Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Monday’s papers continue to lead on the fallout from the allegations facing former Conservative MP Chris Pincher, and Downing Street’s handling of the claims.
The PM is facing a Cabinet backlash over his handling of allegations against Chris Pincher, reports the Daily Telegraph. The paper says it has spoken to sources close to three Cabinet ministers who criticised the appointment of Pincher as deputy chief whip and expressed dismay at having to defend the PM’s decision. According to one of the sources, there is a plan to ‘wheel out’ junior ministers to do interviews.
Tory rebels believe the Chris Pincher row has bolstered their efforts to oust the prime minister, according to the Times. Eighteen positions are up for election on the executive of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers, on Wednesday. Those elected could change the rules to allow a fresh vote of no confidence in the PM – the paper says the election for the executive is now seen as a proxy leadership vote.
The Sun says the latest scandal is the prime minister’s and No 10’s own making. In its editorial, the paper says the problem for the PM is that the public wants and expects better from his government.
Cost of living
The Guardian leads with a study which finds that single parents are among the hardest hit by a decade of cuts to state support. The report says half of 3.1 million children in lone-parent families now live in relative poverty. The paper says the cuts have left single parents in a much weaker position to cope with the shocks of the pandemic and the rising prices of food and fuel.
According to the Financial Times, British farmers are warning that worker shortages will cause “catastrophic” food waste this year.
The Daily Express uses its front page to highlight new figures that show people buying homes now have to wait 133 days from the moment their offer is accepted to completion. The paper says the record wait is blamed on red tape and a lack of legal staff.