close to the start of a new academic year.
The Guardian’s lead reports that Tory minister Chris Skidmore has said he will vote for Labour in July. In a “deeply personal attack”, the former energy minister accused the prime minister of politicising the climate crisis.
The paper also reports on Nigel Farage’s praise of Andrew Tate. He is quoted as saying Tate is “an important voice” to “emasculated” boys. Tate is facing criminal accusations over sexual misconduct in two separate cases – including human trafficking.
England 1-1 Demark: ‘England slammed for poor performance’
Thursday’s Euros match makes the front pages. The Metro says “Dane in the dumps”.
The Daily Star uses a picture of Gareth Southgate saying the match was a ‘struggle to watch’. The Guardian says ‘England Labour to 1-1 draw’. The Express says … ‘As if the general election wasn’t painful enough’ alongside an image of Harry Kane. The i newspaper says Gareth will be forced to rethink as England ‘fail to gel’.