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Several UK newspapers are highlighting the surprising outcome of the Conservative leadership competition in their Thursday editions. The Metro, for example, states that the contest has moved towards the right and that hardliners Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick are now the main contenders after “favourite” James Cleverly was knocked out of the race. Meanwhile, the budget dominates many of the day’s front pages. The Guardian reports on an Institute of Fiscal Studies’ warning that Labour leader Keir Starmer’s pledge to end austerity will require £25bn of tax rises. The IFS argues that Chancellor Rachel Reeves could struggle to find this additional income given her party’s election manifesto which ruled out substantial hikes in income tax, VAT and national insurance contributions.
The Financial Times focuses on employers’ national insurance contributions. It warns that Starmer has avoided affirming plans to increase such contributions, but adds that the Chancellor cannot necessarily rule them out given the scale of her fiscal challenge. Finally, the I newspaper highlights a new right to flexible working that will be granted under Labour’s reforms to workers’ rights. The law will oblige employers to provide one of eight reasons if they refuse a request for flexible arrangements, although the paper notes that this does not mean such requests will always be granted.
The Daily Mail follows a familiar editorial line in expressing hostility to Labour’s employment proposals, warning that they will inject fear into workplaces. The Daily Telegraph highlights the IFS’ warning to Reeves, while The Times carries the same story alongside an additional report that the boy who killed his ex-girlfriend is to be named. The Daily Star’s headline feature is on “Britain’s biggest office skivers” who supposedly accrue extra holiday days by volunteering to make tea, while the Daily Mirror reports on the new right to information about domestic abusers. The only international story on the front pages is in the Sun, which highlights controversy over a police escort for Taylor Swift.
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