Sunday Papers – ‘We will hold Iran to account’- the full perspective
Sunday’s newspapers cover various domestic stories, including David Cameron’s vow to “hold Iran to account” for the actions of its proxies. Several of the papers pick up on a review by the Commons Defence Committee -which says Britain’s “‘hollowed out’ forces” are not ready for a war with Russia.
An image of England’s narrow win over Italy in the Six Nations makes several papers and is heavily featured on the back pages.
UK forces not ready for Russia war
“Hollowed-out forces not ready for war with Russia” screams the headline in The Sunday Telegraph, echoing the concerns highlighted by the Commons Defence Committee, a sentiment shared by The Sunday Express and Sunday People.
According to The Telegraph, Nato nations are under a three-year warning to brace for a potential Russian offensive. In a peer-on-peer conflict, the UK’s capabilities are projected to be exhausted after just two months. Meanwhile, the Express reports that eight out of 10 individuals fear the onset of World War Three in this decade, with nearly half advocating a return to some form of national service.
The Sunday Times features an interview with Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron, who acknowledges the assets in place to keep Britain safe but expresses anxiety over the ongoing war in Ukraine. Drawing parallels with the 1930s, Lord Cameron emphasises the need for the UK to demonstrate its commitment to supporting Ukraine with weapons and replenishing its own stocks.
Northern Ireland historic moment
“Stepping into history,” declares The Observer, capturing the image of Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Fein’s new first minister in Northern Ireland. This historic moment is also spotlighted on the front pages of The Sunday Times and The Independent on Sunday.
Investigating a drug rehab centre in Sussex, The Observer reveals striking similarities between the Narconon clinic and the Church of Scientology. Patients and staff allegedly undergo repetitive drills, resembling obedience training. Despite being listed in an NHS directory, Narconon denies following a religious doctrine, asserting that the drills have saved lives. The Department for Health and Social Care refrains from commenting on the matter.
The Sunday Mirror reports a Conservative trade minister’s pledge to support the tech firm owned by Rishi Sunak’s wife during a trip to India. The Department for Trade insists such interactions are part of its efforts to promote the UK as an investment destination. The Sunday Mirror calls on Sunak to address what it perceives as a conflict of interest.
In The Telegraph, former home secretary Suella Braverman criticises churches for alleged support of fake asylum claims. She contends that individuals, like the suspects in the Clapham chemical attack, manipulate the system by converting to Christianity. The Church argues that vetting asylum seekers is the responsibility of the Home Office.
The Sunday People challenges the suspect’s conversion claims, reporting that the local diocese has found no evidence of the referee he supposedly used to prove his switch of religions.
Finally, The Sun on Sunday’s lead story reveals Kate Garraway’s return to present Good Morning Britain less than a week after her husband Derek Draper’s funeral.
THE SUNDAY PAPERS – REVIEWED AND SUMMARISED
The Observer – Labour draws up ultra-safe ‘bombproof’ manifesto
Labour is planning to draw up a “bombproof” manifesto ahead of the next general election, according to The Observer. It adds the party is favouring “caution” when it comes to policy, in order to try and “avoid Tory attacks”.
And there’s a report into a rehab centre linked to the Church of Scientology, which the paper says left people “‘traumatised’ and in ‘trance-like’ states”. It adds that patients at the Narconon UK clinic were “allegedly subjected to methods near identical” to those used by the movement, despite claims from a salesperson that it was “not-related” to Scientology.
Sunday Mirror – Top Tory: I will help Sunak wife’s firm grow in the UK
The Sunday Mirror says a Tory minister pledged to “help Sunak’s wife’s firm grow in the UK” while on a trade mission to India. In the exclusive story, the paper says Lord Johnson said he was “‘keen to see a bigger Infosys presence'” in the country. Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty holds a stake in the company, run by her father. Meanwhile it’s the “call of the jungle” for Traitors star Harry Clark. He won the hit BBC show last month, and the paper reports he is being lined for a stint in the I’m a Celebrity jungle next.
The Sun On Sunday – Brave Kate back
“Brave” Kate Garraway will return to TV days after a funeral service for her late husband, Derek Draper, according to the Sun on Sunday. The paper reports that the Good Morning Britain presenter will give a live interview from her home on Monday, before returning to co-host the show from Thursday.
The front page also reports on Helen George on a night out on the town.
The Sunday Times – We will hold Iran to account, vows Cameron
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has vowed to “hold Iran to account” for the actions of its proxies, in an interview with The Sunday Times. The US and UK launched a fresh round of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday night, intending “to disable Iran-backed groups”.
Meanwhile “Sinn Fein marches into the history books”, the paper reports, alongside a picture of Michelle O’Neill striding through Stormont, as she became Northern Ireland’s first nationalist first minister on Saturday.
The Sunday Telegraph – ‘Hollowed out’ forces not ready to fight Russia
Britain’s “‘hollowed out’ forces” are not ready for a war with Russia, according to the front page of the Sunday Telegraph, quoting a review by the Commons defence committee. The chairman of that committee writes in the paper that the UK must “rise to the challenge” and be ready “to confront the threats we face with confidence”.
Meanwhile a picture of England rugby player Ben Earl pumping his fist dominates the front page. He helped England overcome a Six Nations scare against Italy, as his team came from behind to beat Italy 27-24 in their opening game.
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