The death of former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton features on many of Monday’s front pages. Nicknamed ‘the Hitman’, he won world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight and was one of Britain’s most popular fighters. ‘Rest in peace,’ the Sun says on its front page, reporting that Hatton was found dead in his house in Manchester on Sunday.
While Hatton features as the main picture on the front page of the Daily Telegraph, the paper’s lead story is about the growing pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. It reports some Labour MPs who rebelled over benefit cuts during the summer – action which resulted in a major concessions by the government – are planning to back a leadership tilt by Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham.
The Times also reports on the “bruised PM” and the “growing threat of a leadership challenge”. The paper reports that Sir Keir will use his first public appearance since sacking US ambassador Peter Mandelson to regain the political initiative by hailing a “landmark” partnership with the US on nuclear power.
The Guardian leads on Sir Keir’s reaction to the tens of thousands of people who took to the streets of central London at the weekend for a “Unite the Kingdom” march organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Sir Keir said that Britain would “never surrender” its flag to those who wish to use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division. It also reports on Prince Harry’s recent visit to Ukraine, where he, “somewhat surprisingly, has achieved cult-hero status”. The Guardian says the aim of the visit was to promote the work of the Duke of Sussex’s Invictus Games Foundation (IGF).
The Daily Mail says there is a “scramble inside No 10 to save Starmer”. The paper reports that No 10 was aware at the start of last week of the allegation against Lord Mandelson which eventually led to his sacking on Thursday – however it says Sir Keir was not informed.
“RIP, champ,” the Mirror declares on its front page, leading with tributes to Ricky Hatton. Inside, the paper has an eight-page tribute to the boxing great.
The Daily Star leads on former boxer Barry McGuigan’s tribute to Hatton. The Hitman won 45 of his 48 professional bouts across a 15-year career, and last fought professionally in 2012. In 2023 he was the subject of a documentary ‘Hatton’, in which he discussed his personal life and mental health issues.
Hatton and Sir Keir feature on the i Paper’s front page, but the lead story is about a plan to use prisoners to help build warships. It reports that prisoners and ex-offenders could join a four-year apprenticeship scheme to fill 5,000 welding vacancies in the defence sector as UK ramps up its war readiness.
The Metropolitan Police are planning a crackdown on criminal gangs in the London’s West End, according to the Metro. It says police are targeting phone snatchers, drug dealers and watch thieves who have enjoyed “rich pickings from tourists, commuters and residents in the London district”.
The Daily Express says Sadiq Khan is facing to calls to quit after a former Met Police detective accused the London mayor of refusing to face up to “industrial scale” grooming gangs in the capital. A spokesperson for the mayor called the accusations “false, malicious, and politically motivated”.
The Financial Times says the US Federal Reserve is this week expected to make its first interest rate cut this year. It comes as the Fed faces fierce pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has called on the Fed chair Jay Powell to resign, labelling him a “numbskull” over his reluctance to cut rates.
