Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to announce the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state features prominently on Sunday’s papers. The Observer leads with a striking image of a bombed out apartment building in Gaza City, featuring its residents sitting in the rubble of what remains of their homes. The paper headlines the photo as “the actual state of Palestine”.
The Sunday Telegraph reports Sir Keir will hit Hamas with new sanctions in an attempt to stave off criticism of his decision to recognise a Palestinian state. The paper says the PM’s hardening stance towards the group will be seen as a move to appease Donald Trump after the US leader criticised the UK’s stance on Palestine. Sharing the top spot is a photograph of the Duchess of York, as the Telegraph reports she wrote an email to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2011 apologising for publicly cutting ties with him. A spokesperson for the Duchess said: “The Duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims.”
Fergie’s “bombshell email” is the Mail’s take. The paper quotes a message from the email in which the Duchess called Epstein a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend”. A spokesperson for the Duchess said: “The Duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims.”
The Sun also splashes its front page with coverage of the Duchess’s emails to Epstein. The paper cites a close of friend of the Duchess who says the emails were written at a time when she had been threatened with legal action by Epstein.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says pensioners must not be stripped of the triple lock which protects them from poverty, according to the Sunday Express. The paper reports Badenoch is pledging to “stand by” the system which ensures the state pension rises by at least 2.5%, but says benefits cash should be taken away from people who do not deserve the help. Elsewhere, the Express teases Strictly Come Dancing’s starry lineup for the new season.
The Mirror also features an Epstein related front page as it reports that the late sex offender’s partner Ghislaine Maxwell is enjoying a “cushy prison life” after being moved to a minimum-security facility in the US. The paper shows a photograph of Maxwell walking with an umbrella on prison grounds, reportedly going to a yoga class. “Jail the VIP” is its headline.
Finally, the Daily Star previews an interview with EastEnders star Steve McFadden, who says years of tackling the gruelling storylines of his character Phil Mitchell have left him feeling worn down.
