Coverage of the opening day of a trial of a man accused of plotting to kidnap, rape and murder TV presenter Holly Willoughby leads the way for some of Tuesday’s newspapers. Metro’s headline focuses on the evidence presented by the prosecution that defendant Gavin Plumb – who denies the charges – had described his planned attack as his ultimate fantasy.
The Daily Mirror also leads on the trial, with a sub-headline highlighting the words of prosecutor Alison Morgan who said the defendant had displayed a “dark depravity”.
The Daily Mail’s headline labels Plumb as “obsessed Holly fan”. Elsewhere, its front page has an image of Princess Anne on horseback as it reports on the royal spending a second night in hospital under observation for a head injury and concussion after an accident – thought to have involved a horse – on her estate in Gloucestershire.
Holly Willoughby’s picture also features on the front page of the Guardian but the paper’s lead story focuses on research by the TUC, which says average weekly wages are now just £16 higher in real terms than in 2010 – pushing 900,000 children into poverty. The paper’s report says that it lays bare how “the crisis of poverty has taken root in the UK over the past 14 years”.
Moving to the latest on the election trail, the i newspaper splashes with both Labour and the Tories being criticised for not explaining how they will square spending needs with tax pledges. The paper says that in recent weeks Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak have ruled out raising income tax, national insurance and VAT, but “left the door open to at least 10 different tax rises”.
The Financial Times has the same story, reporting that the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank has delivered a what the paper says is a “scathing” verdict on manifesto promises of Labour and Conservatives saying the two main parties have set out plans to improve public services that are “essentially unfunded”. Above the main story is a huge image of firefighters in South Korea who battled a fatal blaze at a lithium battery plant that has killed at least 22 people.
Another image of Princess Anne on horseback features on the front of the Times newspaper as the paper explains the royal is expected to stay in hospital but is “recovering well”. The paper’s lead story centres on a report on Labour pledging to introduce a full ban on conversion “therapy” if it wins the election – despite warnings from Hilary Cass, who reviewed gender services for children, that doing so may encroach on the freedom of parents and therapists to talk to children about gender identity issues.
And there is more on the investigations being carried out by the Gambling Commission into betting on the general election date. The Daily Telegraph reports on claims the Metropolitan Police “leaked” the identities of those suspected of placing bets. The Met Police told the BBC the force “flatly denies” being the source of leaks.
Princess Anne’s recovery in hospital is the splash story for the Daily Express. The tabloid also features an image of Holly Willoughby and the trial of the man accused of allegedly plotting to kidnap, rape and murder the TV presenter. Elsewhere, the paper hears from Women and Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch who says Labour’s plans to ease gender transition are a “nightmare”.
Finally, ahead of England’s showdown with Slovenia, the Daily Star focuses on Gary Lineker saying journalists have been “stirring the pot” after Harry Kane was asked about being on the end of criticism from former England players such as Lineker and fellow BBC pundit Alan Shearer.
The Daily Telegraph leads on claims by what the paper calls a “source close to the Cabinet Office”, that they suspect Scotland Yard of having leaked the identities of Conservatives being looked into by the Gambling Commission. The Metropolitan Police has told the BBC the allegations are “simply untrue” and a “poor distraction”. The Telegraph also reports that a further five police officers are being looked at by the Gambling Commission in relation to alleged bets on the date of the election; the BBC understands that a “handful” are involved.
The Financial Times says the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) issued a “scathing verdict” on Monday, when it said the Conservatives and Labour had ducked tough choices on tax, borrowing and spending, in their manifestos.
Elsewhere, the i newspaper highlights 10 taxes that – according to the IFS – neither party has ruled out putting up; these include fuel, alcohol and tobacco duty, air passenger duty and green taxes.
In its lead story the Guardian says two reports have laid bare a “crisis of poverty” in the UK. One, by the TUC, says 900,000 children in working households have been pushed into poverty, partly because of low growth in wage since 2010.
The concussion suffered by Princess Anne is the main story for the Daily Express. It says people living near her Gatcombe Park estate “feared the worst” when they saw an air ambulance hovering overhead.
The Daily Mirror leads on the trial of Gavin Plumb, who denies planning to kidnap, rape and murder the TV presenter Holly Willoughby.
Jurors in Chelmsford were told during the trial’s opening on Monday that Mr Plumb had made previous attempts to kidnap and imprison women, resulting in convictions that he boasted about online, according to the Daily Mail.
