Many of the papers reflect on Andy Burnham’s first Prime Minister’s Questions. The Guardian says he used it to try to calm the bond markets, external ahead of his first budget – with the i Paper warning that he might need to raise £15bn in taxes to fund high borrowing costs, external.
The Times highlights the warning from the Labour chairman of the Commons Defence Committee that “vibes alone”, external will not be enough to defend the UK. The Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph say the Conservatives have pledged to reach that target by slashing welfare., external
The Daily Express is more interested in another potential area of savings, external, reporting that the prime minister’s ally, Lord O’Neill, has joined what it calls “hysterical” calls to drop the pension triple lock. It reports that voters would “punish” the prime minister for such a move.
The Sun says that an extra “surge” of French police – to tackle small boat crossings – will consist of what it calls just 45 “do-nothing” officers., external It draws on images from the Bayeux Tapestry to illustrate the story and urges the Prime Minister to “prevent a stitch-up” by the French. Recalling King Harold’s fate, it describes Macron’s promise as “one in the eye for Andy”.
The Daily Mail reports criticism from the Conservatives of what the party calls a “massive new quango” to reform the civil service., external It quotes the First Secretary of State Louise Haigh as saying the government needs to “tear away red tape”. The paper’s cartoonist pictures one MP telling another: “We’ve commissioned a quango to reduce our quangos.”
The Guardian says the Green party leader in England and Wales, Zack Polanski, has moved a step closer to becoming an MP, external. It says party members in the seat vacated by Sir Keir Starmer are supporting him to become their candidate to replace him. But the Times reports his hopes could be “scuppered, external by his own party members who may prefer a Palestinian candidate or a pro-Gaza independent”.