Tuesday’s UK headlines are dominated by international stories with a sprinkling of domestic politics and royal stories.
France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen has expressed her outrage at being banned from running for public office for five years after being found guilty by a French court of embezzling EU funds. The UK media are assessing what this means for France’s far-right, noting that it’s unlikely to stop the rise, and questions linger from the public figures, including Elon Musk, over how much the outcome was politically motivated.
Tariffs dominate much of the global news today, ahead of Wednesday’s ‘liberation day’ (according to Donald Trump). US tariffs are set to hit every nation tomorrow; the stock markets are in panic, and Britain failed to secure a trade deal before the tariffs.
Prince Harry and Prince Andrew are in the news as Harry’s charity row rumbles on and Andrew’s accuser has been involved in a serious car accident and says she has four days to live.
Le Pen found guilty and barred from public office
There is widespread coverage of France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s political career after she was found guilty of embezzling EU funds and banned from running for public office for 5 years. It means her hopes of running in the 2027 election – in which she was considered one of the favourites – are now in tatters.
- The FT says her hopes for higher office are now “shattered” after the announcement of the 5-year ban. Unless she has a successful appeal, it knocks her out of the running for 2027, the paper says, for which she was considered one of the favourites.
- The Guardian reports Le Pen is “furious” over the ban and has called it a “denial of democracy”.
- The Times says public figures such as Elon Musk have “rallied around” Le Pen as the “French presidential favourite” says she will appeal against the verdict.
- The Daily Telegraph picks up on Le Pen’s comments that she will not quit despite the 2027 ban – the paper’s editorial says the banning of Le Pen will be made a martyrdom by the far-right and that it won’t kill off the rise of the far right.
Tariffs to hit Britain, two-tier policing, ‘awful April’ begins
The domestic stories dominating the news – in print and online – include everything from the US tariffs set to come into effect on Wednesday and how they will impact the UK, the rising water and energy bills and the so-called two-tier policing in the UK.
- FT says the global stock markets tumble as markets await the full details of Donald Trump’s ‘liberation day’ tariffs. The new tariffs will be announced on Wednesday.
- “Trump tariffs likely to hit UK, admits No 10,” the Guardian reports. Downing Street says it ‘reserves the right’ to respond to protect national interest when US levies are announced this week, it adds.
- The Times says tariff negotiations with the Trump administration are “challenging”. The UK had hoped to secure an exemption from the global tariffs but No 10 has accepted that the UK will probably face tariffs of up to 20%, the paper adds.
- The Daily Telegraph reports that one of the possible terms the US president might include for securing a trade deal with the UK includes “free speech.” The paper says the case of an anti-abortion activist who was banned from holding a sign outside an abortion clinic in Bournemouth is now making international headlines as – in a rare move – the activist’s case was highlighted as “concerning” by the US state department.
- The Scotsman says Scottish firms are braced for the impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs after Downing Street acknowledged the UK is unlikely to be spared.
Minimum wage increase, bills rise
Bills are set to rise from today, including energy bills, water bills and council tax. It has been dubbed “awful April” despite today seeing an increase in minimum wage.
- Angela Rayner writes in the i newspaper about the increase in minimum wage that comes into effect today. The deputy PM has hit back at UK firms, the paper says, which have been critical of the government’s plans to axe zero-hour contracts and expand sick pay.
- BBC News reports a series of essential household bills are set to rise in April – including water bills, energy bills and council tax. It has been dubbed “awful April”.
Prince Harry charity row & Prince Andrew accuser car crash
There are several headlines regarding the British royal family, including a report that the woman who accused Prince Andrew of sex trafficking has said she is in hospital following a serious accident. She says she has four days to live. Her spokesperson said she is receiving medical care after a “serious accident” whilst Western Australia police and ambulance services said their records show a “minor crash” between a bus and a car on 24 March, but that no injuries had been reported as a result.
- Metro reports that Virginia Giuffre says doctors have given her “four days to live” via her Instagram page, where she posted a selfie showing her face bruised. She is best known for her allegations that Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell trafficked her to Prince Andrew when she was 17.
- The Mirror reports her dying wish is to see her children one last time. It is understood that kidney failure is among other injuries.
- The Times reports on the fallout between Prince Harry and his charity boss. The paper says Sophie Chandauka has accused the charity founded by Prince Harry of bullying and racism amid a bitter feud with its trustees.
