The UK’s future relationship with the European Union features prominently in Monday’s papers. The Guardian, external reports that ministers are prepared to spend as much as £450m a year to give EU students discounted university tuition fees – but only if the UK is allowed to join the bloc’s Made in Europe industrial programme.
According to the Times, external, a deal – said to be “as good as done” – will bring British food standards into line with Brussels for the first time since Brexit, meaning products no longer have to display “not for EU” warnings. But there is caution from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who says in the Daily Express, external that reopening the Brexit debate will “put the country on pause”.
“King feels the heat as slavery row deepens” is the caption in the Daily Mail , externalaccompanying a picture of the monarch adjusting his tie. According to a report in the Guardian, British officials are said to have insisted that discussions of reparations for slavery should not be on the agenda for the Commonwealth leaders summit. The Daily Mirror, external‘s editorial says a “meaningful dialogue” could help build a “stronger, more united Commonwealth”.
In what is described by the Daily Telegraph, external as a “break with established government policy”, the prime minister is reportedly open to increasing financial assistance for Commonwealth countries to atone for Britain’s role in the slave trade. The paper says Andy Burnham will consider demands for investment in healthcare and education from African and Caribbean countries.
The Sun, external says that the father of the Duchess of Sussex, Thomas Markle, has gone into a care home for dementia patients – potentially scuppering an FBI probe into alleged child abuse images. The alleged pictures described by the paper as “two huge hauls” were found in the Philippines and Mexico. Markle says the allegations against him are a “bunch of lies”.
The Daily Mail leads on a report by MPs accusing ministers of jeopardising national security by prioritising diplomatic politeness with China. The paper calls the findings a “devastating indictment”. A government spokesperson says “our approach to China is consistent – we will co-operate where we can and challenge where we must”.