Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Several of Thursday’s front pages lead with the arrest of Peter Murrell, former SNP chief executive and husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, as part of an investigation into party finances. Government plans to house migrants on a barge off Dorset s another lead story for the newspapers.
According to The Daily Telegraph, there are concerns that Police Scotland may have faced political pressure to delay the arrest of Peter Murrell, husband of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, until after her successor was appointed. While the police deny notifying Sturgeon in advance, questions have been raised about the timing of Murrell’s arrest and the circumstances of Sturgeon’s resignation.
The Daily Mail similarly suggests that Sturgeon’s resignation may have been influenced by her knowledge of her husband’s impending arrest. The Independent also questions how much Sturgeon and her successor, Humza Yousaf, knew about the SNP fraud inquiry.
Meanwhile, The Times reports on alleged lobbying offers made by Blackpool South MP Scott Benton, which may renew public debate about MPs using second jobs to push commercial interests for financial gain. The Sun claims to have seen leaked Cabinet papers outlining plans to limit the amount those under 25 can bet in online slot games, while the Guardian reports on payments made to King Charles and his mother from the duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, which have been the subject of longstanding calls for the income to be paid to the Treasury rather than the Royal Family.
The Daily Express and The Sun report on plans to house migrants on a barge off Dorset, with the latter suggesting that criticism of the accommodation’s luxury facilities has been limited to “middle-class lefties”. The Daily Mirror carries a plea from the sister of murdered teacher Sabina Nessa to the Justice Secretary to prevent killers from snubbing their sentencing hearings, a call supported by former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett. Finally, the Financial Times reports that Ukraine would be willing to hold talks with Russia on the status of Russian-held Crimea if a Ukrainian counter-offensive proves successful.