'City warns Burnham' and 'One in the eye for Andy'

4 hours ago

News image — Several of the papers on Thursday home in on a warning to Andy Burnham from the City of London. It says there will be "markets chaos" if the new prime minister does not rein in spending, cautioning that he cannot "borrow his way out of this". The Telegraph notes Burnham refused to rule out more borrowing during his first Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. On its front page, the paper also previews a speech from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch; it says she will vow to increase defence spending to 3% by 2030 by cutting Britain's welfare bill.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph reads: “Tories will cut benefits to hit 3pc on defence”. — Several of the papers on Thursday home in on a warning to Andy Burnham from the City of London. It says there will be "markets chaos" if the new prime minister does not rein in spending, cautioning that he cannot "borrow his way out of this". The Telegraph notes Burnham refused to rule out more borrowing during his first Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. On its front page, the paper also previews a speech from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch; it says she will vow to increase defence spending to 3% by 2030 by cutting Britain's welfare bill.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mail reads: “Kemi: I'll slash benefits bill to boost defence”. — The Daily Mail also leads on Badenoch's pledge to slash welfare to fund military spending. It says the Conservative leader "piled pressure" on the prime minister on Wednesday, noting it is a commitment Burnham has so far failed to match.

The headline on the front page of the Sun reads: “One in the eye for Andy”. — "One in the eye for Andy" declares the Sun, following a meeting between Burnham and French President Emmanuel Macron at the British Museum on Wednesday. While viewing the Bayeux tapestry, which is being loaned to the UK by France, the paper says Macron told the prime minister he would offer "just 45 more do-nothing cops" to help deal with the "small boats crisis". Macron will announce the move at some point on Thursday, the paper reports over a picture of boats from the tapestry, which famously depicts King Harold being shot in the eye with an arrow.

The headline on the front page of the Times reads: “'Vibes' won't defend UK, Burnham told by Labour”. — The Bayeux tapestry also features prominently in the Times, which carries a photograph of King Charles III laughing alongside the French president as they viewed the tapestry on Wednesday. An attack against Burnham by defence select committee chair Tan Dhesi is the main story for paper, which says Dhesi has called on the prime minister to "urgently commit" to finding extra money for defence. Burnham was told "vibes alone" would not be enough to keep Britain safe, the paper writes.

The headline on the front page of the i Paper reads: “Britain's royals face Russian cyber threat in 'grey war'”. — The British royal family is vulnerable to cyber attacks from hostile states, according to the i Paper. It says the monarchy's "ageing legacy" computer system increases the risk of hacks, reporting the Palace's official website has previously been taken offline and confidential files are thought to have been accessed.

The headline on the front page of the Guardian reads: “PM tried to calm bond markets as sell-off threatens first budget”. — "PM tried to calm bond markets as sell-off threatens first budget" reads the Guardian, which says Chancellor John Healey is facing the prospect of "sharply reduced" spending power after a "days-long sell-off of government bonds". The paper says Burnham's first PMQs on Wednesday have been "widely seen" as an attempt to soothe investors.

The headline on the front page of the Financial Times reads: “Burnham seeks to shield steel and farming from 'Made in Europe' push". — The Financial Times looks at how Burnham is approaching his relationship with the European Union, after the prime minister told MPs on Wednesday he was worried that a "Made in Europe" procurement plan currently being drawn up in Brussels will post "significant problems for British steel". He has named steelmaking and farming as sectors he wants to protect as part of any new EU-UK deal, the paper writes.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Express reads: “Voters would punish you if triple lock goes”. — The Daily Express offers its own analysis on Burnham's "soaring borrowing costs", reporting there are fresh calls for the triple lock to be axed in order to save money. The paper says campaigners are warning Burnham that voters will "punish him at the ballot box" if he scraps the pension safeguard.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror reads: “A right whinger”. — Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is pictured front and centre of the Daily Mirror, paired with the headline: "A right whinger". It reports Farage has complained about being "judged every day", his comments coming as he faces a parliamentary investigation into a £5m gift from billionaire Christopher Harbone.

The headline on the front page of the Metro reads: “Sad pathetic creeps.co.uk”. — The Metro considers a website that features videos of women wearing shorts or leggings, which have been filmed without their knowledge. The paper's headline reads: "Sad pathetic creeps.co.uk".

The headline on the front page of the Daily Star reads: “Star's Trek to find aliens”. — Aliens are the focus of the Daily Star's front page, which promotes a story in which the European Space Agency says it is confident space missions will find some form of life.

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 ahead of his first budget - with the i Paper warning that he might need to raise £15bn in taxes to fund high borrowing costs.

The Times highlights the warning from the Labour chairman of the Commons Defence Committee that "vibes alone" 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.

The Daily Express is more interested in another potential area of savings, 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. 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. 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. 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 by his own party members who may prefer a Palestinian candidate or a pro-Gaza independent".

'City warns Burnham' and 'One in the eye for Andy'

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