Burnham's North Sea plans, prison release pause and front page roundup

Friday’s papers focus on Andy Burnham’s North Sea drilling plans, a pause on early prisoner release, devolution, tax changes for pensioners, AI safety concerns and front-page stories from across the UK.

The papers on Friday focus on several different aspects of Andy Burnham’s first week in the top job, with each front page emphasising a separate policy or political development. The Times says the new prime minister is "eager to get drilling in the North Sea" and ready to "move quickly" to scale up oil and gas production as part of his "cost-of-living policy blitz".

Sources told the paper that Burnham and his energy secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, are considering whether to give the green light to drilling in Rosebank, which it says is the "biggest undeveloped oil and gasfield in the UK". Sources in the oil and gas sector also tell the Times they believe the new prime minister wants to "move quickly" to scale up drilling in the North Sea, and that they are expecting the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects to get the green light as part of plans to help with the cost of living. The paper understands Mr Burnham is "open minded" about the schemes.

"eager to get drilling in the North Sea"

"move quickly"

"cost-of-living policy blitz"

"biggest undeveloped oil and gasfield in the UK"

"open minded"

What is on the Daily Express front page?

Like many front pages, the Daily Express features a photograph of King Charles III and Queen Camilla making their grand entrance at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games - unusually, from the Doctor Who Tardis. "Tardis fit for a King" reads the caption.

In its main story, the paper considers how Reform UK is responding to Labour's "controversial" early prison release scheme, which has been put on pause by the new prime minister.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Express reads: “New cells will end the early release scandal”. — Image caption, Like many front pages, the Daily Express features a photograph of King Charles III and Queen Camilla making their grand entrance at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games - unusually, from the Doctor Who Tardis. "Tardis fit for a King" reads the caption. In its main story, the paper considers how Reform UK is responding to Labour's "controversial" early prison release scheme, which has been put on pause by the new prime minister.

Why is the prison release scheme under scrutiny?

The early prisoner release scheme is also the leading story for the Independent, which says Labour's plan to ease prison crowding will be put on hold until Burnham completes an "urgent review". The front page also carries a photograph of aerial firefighting in southern France, noting that wildfires are ravaging a "sweltering Europe" as the first part of the UK declares drought.

The headline on the front page of the Independent reads: “Burnham puts early prisoner release scheme on hold”. — Image caption, The early prisoner release scheme is also the leading story for the Independent, which says Labour's plan to ease prison crowding will be put on hold until Burnham completes an "urgent review". The front page also carries a photograph of aerial firefighting in southern France, noting that wildfires are ravaging a "sweltering Europe" as the first part of the UK declares drought.

"urgent review"

"sweltering Europe"

How does the Daily Telegraph frame the same issue?

A similar headline leads the Daily Telegraph: "Burnham orders halt to early release". It investigates how the move could "threaten to plunge a prison system struggling with overcrowding into chaos", and says that some 6,000 prisoners had been set for release on a monthly schedule from early September. Neither Downing Street nor the Ministry of Justice have set a date for when they expect the scheme to be implemented again, the paper adds.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph reads: “Burnham orders halt to early release”. — Image caption, A similar headline leads the Daily Telegraph: "Burnham orders halt to early release". It investigates how the move could "threaten to plunge a prison system struggling with overcrowding into chaos", and says that some 6,000 prisoners had been set for release on a monthly schedule from early September. Neither Downing Street nor the Ministry of Justice have set a date for when they expect the scheme to be implemented again, the paper adds.

"Burnham orders halt to early release"

"threaten to plunge a prison system struggling with overcrowding into chaos"

What does Burnham say in ?

The prime minister has written a piece for , where he says that "the era of fighting devolution is over". In it, Burnham writes that by shifting decision-making power out of London, he hopes to bring about the "much-needed sea change in the way Britain is run".

The paper says it comes as Burnham becomes the first British leader to run government on a weekly basis from Manchester, referred to as No 10 North.

The headline on the front page of reads: “Burnham: No 10 North is Britain's biggest ever rebalancing of power”. — Image caption, The prime minister has written a piece for , where he says that "the era of fighting devolution is over". In it, Burnham writes that by shifting decision-making power out of London, he hopes to bring about the "much-needed sea change in the way Britain is run". The paper says it comes as Burnham becomes the first British leader to run government on a weekly basis from Manchester, referred to as No 10 North.

"the era of fighting devolution is over"

"much-needed sea change in the way Britain is run"

How are other papers treating No 10 North?

No 10 North is the main story for the Daily Star, which says the "King's in north" and will be working from home.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Star reads: “SuperManc: I'm working from home”. — Image caption, No 10 North is the main story for the Daily Star, which says the "King's in north" and will be working from home.

"King's in north"

What does the Metro report?

Burnham is pictured with a pint on the front page of the Metro, following his announcement that pubs, clubs and some music venues will receive a 20% rate cut from April. The paper says it has been a "historic start" to his premiership, adding that he is the first leader in a decade to kick off with a positive opinion from voters.

The headline on the front page of the Metro reads: “Ahead on pints”. — Image caption, Burnham is pictured with a pint on the front page of the Metro, following his announcement that pubs, clubs and some music venues will receive a 20% rate cut from April. The paper says it has been a "historic start" to his premiership, adding that he is the first leader in a decade to kick off with a positive opinion from voters.

"historic start"

What is the i Paper saying about pensioners?

The i Paper says the new Chancellor John Healey has given a commitment that pensioners whose only earnings are the state pension will not pay income tax. It is "good news" for approximately 820,000 retirees, the paper says, as triple lock increases mean the state pension will be taxed from next year for the first time.

The headline on the front page of the i Paper reads: “State pensioners with no other income will be exempt from tax”. — Image caption, The i Paper says the new Chancellor John Healey has given a commitment that pensioners whose only earnings are the state pension will not pay income tax. It is "good news" for approximately 820,000 retirees, the paper says, as triple lock increases mean the state pension will be taxed from next year for the first time.

"good news"

Why are oil prices making the Financial Times?

Oil prices have jumped to over $100 a barrel for the first time since May, according to the Financial Times. The paper says oils "blistering rebound this month" has been extended, as fears grow that the US and Iran are heading for a return to full-blown conflict.

The headline on the front page of the Financial Times reads: “Oil hits $100 as Trump weighs 'massive' strike on Iran targets”. — Image caption, Oil prices have jumped to over $100 a barrel for the first time since May, according to the Financial Times. The paper says oils "blistering rebound this month" has been extended, as fears grow that the US and Iran are heading for a return to full-blown conflict.

"blistering rebound this month"

What is the Daily Mail warning about AI?

AI has been branded a "clear and present" danger, the Daily Mail reports, after security experts said they had tested five AI models and all of them had tried to "trick their way around" the security controls in place.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mail reads: “Every single advanced AI model — Image caption, AI has been branded a "clear and present" danger, the Daily Mail reports, after security experts said they had tested five AI models and all of them had tried to "trick their way around" the security controls in place.

"clear and present"

"trick their way around"

Who could join I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

The Sun says paralympian Ade Adepitan is set to be the first wheelchair user on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! According to the paper, the 53-year-old TV presenter is in "advanced talks" with the ITV series, and producers are looking at ways they can adapt the camp to accommodate him.

The headline on the front page of the Sun reads: “I'm a paralympian.. get me in there — Image caption, The Sun says paralympian Ade Adepitan is set to be the first wheelchair user on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! According to the paper, the 53-year-old TV presenter is in "advanced talks" with the ITV series, and producers are looking at ways they can adapt the camp to accommodate him.

"advanced talks"

What happened in the Essex beach tragedy?

"Tragedy on beach trip" declares the Daily Mirror after a teenage girl and her mother drowned at a beach in Essex in a bid to rescue their seven-year-old relative. The paper says the child was taken to hospital in critical condition, along with three other members of the family.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror reads: “Tragedy on beach trip — Image caption, "Tragedy on beach trip" declares the Daily Mirror after a teenage girl and her mother drowned at a beach in Essex in a bid to rescue their seven-year-old relative. The paper says the child was taken to hospital in critical condition, along with three other members of the family.

"Tragedy on beach trip"

What do the repeated reports add?

In his article in , Andy Burnham writes again that "Number Ten North" could bring the "much-needed sea change in the way Britain is run", external. He expresses hope that the move will be seen as his government's "most defining" act.

But the paper says he will face calls to prove the plan isn't "tokenistic". Describing him as "SuperManc", the Daily Star says he's "working from home", external - adding "let's hope he's not shirking from home".

"Number Ten North"

"most defining"

"tokenistic"

"SuperManc"

"working from home"

"let's hope he's not shirking from home"

What else is repeated across the front pages?

The Times repeats that sources in the oil and gas sector expect the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects to get the green light, while the paper says Burnham is "open minded" about the schemes. The Daily Mail repeats its report under the headline "Every single advanced AI model goes rogue in testing", saying experts found that during tests of five artificial intelligence models, all of them tried to trick their way around security controls.

The Sun also repeats its report that Ade Adepitan is in advanced talks to become the first wheelchair user on the ITV show, with producers again looking at ways to adapt the camp for him. The Independent, meanwhile, keeps the drought and wildfire coverage on its front page, linking the southern France fires with the UK’s first drought declaration.