Today’s news summary – Paper Talk: ‘Sunak slammed for trans jibe’ & ‘William returns to royal duties’
Many of Thursday’s front pages lead with Prince William’s return to work for the first time since King Charles’s cancer diagnosis and his wife Catherine’s abdominal surgery.
There are also stories about Tory MPs and critics rounded on PM Rishi Sunak for insensitivity over comments he made in the Commons about transgender people – whilst Brianna Ghey’s mother was in the gallery. The teenager was stabbed to death last year by two fellow teens.
‘William returns to royal duties’
The Metro talks about Prince William returning to work while Prince Harry has returned to the US after a 24-hour trip to the UK to meet his father.
The Times shows Prince William with actor Tom Cruise at a charity event, highlighting William’s charity work.
The Sun’s front page features Tom Cruise and Prince William, with a play on words referencing his movie “Top Gun”. The paper says whilst speaking at a fundraising event, William thanked the public for its “kind messages”, the paper says.
Prince William said the nation’s well-wishes “mean a great deal to us all”, the Daily Mail reports. Meanwhile, Prince Harry flew back to California around lunchtime on Wednesday, it says. The paper’s editorial says Harry took it upon himself to fly to Britain and Charles was left ‘kicking his heels until he arrived.’
‘Labour scraps pledge’
The Daily Telegraph reports that a UK budget watchdog official says Rishi Sunak needs to cut benefits and get more people working to tackle national debt. They warn that more migrants won’t fix the fiscal crisis and will strain public services.
Labour scrapped its costly green pledge, notes the paper, anticipating criticism from the Conservatives.
The Daily Express asks if Rishi Sunak has paved the way for a Boris Johnson comeback, revealing they talked recently about working together again.
‘Sunak trans jibe’
The Daily Mirror criticises Sunak for comments about transgender issues while Brianna Ghey’s mother visited Parliament, with her father demanding an apology.
Brianna Ghey’s father has demanded an apology from the prime minister, reports The Guardian. The paper adds he called the PM’s comments ‘dehumanising’.
The i reports on a study suggesting Viagra might reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s in men, but more research is needed.
The Times says a supposed Russian spy lied to get asylum in Britain, then worked for the Foreign Office and met the future King. He’s now fighting to keep his British citizenship after being suspected of spying. He also worked for GCHQ and MI6.