The Papers: 'Another lettuce' for Reeves and 'ruthless' spending cuts on the way

22 hours ago 2

 "PM throws Reeves's future into doubt"

A picture of Chancellor Rachel Reeves dominates the front page of the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, with the paper saying the prime minister has thrown her "future into doubt". The chancellor is facing criticism over the falling pound and rising government borrowing costs. Sir Keir Starmer "twice refused to say if she will be in [the] job next year", the paper adds, before a government spokesman insisted she would be kept in the post.

 Two Lame Ducks".

The chancellor and her deputy Tulip Siddiq are "two lame ducks" according to the Conservatives, reports the front page of the Daily Mail. The paper says the Treasury is "in turmoil", with the country suffering from "stuttering growth, surging government borrowing costs and a growing business backlash". Separately, Siddiq has referred herself to the prime minister's standards adviser after controversy over her links to her aunt's political movement in Bangladesh, but says she has "done nothing wrong".

 "Should we be popping out for another lettuce?"

The Daily Star asks: "Should we be popping out for another lettuce?" It's a reference to the paper's viral campaign from 2022, in which it streamed a live webcam feed asking whether then-Prime Minister Liz Truss would last longer in office than an iceberg lettuce, after her mini-Budget triggered economic turmoil. The paper claims the odds "on the Daily Star needing another lettuce shortened" after the prime minister gave Reeves his backing on Monday.

 "Starmer backs Reeves and warns of 'ruthless' public spending cuts"

"Ruthless" public spending cuts could be on the cards to help the government balance the books, the Guardian reports the prime minister as saying, as the Treasury looks for "billions of pounds of savings". The paper also trails a speech next week by the chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones, in which he is expected to warn ministers they will be expected to make "sweeping changes to public services" as part of a spending review.

 "Benefits face cut as No 10 admits 'nothing is off the table' in search for new savings"

And "nothing is off the table" when it comes to making cuts, the i adds, with the benefits bill just one of the options on the table as the government searches for savings. But, the paper says, campaigners will "react angrily" to any further reduction in public spending, warning of "disastrous consequences".

 "'It's now my life, my children's life and my grandchildren's future at stake'"

Sticking with politics, the Daily Express focuses on a dairy farmer's "great distress" after the government's decision last year to limit inheritance tax relief for farms to £1m from April 2026. The farmer, Ro, tells the paper "it's now my life, my children's life and my grandchildren's future at stake", as he calls for a reversal of the policy.

 "Labour law threatens customers' free speech"

New polling indicates Reform UK is "effectively tied" with Labour among voters, pushing the Conservatives into third place, the Times reports. The survey, from pollsters YouGov, is the first since last year's election, and suggests Labour's voter share has "collapsed", the paper says.

 "Innocent monster"

The Metro labels Ryan Wellings an "innocent monster" after he was found guilty of assault and prolonged domestic violence, but cleared of manslaughter, after his partner took her own life. The paper says, during the trial, the jury heard Kiena Dawes, 23, had left a note saying "I was murdered" and that Wellings had "killed [her]" before taking her own life. He denied all the charges against him.

 "My girl's voice was not heard"

The Daily Mirror leads on Kiena Dawes's mum's "anguish" after the verdict. Angela Dawes told reporters on Monday: "Today was for Kiena. I'm sorry your voice has not been fully heard," the paper reports.

 "EU yards carry out crucial repairs for Russian Arctic gas tanker fleet"

Elsewhere, some European Union shipyards have been carrying out "crucial repairs" on Russia's Arctic gas tankers, according to the Financial Times, despite sanctions aimed at the country's energy sector. Phasing out the use of Russian gas is a "central policy aim of the European Commission", it says, but one shipyard accused by the paper says it has "strictly adhered" to European legislation.

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