With less than a week to go until polling day, the general election remains a hot topic on the front of most of Friday’s newspapers. Friday’s edition of the i newspaper splashes with a story on how quickly Labour would impose VAT on private school fees as part of shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves’s plans, should the party form the next government. Sticking with the election theme, the paper has an exclusive that Keir Starmer would be “pragmatic” about working with the leader of France’s National Rally, Marine Le Pen, to prevent Channel crossings.
The Daily Express does some sums to work out the BBC spent at least £30,000 on audience members for Wednesday’s big election debate in Nottingham. The broadcaster says payments are standard for such events to cover people’s travel costs and time. Next to the lead story is an image of the Princess of Wales clutching the Wimbledon trophy. With the annual tournament starting on Monday, the Express says it hopes she will be able to make the presentation to the winners this year. She revealed in March she was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
More of Labour’s pledges appear on the front of the Guardian as the paper says the party wants to “ban managers who silence NHS whistleblowers”. Below the lead story is a huge image of Indian author Arundhati Roy. The headline reads “voice of freedom and justice” following news of her being awarded the PEN Pinter prize two weeks after Indian authorities granted permission to prosecute her over comments she made about Kashmir 14 years ago.
Paramedic Daniel Duffield, who appeared in Channel 4’s 999: On the Frontline, is pictured on the front of Friday’s Metro as the paper gathers tributes to him after police in Staffordshire launched a double murder investigation into the deaths of Mr Duffield and his girlfriend Lauren Evans. Elsewhere the paper reviews Hugh Bonneville’s latest role as a national treasure news presenter who faces a a potentially career ending slip-up after being accused of telling a sexist joke at a wedding. “So Hugh’s getting cancelled?” teases Metro after the four-part series was launched on Thursday.
Estimates by HM Revenue & Customs highlights the beneficial impact of “fiscal drag” on state coffers, according to the Financial Times which reports on the number of UK top-rate taxpayers is set to surpass a million for the first time.
An exclusive interview with the prime minister makes the front of the Daily Telegraph he believes Nigel Farage is an “appeaser” of Vladimir Putin. In the editorial Mr Farage says he would “never, ever” defend Putin. A quirky Matt cartoon at the foot of the paper looks forward to the Glastonbury – with the festival goer telling his parents to be careful back at home due to “manifestos going around”. The paper also reports that the looming French election could pose a danger to the British economy, citing warnings from the Bank of England.
A large picture of ITV News broadcaster Tom Bradby dominates the front of the Times as the paper reports ITN has been put under pressure from angry staff to censure him after his claim “there aren’t many white male anchors left” on TV. Its lead story focuses on a Reform UK campaigner who has been filmed saying migrants crossing the English Channel should be used as target practice. The party’s leader Nigel Farage has said the comments are “appalling” and said those making them will “no longer be part of the campaign”.
The Daily Mirror has pictures from inside a “crumbling hospital” in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The tabloid also recaps all of the evidence and clues so far as the search for missing Lancashire teenager Jay Slater, who vanished on 17 June, continues on the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife. The Mirror also goes behind the scenes of England’s training camp in Germany as the Three Lions get ready to take on Slovakia in the last 16 of Euro 2024.
Finally, the Daily Star reports on former Grange Hill star Lee MacDonald – who played Zammo in the 1980s children’s drama – who explains to the tabloid how he successfully caught his skin cancer early.
The Daily Telegraph leads with an attack on Nigel Farage by the Prime Minister. Its headline features a quote from Rishi Sunak describing the Reform UK leader as a “Putin appeaser”.
The Times splashes on Channel 4’s Reform UK story – the paper says the revelations come as the party faces fresh claims of widespread sexist and racist behaviour among its election candidates.
In other election news the Guardian says a Labour government would ban NHS managers who silence whistleblowers. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting pledges to eradicate a culture of cover-ups in the health service.
The NHS also features on the Daily Mirror’s front page photo – showing an image of a flooded corridor in a hospital in Stockport – evidence, the paper says of the scale of neglect under the Tories.
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first budget would include her pledge to impose a 20% VAT on private schools according to the i newspaper.
The Daily Express claims the BBC spent more than £30,000 of licence fee payers’ money to hire audience members for the TV debate between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. The broadcaster said the payments are standard for such events to cover travel costs and time.
But, according to the Daily Mail a poll by market research and polling company, Redfield and Wilton Strategies, appears to show more than four million voters remain undecided on who to back in next week’s election.
Moving to other domestic news the Financial Times reports the number of people paying the top-rate of income tax is due to pass the one million mark for the first time this year.
“TV paramedic murder probe” reads Metro’s front page. The paper reports on the death of a paramedic who appeared on the Channel 4 reality show “999: On the Frontline”, and his girlfriend. It says a double murder investigation has been launched after the bodies of Daniel Duffield, who was 24, and 22-year-old Lauren Evans were discovered at a property in Staffordshire.
