Newspaper headlines: PM wants end to ‘meddling’ on Rwanda and Met chief under fire

2 hours ago

By BBC News

Staff

The Daily Telegraph’s front page continues the focus on the Metropolitan Police’s double apology after an officer threatened to arrest a man for causing a breach of the peace at a pro-Palestinian for being “openly Jewish”. The paper says that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has refused to back Met chief Sir Mark Rowley, saying he has “questions to answer”. Alongside is a picture of Victoria Beckham being given a piggyback by her husband David, as she leaves her 50th birthday party. It’s a picture that crops up on several other front pages.

The Daily Mail leads on calls by “angry Jewish leaders” for the Met Police chief to resign and says he will be “hauled before Home Secretary James Cleverly” this week. Elsewhere on its front page, the paper has the picture of Victoria Beckham and – covering a younger musical generation – offers an insight into “the real Taylor Swift”, as told by “her biggest superfan”.

In another police related story, the Times leads on a story about a YouGov poll that suggests people are “losing faith” in UK police forces. The paper puts it down to “a spate of scandals and a rise in offences”. In the same article, the paper announces it is launching its own “groundbreaking year-long inquiry” into the future of the criminal justice system. The paper’s main picture is of London Marathon runners being showered with confetti.

A celebratory image of Peres Jepchirchir takes precedent on the front page of the Guardian. The Kenyan marathon runner broke a world record for women by completing the London race in two hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds. The paper’s lead story is about Conservative MPs calling for concessions in the Rwanda bill. They want people from Afghanistan who served alongside UK forces in the past to be protected from being sent to Rwanda if they are found among those who arrive on a small boat across the English Channel. The paper says that Rishi Sunak’s “patience is wearing thin” at the multiple hold-ups to his proposal.

The prime minister’s “demands” that Labour stop “meddling and mischief” over the Rwanda Bill are the focus of the Daily Express. The paper has been strongly supportive of the proposal from the start and quotes a government source who says Labour is intent on blocking the bill “without any thought for the thousands risking their lives monthly to try to enter the UK illegally”.

The i warns of clashes between the government and public sector workers. The paper predicts a “summer of discontent” as Conservatives prepare the sector’s next pay deal ahead of the yet-to-be-announced general election.

The Financial Times leads on a story about Ukraine’s need for haste from the US, on sending the $61bn military aid package signed off by the House of Representatives on Friday. President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the aid could save thousands of lives.

According to The Sun’s front page, British holiday flights are facing “electronic attacks” from Russia. The paper says “forces” of Russian president Vladimir Putin are suspected of creating “bogus obstacles” for planes to dodge. “Thousands of flights” involving British Airways and Ryanair have reportedly been targeted.

“Radical” plans for a 12-hour school day is the front page splash for the Metro. It’s a story originally reported in the Sunday Times about a school in west London that is implementing an optional extended school day. Head teacher Andrew O’Neill says it’s part of a plan to break pupils’ mobile phone addiction.

A day without rain “for a change”! Well, that’s according to the Daily Star. Their front page reports that forecasters believe the UK is due to have some dry days – which it calls “an April miracle” The front page also trails an article on how coffee allegedly helps you live longer. Positivity all round!