“UK attempts to advert Lebanon invasion” – Thursday’s front pages feature reports on the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. The papers look ahead as Israel prepares ground invasion of Lebanon – a serious escalation that could lead to an all-out war in the region. 

The UK and its allies have called for a temporary 21-day ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire. 

Elsewhere, a handful of domestic stories lead the rest of the newspapers. The ongoing missing case of Madeline McCann made several of tabloid splashes as the prime suspect reportedly boasted of kidnapping a child. 

UK politics – including the ongoing row over the winter fuel payments, the scandals plaguing the Labour Party and the upcoming Budget. 

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Middle East on the brink as Israel prepares ground invasion of Lebanon

‘Israel issues most explicit threat,’ claims the FT.

The Financial Times leads on comments from Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi who says extensive air strikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah could pave the way for them to “enter enemy territory.” The paper says his remarks were Israel’s “most explicit threat” that a ground invasion is coming. 

‘ All-out war possible but not inevitable ‘ the Telegraph quotes Joe Biden.

The Daily Telegraph picks up on Joe Biden’s remarks to ABC News that an all-out war possible but not inevitable in the Middle East. The paper says any ground invasion to force Hezbollah away from Israel’s border would be huge and complex. The paper suggests Israel would be taking on a better-armed adversary than Hamas. 

‘Ground offensive not imminent, says Pentagon,’ writes The Guardian.

The Guardian leads on comments from the Pentagon’s spokesperson who says a ground offensive does not appear to be imminent whilst detailing the growing global calls for a ceasefire. 

‘UK-Israeli meeting fallen out diary,’ reports the i newspaper.

The i picks up on the prime minister’s comments that “all parties need to pull back from the brink, to de-escalate.” An expected meeting in the US between David Lammy and the Israeli Minister Ron Dermer has “fallen out of the diary,” the paper adds. 

‘UK leading efforts to avert invasion,’ claims The Times.

The Times says the UK is ‘leading’ the efforts to avert a ground invasion as Israel readies its troops. 

‘Full-on revolt over winter fuel payments’ 

Several domestic politics stories lead the front pages. 

‘Full scale revolt as PM lost support of his party,’ claims the Daily Express.

The Daily Express says Sir Keir was hit by a full-scale revolt at the Labour Party conference as unions call on the government to reverse its cut to winter fuel payments. It quotes one Tory source as saying the prime minister “lost the support” of his party, MPs and “paymasters.” 

‘Starmer’s penthouse excuses don’t add up,’ claims the Mail.

The Daily Mail says the prime minister is facing questions over his use of Lord Alli’s penthouse. Sir Keir yesterday defended his stay there during the general election. The paper claims the PM’s excuses “just don’t add up.” 

‘PM uses £18m penthouse during Covid but no rules were broken,’ says The Times.

The Times also reports on the prime minister’s use of an £18m penthouse belonging to Lord Alli. The paper says the PM used the penthouse to broadcast a stay-at-home message to the public during the pandemic. The paper reports no COVID rules were broken. The news comes amid criticism of senior Labour figures for donations they accepted from Lord Alli, including the gift of clothes to the PM’s wife that he initially failed to declare.

‘Crackdown on non-doms might not make any money,’ says The Guardian.

The Guardian reports that the prime minister’s planned crackdown on non-doms may not actually raise money. The paper says officials are thought to be worried that the government’s spending watchdog believes the policy may be undercut by the fact that so many high-earning non-doms have now left the UK.

‘Pressure growing to deal with Sue Gray,’ says The Guardian.

Elsewhere, the paper also reports on the growing pressure to ‘deal’ with Sue Gray. The paper says the PM is exacerbated by the in-fighting within the party. 

‘Starmer says Gray’s salary is no one else business,’ writes the Telegraph.

The Telegraph also covers the ongoing Sue Gray row picking up on Starmer’s recent interview with the BBC, in which he says the salary of Sue Gray shouldn’t be the subject of public debate.