Editorial 26 June 2024

Many of Wednesday’s newspapers focus on the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange – who agreed to a plea deal that has seen him set free. He is en route to his native Australia ending a years-long legal battle. 

US prosecutors pursued the Wikileaks founder for leaking sensitive military information. Last week, he signed a deal with the US that would see him plead guilty to one charge, instead of the 18 he was originally facing

Assange left the UK on Monday after spending five years in prison fighting extradition to the US.

Elsewhere, the betting scandal is also splashed on the papers as another Tory has been implicated in the scandal, and Labour has also found itself wrapped up in the political mess. 

Labour has been out and about spreading its election messaging in this morning’s newspaper briefings – convincing readers that the party has changed since 2019 and sharing plans of how they’ll improve the NHS. 

Many of the papers feature pictures of Harry Kane as England are through to the Round of 16 at the Euros – although the team’s performance has been widely panned for being flat and boring. 

‘Julian Assange finally free’ 

The Metro reports Assange headed to London Stansted Airport where he bordered a private plane understood to have cost £400,000. The paper claims he might have to repay the Australian government for the cost of the jet. 

The FT says “Freedom flight” next to an image of the Wikileaks founder staring out of the plane’s window as he departed the UK. 

The same photo of Assange features on the Daily Telegraph’s front page, which notes that the deal he signed brings to a close the end of the years-long legal battle. 

The Guardian reports on the “joy” expressed by Assange’s wife Stella and says that she kept the news from their two young sons, just telling them she had a “big surprise” for them. 

‘Betting scandal continues to dominate’ 

The FT reports that Labour has been dragged into the general election betting scandal – after it emerged the party has suspended Kevin Craig, a parliamentary candidate who has admitted betting that he would fail to win in his constituency.

The Telegraph leads on the Scottish Secretary Alistair Jack who reportedly claimed he won more than £2,000 betting on the election date – comments he later described as a “joke” along with a clarification that he had won a much smaller amount on a bet.

The Times also leads on the betting scandal, suggesting there are now concerns the scandal could spiral further before 4 July.

The Guardian reports on the betting scandal, noting a fifth Tory is facing investigation, with the paper arguing the latest mess is overshadowing Rishi Sunak’s campaign.

The Metro features images of Conservative David Simmonds, Labour’s Wes Streeting, Lib Dem’s Daisy Cooper, Green Party deputy leader Zack Polanski, Reform’s Alex Wilson and former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford who all attended a hustings event hosted by the paper. 

The Mirror leads on Labour’s pledge to fix the healthcare service if they are elected to office in July. 

Starmer takes to the Daily Mail to give a “frank” interview in which he tells the paper’s readers that he has changed the Labour Party since the Jeremy Corbyn era. Starmer tells the readership they were right to reject Labour back in 2019. 

‘England limp through to R16’

The Guardian touches on England’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia in their Euro 2024 match, the paper says the Three Lions “do just enough.” 

The Daily Star describes the performance as “dull”, the Mail dubs it “another bore draw” whilst the Express asks the team to do better.