Making a number of Friday’s front pages is the publication of Boris Johnson’s memoir, Unleashed, which comes out next month. The former prime minister’s new book will be serialised in the Daily Mail, which details on its front page Johnson’s disclosure of his “last ditch” attempt to persuade Prince Harry not to leave the UK with his wife Meghan.
Johnson’s “manly pep talk” with the Duke of Sussex also tops the Daily Telegraph. The paper reports that Palace officials were said to have believed his intervention – understood to have taken place during a UK-Africa investment summit in 2020 – could convince Harry to change his mind. Despite the ex-PM’s effort, the duke departed for Canada the following day. Johnson’s verdict on the talks? “Totally hopeless”.
Other papers lead with stories looking ahead to next month’s Budget. “Reeves ready to tone down tax raid on rich non-doms”, is the Financial Times’ headline. Treasury officials fear it may fail to raise the £1bn the government thought it would – or indeed any money at all – should wealthy foreigners look to more favourable tax jurisdictions and decide to leave the UK. One official is quoted as saying the government “won’t press on regardless, but we are not going to abandon this completely”.
The new chancellor has so far given little away on her tax and spending plans ahead of the Budget. Several papers have in recent days reported that Reeves is considering changing the fiscal rules to allow for more flexibility on this front, which she has so far refused to rule out. The i splashes on warnings from economists that any such alteration could keep interest rates and mortgage deals high for longer, “in a blow to struggling home owners”.
According to today’s edition of the Times, plans being drawn up by the Treasury to change the government’s borrowing rules could free up to £50bn to spend on roads, housing and other large-scale projects. Also featured on its front page is Elon Musk saying he does not think “anyone should go to the UK” after he was reportedly denied an invitation to a business investment summit.
The Guardian quotes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying Israel “will not stop” its attacks on Hezbollah targets, despite a call issued by the US, UK and allies for a temporary ceasefire. The paper also reports on the charging of New York City Mayor Eric Adams with five counts of criminal offences, including bribery, wire fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. The mayor has denied any wrongdoing and rejected calls for his resignation.
A fresh report on former Harrods boss Mohamed Al-Fayed leads the Daily Mirror. The paper says police received 19 sex abuse claims against Fayed while he was still alive. It says the accusations date from 2005 to 2023, when he died aged 94.
The Metro reports on the suspension of public wi-fi services at 19 railway stations managed by Network Rail on Wednesday after messages about past terrorism attacks appeared on people’s devices. British Transport Police has since confirmed a man has been arrested on suspicion of computer misuse offences.
The Daily Express leads on the story of an elderly man that has been placed in a care home a 260-mile round trip away from his wife. The headline reads: “It feels like they don’t want him to come back to me”.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, enjoyed a secret trip to the ballet on Wednesday, the Sun reports. The paper also says I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! contestants with a prescription for the weightloss drug Ozempic will be given the jab off camera.
“Attack of the creepy giant baby doll” is the Daily Star’s headline. The paper says Rochdale residents were “creeped out” when the 27ft puppet arrived in their town square. The doll is said to have been installed by the local council to encourage schoolchildren to talk about the environment.
Stories concerning the forthcoming Budget feature prominently. The Financial Times and the Daily Telegraph highlight suggestions that the government could soften its stance on abolishing the non-dom tax status. Both papers quote former chancellor Jeremy Hunt as saying Labour “fail to understand the importance of globally competitive tax rates”. Officials tell the Telegraph that the Treasury is “committed” to “removing the outdated non-dom tax regime”.
The Times says ministers could get tens of billions of pounds extra to invest in the economy by “tweaking” rules on borrowing. Sources say officials have been asked to draw up options to “offset” assets – such as the money owed in student loans – against the wider national debt. But the i reports that some economists are warning against the change. They say the measure could keep interest rates higher for longer.
The front page of the Guardian pictures a road filled with cars carrying people fleeing Lebanon, as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies. “Netanyahu says Lebanon strikes will go on, despite ceasefire call” is the headline. The paper’s editorial calls on the US to make military aid to Israel conditional on a hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza. The article says Hezbollah has insisted such an agreement is necessary for it to back down.
“How did he escape justice?” is the headline on the Daily Mirror‘s front page, alongside a picture of Mohamed Al-Fayed. The paper says one of his alleged victims has demanded an investigation into the conduct of the Metropolitan Police. The article says 19 women made abuse claims against the businessman while he was still alive. Scotland Yard is quoted as saying that it’s carrying out a “full review of all existing allegations”.
The Daily Mail leads on revelations made in Boris Johnson’s forthcoming memoir. The paper says Palace and government officials asked Johnson to talk the Duke of Sussex out of leaving the UK. The former prime minister describes the discussion, which took place in early 2020, as a “manly pep talk”.
The Sun says stars of ITV’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here will be allowed to use weight loss jabs. It says Ozempic, which is also used to treat diabetes, will be given to contestants with a prescription. A source is quoted as saying people on medication go to “ITV’s off-camera medical team as often as they need” and that it will be “no different” with Ozempic. The source said: “It’s not for ITV to pass judgement”.
The inside pages of the Daily Express feature pictures of Sir Winston Churchill living it up on a luxury yacht. The photos of Sir Winston, who was about 30 at the time, were found in a box of maritime memorabilia bought at auction. The boat’s owner, Gilbert A Tonge, is said to have often invited the rich and famous on board. The paper finds a modern parallel. Under the headline “Winston enjoys MP’s perk long before Keir”, the article says politicians were “enjoying” benefits more than a hundred years before the “current scandal engulfing Sir Keir and other Labour bigwigs.”
