Prime Minister Andy Burnham's policy proposals dominate Sunday’s papers, with several titles focusing on claims about the cost of his agenda, his plans for social care and devolution, and his wider political message. Other front pages highlight a bid by new Defence Secretary Wes Streeting to improve relations with US President Donald Trump, the wildfires in France and Spain, a prison refusal for a security guard jailed over the Holly Willoughby plot, and reports about migrants arriving in the UK this week.
What is driving criticism of Burnham’s plans?
The Mail on Sunday leads with
Burnham's big spree, saying the PM is facing criticism from the Tories for planning a
tax bombshellon working families with his raft of policy pledges. The paper says the Conservatives are accusing the PM of
writing cheques British people can't cash. A spokesperson for the PM called the accusations
nonsense, adding that all policies that have been announced are
fully funded.
The Sunday Express says Reform UK's Robert Jenrick is warning the PM not to
hammer families with a death taxahead of Labour’s unveiling of plans to tackle the social care crisis.
The paper says Burnham previously suggested that a
care levycould be introduced to
fixsocial care. It adds that the proposal could face
fierce oppositionif it means people who would not have faced inheritance tax will now have their estates taxed.
What will the devolution announcement change?
The Sunday Times previews the government's devolution announcement next week, which will hand mayors a share of income tax revenue to spend on their cities. It says the policy will be driven from the new Number 10 North office in Manchester.
Elsewhere, the paper reports that Reform UK's bank account was frozen during the last election after it received donations from Fiona Cottrell, a significant donor to the party and mother of convicted fraudster George Cottrell. In response to the paper's story, Reform said:
This story follows a number of smear stories of which many are factually untrue. Mr Farage has decided to let the voters of Clacton be the judge of his actions.
What is Burnham saying about his priorities?
The PM has also written an opinion column in the Sunday Mirror saying the UK should be a country where
nobody is written off, vowing to cut the cost of living and lead a government that
rolls up its sleevesrather than dodge problems.
Writing in the Sunday Mirror about his government's priorities, Burnham says
if I've learnt anything from my time in politics, it's that 'it can't be done' is usually just another way of saying 'we've stopped trying'.In an article justifying policy decisions that have been taken so far, he adds,
our job will only be done when people aren't just living, they're living well.
How is the UK seeking to improve ties with Trump?
The Sunday Telegraph says new Defence Secretary Wes Streeting wants to repair the UK's relationship with US President Donald Trump by
working togetherto reopen the Strait of Hormuz and pledging to modernise the Armed Forces.
The paper says a conference may be held in London to bring together representatives from more than 40 countries to discuss the issue. It describes the efforts as an attempt to
turn the pageon the divergence between the US and UK over the Iran war.
What do the papers say about the wildfires in Europe?
Wildfires across France and Spain are prominent in the Observer, which uses the headline
Baptism of fire. The paper carries a stark full-page image of a bather walking into the sea, with billowing smoke causing the sky to blacken.
The Observer reports that more than 250,000 people have been evacuated across France and Spain.
What happened in the Holly Willoughby case?
A security guard jailed for plotting to kidnap, rape and murder TV presenter Holly Willoughby has been refused permission to attend his mother's funeral after being considered
too dangerous, the Daily Star reports.
What does the Sun on Sunday report about migrants?
The Sun on Sunday reports that a group of migrants who arrived in the UK this week may include suspects wanted for questioning in connection with the fatal stabbing of another migrant.
The incident is alleged to have happened in the seaside resort of Berck-sur-Mer in northern France on Thursday.
The Sunday Express also claims that Sarah Ferguson, the former wife of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, is close to agreeing to a deal with broadcasters for a documentary series about her life. It says Netflix is one of the broadcasters she has been negotiating with.
Those negotiating on behalf of Ferguson have stipulated that her contributions would have to be filmed outside the US because of the risk of being subpoenaed by the Congressional House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the crimes of her former husband's friend, Jeffrey Epstein.
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Key Facts
- Mail on Sunday says Andy Burnham faces Tory criticism over a proposed spending programme described as a
tax bombshell
. - The Sunday Times says next week’s devolution plans will give metropolitan mayors a share of income tax revenue, driven from Number 10 North in Manchester.
- The Sunday Telegraph says Wes Streeting wants to rebuild ties with Donald Trump by working on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
- The Observer says more than 250,000 people have been evacuated across France and Spain because of wildfires.
- The Sun on Sunday says migrants arriving in the UK this week may include suspects wanted over a fatal stabbing in Berck-sur-Mer, northern France.
