'Trump mocks Starmer' and 'Middle East energy shock for markets'

Donald Trump's criticism of Sir Keir Starmer dominates the front pages - many of which have headlines referring to the president's comment that the prime minister is "no Winston Churchill".

The Daily Telegraph describes the president's words as his "harshest rebuke" yet of Sir Keir - and says they reveal the "increasingly fraught" state of the special relationship. The Daily Mail takes a much stronger line, calling the prime minister a "national embarrassment" and claiming he has "wrecked Britain's relationship with our oldest ally".

The Financial Times focuses on the economic impact of the war, saying the shock to energy prices is "battering markets". The Guardian says there appears to be little chance of any de-escalation of the widening conflict despite "acute international fears".

With the headline "Enter the Dragon", the Daily Mirror says British forces are moving closer to the front line with the deployment of the HMS Dragon warship to the region. The Sun's front page report combines Trump's criticism of the prime minister with the decision to send the single destroyer to the eastern Mediterranean. The headline is: "Ship happens".

The Telegraph asks whether this is our "Navy's darkest hour" - claiming that when once Britain had the most powerful navy in the world it is now the smallest size in living memory. The Ministry of Defence said it had sent a significant level of defence capabilities to Cyprus in recent weeks.

There's growing anger among Trump's prominent supporters over the objectives of the war, according to the Times. The newspaper says that his administration's shifting stance on whether Operation Epic Fury was to eliminate Iran's nuclear threat or to instigate regime change means Trump is struggling to make a case that "calms his Maga base".

Meanwhile, the Daily Express concentrates on the Chancellor's Spring Statement. It outlines accusations by the Conservatives that a million more of the poorest pensioners will have to pay income tax because of the freeze in thresholds - according to a forecast from the office for budget responsibility. The Daily Mail says Rachel Reeves expressed no optimism, and is "taking us all for mugs".

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