The Guardian leads with an exclusive report which says a spending watchdog is examining the decision to provide £220,000 in taxpayers’ cash for Boris Johnson’s legal defence during the inquiry into partygate. No decision on a formal investigation has been made yet, it adds. It comes as Mr Johnson defended his actions in No 10 during lockdown again on Wednesday, saying he had thought he was acting within the rules.

The front page features an image from the funeral of Tyre Nicholas in the USA.