Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as prime minister is front page news for all the morning papers. A photograph of a smiling Andy Burnham taking a selfie with his fellow Labour MPs inside Westminster after he was sworn in features in the Sun, external, the Times, external, the i Paper, external and the Telegraph, external.
Both the Guardian, external and the Times, external say Burnham will begin to set out policies next week with a series of speeches starting with the economy and devolution. The Financial Times, external has spoken to officials who say Burnham is also set to “read” defence and security briefings so he is prepared for some of Whitehall’s “most sensitive issues”.
The Times, external also says it has been told that Burnham will choose his chancellor from either Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. The paper says Burnham is yet to reach a decision but reports that he wants to avoid appearing “factional” as he appoints his cabinet.
A number of the papers pick up on the jibe from a Tory MP who shouted “He’s not the Messiah” as Andy Burnham returned to the Commons. “Messiah without a Mandate” is the Daily Mail’s, external headline, pointing to the fact that Burnham may become prime minister without being challenged. The Telegraph, external suggests Burnham’s response, that he was “just a naughty boy”, is one reason why Labour likes him. “Compared with Keir Starmer, he’s the king of bants,” says the paper’s columnist Tim Stanley.
Away from politics, the heatwave is also in every paper. With only the second red heat health alert ever issued in place for tomorrow and Thursday, the Guardian, external warns passengers that many rail companies are asking people to travel only if it’s absolutely essential. The paper says extreme temperatures can cause steel rails to expand, and the intense heat increases the risk of overhead wires breaking, along with signalling and electrical systems overheating.
Finally, the Daily Mail, external reveals that a stolen Picasso painting worth £13m was discovered during a routine drug bust in Paris. It says the painting has been authenticated as a genuine work and a guard at a Paris firm that stores valuable art has been charged with theft and drug offences.
