Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Friday’s front pages report on the ongoing government mess, with the paper’s suggesting the prime minister’s days are numbered as Tory MPs are planning a revolt to replace her with Mordaunt and Sunak.
PM has 17 days to save her job – Tories want Penny and Rishi
“PM has 17 days to save her job” says the front page of the Daily Mail which reports Tory whips are warning that Liz Truss could face a leadership challenge if the chancellor’s economic statement does not stabilise financial markets.
The paper reports that a former cabinet minister has told them that the PM will need to reverse the minibudget and sack the chancellor if she wants to survive.
The Guardian says that if the PM backs down from her plan not to increase corporation tax it could seal her fate – as that promise was central to her leadership campaign.
The Daily Telegraph picks up on comments from the chancellor who said he is “not going anywhere” – the interview was given in Washington before he cut his US trip short to return to the UK. The chancellor was saying he will not resign despite the mess of his mini-budget and the chaos on the markets. The chancellor has not ruled out changes to his mini-budget but defends the plans for corporation tax.
The Times leads with comments from a senior Tory who says the majority of Tory MPs support the idea of replacing PM Liz Truss and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng with Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt. A former minister told the paper that between 20 and 30 former ministers and senior backbenchers are attempting to find a way for a “council of elders” to tell the PM to quit.
The Daily Star asks “which wet lettuce will last longer?” along with a picture of the PM and an iceberg leaf. The paper says bookies are offering offs of six to one that a 60p lettuce will outlast the PM’s premiership.
UK news latest
The Guardian reports on how a family uncovered abuse at a luxury care home by hiding cameras in the room. The paper says staff were filmed abusing, assaulting and taunting the 88-year-old woman. Several workers have since resigned or been fired and one cleaner has been charged by police with common assault.
The Daily Mirror leads with an interview with Gary Lineker who says he’ll use his coverage of the World Cup to turn the spotlight on homophobia and human rights abuses in Qatar. Linekar says he knows two Premier League stars thinking of coming out and says he hopes they will do it during the tournament to send a message to countries where being gay is illegal.
The Sun is outraged that the referee in the famous Maradona’s infamous hand of God goal could cash in on his role. The referee is expected to sell the ball used in the match for £3m. The paper complains the pain of the goal not being ruled out “still rankles 36 years on” – but not half as much as the ref becoming a multi-millionaire.