The ongoing fallout from the Conservative Party election betting allegations features on several front pages. The Guardian reports that Rishi Sunak has been urged to drop candidates being investigated, as the Gambling Commission widens its inquiries into the claims. The paper says senior Tories have called for the candidates and other officials to be suspended pending the outcome, urging the prime minister to “get a grip on the slow drip of revelations”.
But Mr Sunak is resisting calls to suspend the candidates and party officials in question, according to the i’s lead story. It says a “number of party officials, as well as dozens of associates, friends and family members” are being investigated. The i also reports that amid ongoing speculation a cabinet minister is under investigation, Home Secretary James Cleverly said none were “to my knowledge”.
The Times leads with a report that Labour plan to make it easier for people to legally undergo a transition by getting rid of a requirement they live in their preferred gender for two years first. The paper says it has been told Labour wants to change the rules to “remove indignities” for transgender people, cutting down on requiring paperwork – like utility bills or passports – to prove they have changed gender.
On a similar topic, the Daily Telegraph is reporting that Labour plan to remove guidelines banning children from being taught there are more than two genders in school. The paper says shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson has said Conservative guidance put in place this year will be reviewed if Labour form the next government.
Rishi Sunak will say voters have just 10 days to save the UK from “disaster” under a Labour “supermajority”, the Daily Mail reports. The PM will urge dissatisfied Tory supporters not to give Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer “unchecked” power after the election on 4 July, the paper says.
Mr Sunak’s claims also lead the Daily Express, which reports he will accuse Sir Keir of wanting to undo Brexit. Noting the PM’s comments come on the eighth anniversary of the “historic vote to leave”, it says Mr Sunak will accuse Labour of wanting to rejoin the European Union by the “back door”.
A survey of the same 16,000 voters for the Financial Times between January and the start of June indicates the Conservatives have lost nearly a third of their voters in four months. Looking at the results in detail, the paper says 8% of the switchers have shifted to Reform UK, 6% now plan to vote Labour, 7% consider themselves undecided and 9% are less likely to vote now.
The Daily Mirror leads on an exclusive interview with Iceland boss Richard Walker, who has told the paper the PM “gave him a roasting” over talking about rising foodbank use. The paper says the supermarket boss claims the criticism for “telling the truth” came when Mr Sunak was chancellor. Mr Walker also told the Mirror that Mr Sunak was only angry because he had to “face questions” over growing foodbank use.
The first 30C (86F) heatwave of the summer may be on the way this week, according to Metro. The paper reports that the Met Office has issued a yellow heat alert over increased risk of death for vulnerable people across England – unless you are in the north-east. The rising temperature could put increased pressure on the NHS, Metro says, adding that the strongest warnings have been issued for the East Midlands, south-east and the east of England.
Harry Kane has given Gary Lineker “both barrels” over the presenter’s criticism of the team’s performance at the Euros so far, according to the Daily Star. The paper quotes the England captain as telling the team’s critics: “Remember what it’s like to wear the shirt… we’ve won nothing for years and these ex-players were part of it.”
Controversy over allegations about senior Conservative politicians betting on the date of the general election continues to feature on many front pages.
Four Conservative candidates or officials – as well as a police officer assigned to the protection of the prime minister – are being looked into by the Gambling Commission over allegations they placed bets on the date of the election. The Guardian says senior Conservatives are among those urging Sunak to suspend the Tories under suspicion, pending the results of investigations.
Farage is quoted as saying it would be “better” to negotiate with President Vladimir Putin, even if the talks lead to nothing. The Times suggests the remarks are “likely to bring more disapproval” after the widespread criticism directed at Farage last week for his claim that the West “provoked” Russia into invading Ukraine by expanding the European Union and Nat.
As the election campaign enters its penultimate week, the Daily Mail says Sunak is set to warn voters they have just ten days left to save Britain from what he calls the “disaster” of a Labour supermajority.
The paper’s leader column agrees, arguing that a “wild imbalance” in the next parliament would “neutralise effective opposition” and damage both democracy and the public interest.
The Daily Express says Sunak is also warning that Labour would “unpick” Brexit and rejoin the EU if it wins power.
With the headline, “Frozen Out By Sunak For Telling Truth”, the Daily Mirror claims to have obtained an insight into what it calls “the real Rishi” via an interview with the boss of Iceland.
Richard Walker tells the paper he was given a roasting by the then-chancellor in March 2022 for speaking out about the increased use of food banks, with Mr Sunak seemingly angry that the remarks prompted questions to him in parliament on the day of his spring statement. A Tory source says Mr Walker’s account of the meeting is “completely made up”.
Comments by shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson are featured by the Daily Telegraph – after she said the guidance on what pupils are taught about sex and gender would be reviewed by a Labour government.
The paper suggests this could lead to a scrapping of the ban on teaching children there are more than two genders. The Telegraph says the Conservatives have warned Labour would “play politics” with the lives of children by allowing contested gender ideology into classrooms.
Kane told a news conference that the nation had won nothing for a “long, long time” and noted how many television pundits are former players were “part of that” failure.
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