The front pages of Thursday’s newspapers are dominated by reports about the potential entry of Israeli troops into Lebanon. According to the Financial Times, Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi’s remarks regarding intensive air strikes aimed at Hezbollah represent the “most explicit threat” regarding an imminent ground invasion. Additionally, the Telegraph’s headline asserts that Israeli troops are ready to invade Lebanon; the paper quotes US President Joe Biden’s assertion that all-out war in the Middle East is a possibility but not necessarily probable.
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer, leader of the UK’s Labour Party, has defended his chief of staff’s salary, which is £3,000 higher than his own. Starmer stated during a BBC interview that “this should not be the subject of debate” and that his focus is on the upcoming UK budget negotiations. Starmer also called for de-escalation in the Middle East, where the UN has been holding meetings this week. The i highlights Starmer’s comments and reports on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s call for British citizens to leave Lebanon immediately.
The Guardian quotes a Pentagon spokesperson, Sabrina Singh, regarding the potential for a ground offensive in the Middle East, stating that one is not currently imminent. Additionally, there are increasing calls for a ceasefire from various parties. The paper also reports on concerns from the UK Treasury that the government’s plans to crack down on the non-dom tax regime may not yield significant revenue.
Two newspapers focus on Starmer’s use of an £18m London property belonging to a Labour donor during the pandemic. The Times reports that the property, owned by Lord Waheed Alli, was used by Starmer to film a stay-at-home message for the public in December 2021; Downing Street maintains that lockdown rules were not broken during the filming. The Daily Mail highlights mounting questions regarding Starmer’s use of the property, stating that his justification for doing so “just don’t add up.”
Finally, the Express features a non-binding vote at the Labour Party conference calling on the government to reverse its cuts to winter fuel payments. The paper quotes a Tory source who claims that Starmer has “lost the support” of his party, MPs, and “paymasters.” The Mirror reports on the death of a British woman after undergoing Brazilian butt lift surgery and police investigations into this matter. Meanwhile, the Daily Star covers news that darts star James Wade has denied producing the “biggest fart in sporting history” at a recent event
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