'Farage forces elections U-turn' and 'Tributes to Godfather Star'
News of the government abandoning plans to delay 30 council elections after a legal challenge from Reform UK is a focus of today's papers. The i Paper reports that it could trigger the "next threat to Starmer's leadership". Reform's leader Nigel Farage has hailed the reversal as a victory for his party and "democracy in this country". The paper quotes council leaders saying they are "experiencing whiplash" from the changes.
The Financial Times also leads with the decision not to delay some 7 May elections in England after the government received "advice that the move could be against the law". It reports Farage saying he was "delighted" by the government's U-turn, and calling on Steve Reed, local government secretary, to resign.
The Guardian also leads with the government's climb down, focusing on the angry reaction from Labour MPs. "Most councillors feel devastated ... many didn't want to cancel elections. They felt pressurised into it," a Labour MP for one of the affected areas is quoted saying. Meanwhile, Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor who has died aged 95, makes the lead image.
The Daily Mail reports Sir Keir Starmer will face the "wrath of voters" after he was forced to abandon "controversial plans to cancel elections for millions". The paper counts it as the prime minister's "14th major U-turn".
Robert Duvall, who starred in The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, has died "peacefully" aged 95, the Times reports, with an image of the Oscar-winning actor taking up the front page. The prime minister's decision to not delay elections in May is the lead story, with the Times reporting how the move "increases the political jeopardy for Starmer".
Again, the Daily Telegraph leads with Labour's U-turns on plans to delay local elections for "4.6m people after lawyers warned it would be illegal".
Sir Keir's new plan for children online safety leads the Metro today, with the prime minister promising to "protect young people from addictive social media ... 'in months not years'". The paper includes worries from a campaigner and co-founder of parental tool Safetymode, who is reported saying the plans will be like "putting gaffer tape over a pothole".
"Tributes to Godfather Star" is the focus of the Daily Star, following the death of actor Robert Duvall, 95, who died on Sunday. His wife Luciana said: "Goodbye to one of the greatest actors of all time", the paper reports.
"Another Starmer U-turn" is the Independent's lead headline today, as "ministers change course ... with only 11 weeks to go". A young Robert Duvall in a scene from Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now takes the lead image, as the paper remembers the actor who has died aged 95.
The Daily Express claims Sir Keir "stands accused" of "secretly plotting to lock" Britain back into the European Union through his reset deals. The paper reports senior Tories saying the "PM is planning to return our sovereignty to Brussels".
A grieving mother, who says her son's death was linked to a social media challenge, has welcomed the Labour government's change in online data law, the Daily Mirror reports. Ellen Roome has called for immediate action on social media reforms to "save our next generation".
The Sun leads on an exclusive by its TV editor on the new Line of Duty series that will "re-open the hunt to identify arch-villain 'H'". The last season's finale was met with fury and disappointment from fans, the paper says.
