Newspapers in Northern Ireland focus on the resignation of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson. The Belfast Telegraph says he is likely to step aside as an MP, and sources have told the paper he has left Belfast for his flat in London. The i warns , externalthat if hardliners take over the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the Executive could collapse again.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!But the Guardian argues , externalthere is no immediate threat to Stormont. The Irish Times – based in the Republic – agrees that it is in nobody’s interest to abandon power sharing – but adds “this is a crisis which is just beginning”.
Both the Times, external and the Daily Mail, external are calling for defence spending to rise to 3% of GDP by 2030. The Times, in its editorial, says the current spend is too limited with threats from Russia, China, and Iran – arguing that Britain merely relying on its allies would be “a dereliction of national duty”.
The Mail, which is running a campaign on the issue, has a poll on its front page that suggests Labour is now more trusted than the Conservatives on defence – seven in 10 say the issue could sway their vote.
Tory MPs have told, external the Daily Express that voting for Reform UK in the general election will allow Labour to, in its words, “kill Brexit”.
Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith tells the paper “all of the things that Reform stands for will be lost” if Labour wins by a landslide.
The Times says , externalthe growing question among Tory MPs is not whether Labour will win, but whether Rishi Sunak will still be prime minister on polling day. Allies of his have told the paper he is likely to face a confidence vote after the local elections in May.
The Daily Telegraph reports , externalthat some Tory MPs want the government to publish what the paper describes as a “league table” of the migrant nationalities with the highest crime rates in England and Wales. Backers of the plan tell the paper the Home Office could then focus on deporting asylum seekers from those countries.
The Guardian carries a warning, external that teachers in England are shutting down legitimate debate about the conflict in Gaza, because they feel ill-equipped to discuss it with pupils and are concerned about their legal duty to uphold impartiality. A government adviser on social cohesion says schools risk fuelling anger, hate and polarisation by stopping discussions about the war.
And Channel 4 chiefs are considering axing Bake Off’s chocolate week because of rising prices caused by a global cocoa shortage, according to the Sun, which describes it as a ““Choccy Horror”, external.
The paper says the show thinks displaying what it calls “gooey, chocolatey wares” could be in poor taste. The paper’s editorial encourages readers to savour every precious mouthful of Easter egg “while you can”.
