Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Many of Tuesday’s front pages lead with a UK politics story. Some papers are picking up on the Privileges Committee report whilst others lead with the ongoing war of words between PM Rishi Sunak and former prime minister Boris Johnson.
Sunak and Johnson row
The ongoing spat between Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson – over the former PM’s resignation honours list, makes several splashes. The Metro calls it an “all-out war” between the two and describes them as trading “vicious blows.” The Daily Mirror says the two are bickering “like toddlers” and on the day that public hearings get underway in the Covid inquiry, the paper calls their behaviour a “new insult” to victims of the pandemic.
The Guardian reports that PM Sunak will block any attempts by Johnson to return to the Commons before the next election after their public clashes. The paper reports on the “bitter and long-running dispute” between Sunak and Johnson saying it has caused a wider rift in the Tory party. One unnamed senior Tory says Sunak would not allow Johnson onto a candidate list, saying the party needs to move on from this “clown show.”
But the Daily Express takes a different view. The paper says a “defiant” Boris Johnson has made a pledge to its readers that he will return to front-line politics.
The row is much more low-key in the Telegraph. The paper instead leads on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s promise to put the UK on a path to lower taxes. Hunt has launched a review into how to make the public sector more productive so it can drive growth and increase living standards.
The Times leads on what it says are the findings of the Privileges Committee report – expected to be published on Wednesday. The report investigated Boris Johnson and Downing Street parties and whether the former prime minister deliberately misled Parliament.
The paper claims Johnson was not told by officials that social distancing guidelines had been followed at all times, as he has claimed. The paper says Johnson was warned by one senior official that making such a claim was “unrealistic”. The paper says the report would have only given Johnons a suspension if he hadn’t resigned.
City treble parade
Most of Tuesday’s papers feature an image of Man City celebrating their Champions League – and treble win. The Sun dedicates its front page to Jack Grealish – reportedly being held up by teammate Kyle Walker after partying. The Telegraph describes it as “Jack the Lad,” whilst the Daily Star says “I guess this is what you call a ‘treble decker’”.
