What the papers say – January 18
The national papers focus on new partygate accusations from Boris Johnson’s ex-aide Dominic Cummings.
Mr Cummings’ accusation that the Prime Minister lied to parliament about a garden party during the country’s first lockdown is carried by The Times, the Daily Mirror and Metro.
TIMES: Cummings: PM lied to parliament about party #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/nMXQh5HKXq
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 17, 2022
Tomorrow's front page: PM gave go-ahead for party https://t.co/wC8B8ZOK4X #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/k51uhSkp9T
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) January 17, 2022
Tuesday's front page:
'I'LL SWEAR PM LIED TO THE HOUSE'#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #skypapers pic.twitter.com/zh4DSjCpla
— Metro Newspaper UK (@MetroUKNews) January 17, 2022
The Guardian adds that another staffer told the paper it is “inconceivable” that the PM did not know about an email invite for the party sent by his principal private secretary Martin Reynolds.
Guardian front page, Tuesday 18 January 2022: Cummings accuses PM of lying over No 10 party pic.twitter.com/fdoZj36aPC
— The Guardian (@guardian) January 17, 2022
The i‘s angle on the ongoing debacle focuses on growing “Tory angst” and comments from serving minister George Freeman that Mr Johnson and his office “should set the highest standard”.
Tuesday's front page: Tory angst at Johnson leadership growing#TomorrowsPapersToday
Latest from @RichardVaughan1@singharj: https://t.co/Con8tQ8uYo pic.twitter.com/RiQtRZ2PJs
— i newspaper (@theipaper) January 17, 2022
The Government is exploring options to lower household energy bills by paying suppliers, according to the Financial Times, which calls the potential proposal a “radical intervention” in the market.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Tuesday 18 January https://t.co/Tnbfjx2hRA pic.twitter.com/SMVNbrv3QA
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) January 17, 2022
The Daily Express suggests that fixing the cost of living crisis, and specifically high energy bills, could relieve pressure on Mr Johnson.
EXPRESS: PM, the clock is ticking … sort energy bills crisis #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/UFzC03JToW
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 17, 2022
The Daily Telegraph leads with Dominic Raab’s announcement of “historic sentencing reform” to give judges room to deal with a trial backlog.
The front page of today's Daily Telegraph:
'Tougher powers for magistrates to clear trial backlog'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4O6L2Y pic.twitter.com/aSJsAUZ624
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) January 18, 2022
The Independent carries comments from a former head of the Royal Navy, who says the Prime Minister’s plan to put the military in charge of tackling migrant crossings will help people smugglers.
INDEPENDENT DIGITAL: Navy policing of Channel boats ‘will aid traffickers’ #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/owp1iJE5p9
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 17, 2022
The Daily Mail says British troops and weapons have been sent to the Ukraine, including missile systems, with troops to stay to teach the Ukrainians how to combat Russian tanks.
MAIL: British troops sent to Ukraine #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/at5oD25FM0
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 17, 2022
The Sun reports that the Duke of York demanded five “teddies and soft toys” on his bed at Buckingham Palace, according to an ex-royal cop who spoke to ITV.
On tomorrow's front page: Prince Andrew’s servants had a sketch of exactly where his five teddy bears needed to be positioned on his bed https://t.co/XFuyvp8X0M pic.twitter.com/D0mkPFVKVG
— The Sun (@TheSun) January 17, 2022
And the Daily Star leads with actor Kenneth Branagh calling Brian Blessed a “spiritual guru who exudes peace and tranquillity”.
Tomorrow's front page: Bez: I have Covidhttps://t.co/SmdqCda8Nf#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/U3ACIVa12g
— Daily Star (@dailystar) January 17, 2022