Stories reflecting on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s party conference speech make a number of Wednesday’s front pages. The Times pulls out the PM’s vow to “turn up our collar and face the storm” in an address it sketches as an “attempt to refocus the government after days dominated by rows over gifts and infighting in No 10”. Sir Keir’s on-stage kiss with his wife, Victoria, also makes the splash.
The Telegraph says the prime minister rehashed a popular Brexit slogan as he vowed to take back “control” of the NHS, education and other key policy areas. Variations on the phrase cropped up 15 times across the 54-minute speech, which the paper styles as an “attempt to connect” with Reform voters.
The Starmers’ kiss also tops the Metro. “A home for every hero” is the headline, a reference to Sir Keir’s pledge to house all military veterans, young care leavers and victims of domestic abuse. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s promise to halve knife crime also gets a write-up.
The Financial Times leads on Sir Keir’s promise to repair Britain and warns of “stark choices” ahead. Also featured is a report on China’s “aggressive” package of new growth measures, and another on HSBC and JP Morgan “unwittingly” processing payments for companies run by the late Russian mercenary leader, Yevgeny Priogozhin.
“Tough love” is how the Daily Mirror characterises Sir Keir’s Liverpool address. The prime minister’s plea to British nationals to leave Lebanon also makes the front page. Sir Keir said, “We are ramping up the contingency plans, I think you’d expect that in light of the escalation.”
The Mail leads on the Ministry of Defence sending 700 troops to Cyprus to prepare for the possible evacuation of British nationals from Lebanon, described by the paper as a “potential Dunkirk-style rescue”.
The EU is prepared to shorten the time it will ask Sir Keir’s government to allow under-30s to remain in the UK for, according to the i. The paper says a possible deal with Brussels could help “unlock” new agreements with Europe on security and trade.
The Princess of Wales “showed her determination to return to work”, the Daily Express reports, as she set about planning a Christmas concert on Tuesday. A photograph of Catherine, Prince Louis and Prince Charlotte attending a royal carol service at Westminster Abbey in 2023 accompanies the story. The princess, 42, had taken some time away from public engagements while undergoing treatment for cancer.
The Sun reports on Phillip Schofield’s “TV comeback”, 16 months after he left ITV’s This Morning programme. The paper says Mr Schofield has filmed a “one-man survival” show for Channel 5, in which he will discuss the period since he admitted to having an affair with a younger co-worker.
The Daily Star leads on a father and son claiming to have been “attacked” by the Loch Ness monster while out canoeing. Both Geoff Potts and his son, Chris, say they felt something strike their vessels from below. “Canoe believe it?” the paper asks.
