Defector Natalie Elphicke scandal & Premier League title race – the full perspective
Sunday’s front pages lead on various topics, with domestic politics spread across several. For a handful of papers, there are fresh reports about the newly – and controversial – Labour MP Natalie Elphicke, who defected from Conservative to Labour last week.
Elsewhere there is a handful of arts and entertainment news on the front pages – including the Eurovision winner and other domestic topics.
The back pages all lead on the latest from the weekend’s Premier League action – as Liverpool are officially out of the title race, and Man City move into top place.
Arsenal are in action today – facing Man Utd – and it’s a must-win if the Gunners want to claim the title.
Labour MP Natalie Elphicke scandal
The Sunday Times leads on Labour MP Natalie Elphicke – the new Labour MP who defected from the Conservative Party on Wednesday. Former justice secretary Robert Buckland has told the paper Elphicke asked him in 2020 to interfere in a sexual assault trial of her ex-husband – with her spokesperson calling the claims “nonsense”.
The Observer speaks to senior Conservatives who tell the paper that Natalie Elphicke defected to Labour because she was never made a minister. An unnamed cabinet source claims the former Conservative MP had become bitter about being passed over for a senior role, first by former Prime Minister Liz Truss, then Rishi Sunak.
The Tories are looking for ways to undermine Elphicke, the paper adds.
The Mail on Sunday calls Elphicke a “turncoat MP” and says allegations that she asked former justice secretary Robert Buckland to pull strings for her ex-husband could prove embarrassing for her new party leader, Sir Keir Starmer. As the paper points out, he is a former director of public prosecutions.
The Sunday Telegraph reports on the crackdown on Civil Service positions devoted solely to diversity. Senior managers will be ordered not to hire staff dedicated to boosting diversity, equality and inclusion. Staff already there whose jobs are focussed only on diversity will be moved to Human Resources teams and given broader job specs, it reports.
Cabinet Office Minister Esther McVey tells the paper she is concerned Whitehall managers are becoming distracted by what she calls “woke hobby horses” rather than delivering their core function.
The Sunday Express also leads on politics. The paper carries an exclusive about Angela Rayner’s reported plan to “strengthen the hand of unions within the first 100 days” of her party winning power. The paper cites a “report” as warning the proposal could “cost the average household an extra £225 a year in council tax”.
The Sunday People reports on 15 “repeat blade offenders” who it says have “never served time” – despite “Tory vows to cage them”. The “shock figures” come on the same day that a service was held in London for Richard Taylor, who campaigned against knife crime for years after his son, Damilola, was stabbed in the leg aged 10 and left to die in a stairwell in 2000.
The Observer is one of a few that leads on international news. The paper’s main story is about “terrified” families fleeing Rafah in southern Gaza as the war between Hamas and Israel continues – an image shows women and children fleeing the region on a tricycle loaded with belongings.
https://www.tiktok.com/@bbcnews/video/7367995609179114785?lang=en&q=eurovision&t=1715497981488
Eurovision & Celebrity News
Many of the tabloids lead on entertainment news.
The Sun on Sunday leads with Patsy Kensit. The soap star has reportedly split from her partner.
Helen Flanagan is the focus of the Sunday Mirror, with the former Coronation Street actress telling the paper about the aftermath of her split from “long-term love” Scott Sinclar – a Bristol Rovers footballer.
“Strictly Come Darting” is the Daily Star on Sunday’s main headline, with TV judge Craig Revel Horwood telling the paper he would like to see a “darts star” compete on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. The paper suggests “teen hero” Luke Littler could be a good option – and jokes that the report is a “throwbiz exclusive”.