Sir Keir Starmer’s winter fuel “U-turn” dominated Thursday’s papers. The Times says pensioners now face waiting more than a year to have winter fuel payments reinstated after “one of the biggest” walk backs of the PM’s tenure. Also making the spotlight is Donald Trump’s “ambush” of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa. The paper describes the US leader confronting him with a video which he said “proved” white farmers in South Africa were being “murdered” and “their land confiscated”.
“Starmer makes U-turn on winter fuel payments” leads the Financial Times as it reports on the PM’s backtrack of cuts to winter fuel payments for pensioners. The paper says Sir Keir has “bowed to pressure from Labour MPs” after the party suffered a series of “humiliating” defeats in local elections this month. “Trump rounds on Ramaphosa” headlines the paper’s coverage of the US president’s meeting with his South African counterpart.
Sir Keir’s “partial climbdown” on winter fuel payments also leads the Guardian’s front page. The paper says the government’s U-turn “will help to head off a growing backbench rebellion” over its £5bn welfare cuts next month. “Trump in ‘white genocide’ ambush” is also featured, paired with a photo of President Trump holding up photos to the press as the South African president looks on.
“Keir: we get it” rounds out the Mirror’s coverage of the PM’s backtrack on winter fuel payments. The paper also emphasises that pensioners must wait until October to find out if they qualify under the new rules. And “finally” encapsulates Tottenham overcoming a 17-year drought to win the Europa League.
The Daily Express says “fight for fuel pay for all not over” as it reports that Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has vowed to keep fighting for pensioners after Labour’s U-turn. Spurs’ “£100m glory” is also celebrated.
The Metro says the prime minister has been “boxed in” by members of his own party on winter fuels. The paper also teases its Cannes Film Festival coverage, “ScarJo’s debut and Spacey’s back” alongside photos of actors Scarlett Johansson and Kevin Spacey.
The Daily Telegraph reveals Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to consider restricting access to the state pension for “recently arrived immigrants”. The paper says it has seen a secret memo which suggests “a power struggle at the heart of the Cabinet”, with Rayner “straying from her brief in an attempt to change economic policy”. Also on the front page is a story about the PM who is due to “sign away Chagos Islands at a cost of £9bn”.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is “open to new wealth taxes” to avoid further borrowing, the i Paper reports. The paper says Reeves does not disagree with Angela Rayner on the principle of taxing the wealthiest despite rejecting the deputy PM’s leaked list of suggested tax hikes. Elsewhere, Tottenham’s victory over Man United is summed up by words from head coach Ange Postecoglou: “I always win things in my second year”.
“Reeves reeling from triple blow” declares the Daily Mail as it recounts what it calls a “humiliating day” for the Chancellor. The paper sums up Wednesday’s flurry of announcements as “open warfare in the Cabinet”.
The Daily Star leads with a plea from Jay Slater’s mother after two of the teen’s friends were missing from his inquest on Wednesday.
Finally, “Paedos to be castrated” blasts the Sun as it reports that Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s is looking into making the chemical castration of paedophiles and rapists mandatory.
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