A 'bruising week' for Sir Keir and 'Order Andrew to give evidence'

8 hours ago

A number of the papers have focused on the future of Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times, Sir Keir vows to "fight on and win the next election", after what the paper describes as a "bruising week". Analysts are predicting heavy losses for the Labour Party in elections on 7 May, with the paper reporting it has been told by one minister that Sir Keir's team would be "compelled to take action" if the party lost more than 1,500 council seats.

The headline on the front page of the Sunday Times reads: “PM: I will fight next election”. — A number of the papers have focused on the future of Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times, Sir Keir vows to "fight on and win the next election", after what the paper describes as a "bruising week". Analysts are predicting heavy losses for the Labour Party in elections on 7 May, with the paper reporting it has been told by one minister that Sir Keir's team would be "compelled to take action" if the party lost more than 1,500 council seats.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has told Labour MPs that the time to oust Sir Keir is "now or never", according to the Daily Mail. It writes that the prime minister is facing a "critical week in his fight for political survival".

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mail reads: “Rayner: It's now or never to kick out Keir”. — Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has told Labour MPs that the time to oust Sir Keir is "now or never", according to the Daily Mail. It writes that the prime minister is facing a "critical week in his fight for political survival".

The Sunday Telegraph leads with reports that Sir Keir did not record a meeting he had with tech firm Palantir and Lord Mandelson in 2025, despite a requirement for details of all meetings with external organisations to be published quarterly. The paper notes that breaking the ministerial code is "widely seen as a resignation offence". A government spokesman said ministers "engage with a range of companies as part of their international travel and Palantir is a longstanding investor in the UK", while Palantir said the meeting was "a typical government visit to a UK employer, organised by officials in the usual way".

The headline on the front page of the Sunday Telegraph reads: “PM's failure to disclose US meeting 'broke code of conduct'”. — The Sunday Telegraph leads with reports that Sir Keir did not record a meeting he had with tech firm Palantir and Lord Mandelson in 2025, despite a requirement for details of all meetings with external organisations to be published quarterly. The paper notes that breaking the ministerial code is "widely seen as a resignation offence". A government spokesman said ministers "engage with a range of companies as part of their international travel and Palantir is a longstanding investor in the UK", while Palantir said the meeting was "a typical government visit to a UK employer, organised by officials in the usual way".

"Order Andrew to give evidence" declares the Mirror, reporting on mounting pressure for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to give sworn testimony to US investigators over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The paper says that campaigners are calling on King Charles III to order his brother to give evidence, ahead of his state visit to the US next week. The former prince has always denied wrongdoing.

The headline on the front page of the Mirror reads: “Order Andrew to give evidence”. — "Order Andrew to give evidence" declares the Mirror, reporting on mounting pressure for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to give sworn testimony to US investigators over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The paper says that campaigners are calling on King Charles III to order his brother to give evidence, ahead of his state visit to the US next week. The former prince has always denied wrongdoing.

The yellow and blue flag of the European Union is splashed across the Observer in a stylised graphic, paired with the headline "Rejoin: A decade on, the taboo is broken". The front page highlights two stories that suggest Sir Keir is being "pressed to reverse Brexit", with former Labour party leader Neil Kinnock predicting the UK will join the EU once more.

The headline on the front page of the Observer reads: “Rejoin: A decade on, the taboo is broken”. — The yellow and blue flag of the European Union is splashed across the Observer in a stylised graphic, paired with the headline "Rejoin: A decade on, the taboo is broken". The front page highlights two stories that suggest Sir Keir is being "pressed to reverse Brexit", with former Labour party leader Neil Kinnock predicting the UK will join the EU once more.

Nine former Red Arrows pilots have joined forces to demand the "iconic display team" continue to fly British planes, according the Sunday Express. The story follows a previous report from the paper which said a non-UK jet was being considered for the first time, due to government delays in selecting a replacement.

The headline on the front page of the Sunday Express reads: “Red arrows jets 'must be British'”. — Nine former Red Arrows pilots have joined forces to demand the "iconic display team" continue to fly British planes, according the Sunday Express. The story follows a previous report from the paper which said a non-UK jet was being considered for the first time, due to government delays in selecting a replacement.

The final episode of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! is the main story for the Sun, which says footballer Jimmy Bullard is accusing hosts Ant and Dec of "stitching him up" when actor Adam Thomas' tirade was left out of the final edit of the series.

The headline on the front page of the Sun on Sunday reads: “Pack of vultures”. — The final episode of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! is the main story for the Sun, which says footballer Jimmy Bullard is accusing hosts Ant and Dec of "stitching him up" when actor Adam Thomas' tirade was left out of the final edit of the series.

The "heated live final" has also made the front page of the Star, which says it "descended into chaos" after the clash between contestants and hosts.

The headline on the front page of the Star reads: “I'm a Celebrity, get me out of here, quick”. — The "heated live final" has also made the front page of the Star, which says it "descended into chaos" after the clash between contestants and hosts.

A number of the first editions of the Sunday papers focus on Sir Keir Starmer - they were printed before the news of the shooting near the White House.

The Sunday Times leads on its interview with the Prime Minister, saying he vowed to fight and win the next general election. The paper describes Sir Keir Starmer as "defiant", with Labour expecting to suffer heavy losses in elections next month. Separately, the paper notes, allies of the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, are continuing efforts to secure him a route back to Parliament, potentially paving the way for a leadership challenge.

The former deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, is the frontrunner to succeed Sir Keir if he is toppled, according to the Mail on Sunday. Its front page says Rayner has told Labour backbenchers that now is the time to oust him from Number 10 - although a source close to her describes that report as "obviously untrue". The paper says the Prime Minister faces a critical week in his fight for political survival. "It's now or never to kick out Keir" reads its headline.

Allegations that Sir Keir Starmer breached the ministerial code lead the Sunday Telegraph. It says he has been accused of breaking the rules, by not disclosing a meeting with a US-based tech firm early last year. The paper notes that Downing Street denies it was a meeting and therefore it didn't require declaration, but officials from the Ministry of Defence - who also attended - described it as such.

The Sunday Mirror says the King is coming under increasing pressure to order Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to give evidence to US officials investigating Jeffrey Epstein. Campaigners have urged Charles to tell his brother to "speak up", according to the report. Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein's crimes. The King's state visit to the US is due to begin tomorrow.

A row about what jets the Red Arrows should fly leads the Sunday Express. It says nine former pilots of the display team have joined forces to demand the jets stay British, with reports suggesting they could be replaced by foreign aircraft. One of the group, Andy Wyatt, is quoted as saying "we always represented the very best of British".

The Sun on Sunday focuses on what it calls the "I'm a celeb chaos" of the live final in which arguments broke out between some of the contestants. The former footballer, Jimmy Bullard, has accused the programme's presenters, Ant and Dec, of "a stitch up", after footage of his argument with the eventual winner, Adam Thomas, was edited out. The Daily Star's front page features a picture of Bullard with Ant and Dec, who it says were surrounded by security. The headline reads: "I'm a celebrity host, get me out of here, quick".