Burnham’s power play dominates papers as Widdecombe murder details emerge

Front pages focus on Andy Burnham’s first day as prime minister and new details in Ann Widdecombe’s death, with papers also debating the cost of his promises.

Andy Burnham’s first full day as prime minister and fresh details about Ann Widdecombe’s death dominate Wednesday’s front pages. The Metro leads with reports that Widdecombe was hit on the head with a hammer 21 times on the day she was killed.

Prosecutors told Westminster Magistrates’ Court it was a

planned and targeted

attack carried out with a

ferocity of violence

. Meanwhile, the paper also reports on Burnham’s bid to cut bills as he holds his first cabinet meeting.

What are the papers saying about Widdecombe’s death?

Similarly, the Sun reads:

Ann 'hit 21 times with hammer'

. The paper draws attention to the detail that the former MP was eating her lunch at the time of the attack, reporting that a kitchen camera is said to have captured her killer entering the Dartmoor bungalow.

The headline on the front page of the Sun reads: “Ann 'hit 21 times with hammer'”. — Image caption, Similarly, the Sun reads: "Ann 'hit 21 times with hammer'". The paper draws attention to the detail that the former MP was eating her lunch at the time of the attack, reporting that a kitchen camera is said to have captured her killer entering the Dartmoor bungalow.

A picture of Joshua Kerry, the man accused of murdering Widdecombe, is front and centre on the Daily Mirror. Kerry, 28, appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, after he was charged with one count of murder following an investigation led by counter terrorism detectives.

The headline on the front page of the Mirror reads: “Ann 'hit 21 times with hammer'”. — Image caption, A picture of Joshua Kerry, the man accused of murdering Widdecombe, is front and centre on the Daily Mirror. Kerry, 28, appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, after he was charged with one count of murder following an investigation led by counter terrorism detectives.

In addition to the details about how Widdecombe was killed, the Daily Express says the 8 July attack took place over just two minutes.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Express reads: “Ann was 'hit 21 times on the head with hammer'”. — Image caption, In addition to the details about how Widdecombe was killed, the Daily Express says the 8 July attack took place over just two minutes.

Widdecombe hit 21 times with hammer

, says the Daily Star, which reports that it was a gardener who found the 78-year-old

face down

in her kitchen the day after the attack.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Star reads: “Widdecombe hit 21 times with hammer”. — Image caption, "Widdecombe hit 21 times with hammer," says the Daily Star, which reports that it was a gardener who found the 78-year-old "face down" in her kitchen the day after the attack.

How are the papers judging Burnham’s first pledges?

Though Widdecombe features on the front page of the Daily Mail, the paper’s main story focuses on Burnham’s first pledges as prime minister - and how he might pay for them. It reports that a spokesperson for Burnham was unable to say who would pay for his

many

proposals, adding that they

seemed set to hit taxpayers for hundreds of billions of pounds

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mail reads: “Who's going to pay the bill for Andy's largesse?”. — Image caption, Though Widdecombe features on the front page of the Daily Mail, the paper's main story focuses on Burnham's first pledges as prime minister - and how he might pay for them. It reports that a spokesperson for Burnham was unable to say who would pay for his "many" proposals, adding that they "seemed set to hit taxpayers for hundreds of billions of pounds".

Cost of living, cost of living, cost of living

, declares the i Paper, reporting that Burnham has told his cabinet to find ways to

cut UK prices and offer hope

. The paper says senior economists are warning that the new prime minister will need to raise taxes, or else risk failing to deliver on his raft of

bolder policy pledges

The headline on the front page of the i Paper reads: “Cost of living, cost of living, cost of living”. — Image caption, "Cost of living, cost of living, cost of living," declares the i Paper, reporting that Burnham has told his cabinet to find ways to "cut UK prices and offer hope". The paper says senior economists are warning that the new prime minister will need to raise taxes, or else risk failing to deliver on his raft of "bolder policy pledges".

The Times makes a similar assessment of Burnham’s first cabinet meeting, which it says took place against the backdrop of

mounting questions over the scale of his public spending commitments

. The paper notes that Burnham has already announced a £340m investment to end rough sleeping and an £850m plan to cut energy bills, after just two days as prime minister.

The headline on the front page of the Times reads: “Burnham signals cuts to pay for spending pledges”. — Image caption, The Times makes a similar assessment of Burnham's first cabinet meeting, which it says took place against the backdrop of "mounting questions over the scale of his public spending commitments". The paper notes that Burnham has already announced a £340m investment to end rough sleeping and an £850m plan to cut energy bills, after just two days as prime minister.

The Financial Times writes that Burnham’s commitment to fiscal discipline is

immediately in the spotlight

following the announcement of his plan to cut electricity bills this winter, which he says will be funded by axing the digital ID scheme. The paper says it was allowed into the prime minister’s first cabinet meeting, where he told his ministers he planned to run a

cost of living government

and urged them to consider

all the possible ways

they could help voters with their overheads.

The headline on the front page of the Financial Times reads: “Burnham backs away from rise in tax allowance 'to show fiscal discipline'”. — Image caption, The Financial Times writes that Burnham's commitment to fiscal discipline is "immediately in the spotlight" following the announcement of his plan to cut electricity bills this winter, which he says will be funded by axing the digital ID scheme. The paper says it was allowed into the prime minister's first cabinet meeting, where he told his ministers he planned to run a "cost of living government" and urged them to consider "all the possible ways" they could help voters with their overheads.

also carries details of Burnham’s first cabinet meeting, adding that he is expected to introduce further policies to ease the cost of living later this week. The paper reports the prime minister will announce a reduction on the national cap on bus fares from £3 to £2 on Wednesday.

The headline on the front page of reads: “Burnham implores cabinet to find ways to tackle cost of living crisis”. — Image caption, also carries details of Burnham's first cabinet meeting, adding that he is expected to introduce further policies to ease the cost of living later this week. The paper reports the prime minister will announce a reduction on the national cap on bus fares from £3 to £2 on Wednesday.

What is being said about Burnham’s team and allies?

Burnham’s cabinet is a focus for the Independent, which says that the US is unhappy with new Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. According to the paper, the White House is

deeply concerned

by the decision to shift Miliband into the role, as Donald Trump

hasn't forgotten

the former Labour leader’s

fierce criticism

The headline on the front page of the Independent reads: “Trump furious at foreign secretary role for Miliband”. — Image caption, Burnham's cabinet is a focus for the Independent, which says that the US is unhappy with new Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. According to the paper, the White House is "deeply concerned" by the decision to shift Miliband into the role, as Donald Trump "hasn't forgotten" the former Labour leader's "fierce criticism".

Pc Harper's killers set for early release

, says the Daily Telegraph, which reports that two people jailed for the death of a policeman in 2019 are set to be released just halfway through their sentences under an early-release scheme. The front page features a photograph of Angela Rayner on her way to Downing Street on Tuesday, paired with the headline:

Rayner's return

The headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph reads: “Pc Harper's killers set for early release”. — Image caption, "Pc Harper's killers set for early release," says the Daily Telegraph, which reports that two people jailed for the death of a policeman in 2019 are set to be released just halfway through their sentences under an early-release scheme. The front page features a photograph of Angela Rayner on her way to Downing Street on Tuesday, paired with the headline: "Rayner's return".

What do other papers say about the costs of Burnham’s plans?

The papers continue to focus on Andy Burnham’s start as prime minister.

Who is going to pay for Andy's largesse?

asks the Daily Mail, external on its front page. It says the Conservatives have questioned where the money will come from for what the paper calls his

left-wing spending spree

According to the i Paper, senior economists have claimed that the new prime minister will need to

raise taxes

, external or risk failing to deliver on a raft of his bolder policy pledges. The Times reports he’s told his Cabinet to find savings, external in order to fund promises.

On the prime minister’s decision not to increase the tax-free personal allowance, the Financial Times highlights analysis by the Resolution Foundation think tank, external that suggests uprating it by inflation next year would cost £3.7bn.

says it’s learned Burnham plans to accelerate the timetable for bringing in a national care service, external, which it says could cost more money before the next election.

The Daily Mirror uses its editorial to back No 10’s £2 cap on bus fares in England, external. It calls the policy

exactly the kind of practical help a cost-of-living government should deliver

. The Daily Mail highlights a calculation by The TaxPayers' Alliance that puts the cost of the policy at £240m., external

Writing in the Daily Express, the Reform UK treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick calls the scrapping of VAT on electricity bills a

good start, but nowhere near enough

., external He notes it saves households the equivalent of a

second-class stamp a week

What is being said away from politics?

Away from politics, the mother of PC Andrew Harper, Debbie Adlam, has told the Daily Telegraph that the prospect of two of her son’s killers being released from prison halfway through their sentences as part of the government’s early-release scheme makes her

feel sick

., external She warns if they're let out

there would be another outcry

, and says the public is

very much behind keeping them in.

Finally, the back pages have some fun with the news that Chelsea have paid a record transfer fee for a British player, spending £117m to secure Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa. The Sun calls him