Israel-Hezbollah clash ‘not the end’, and winter fuel payment ‘concerns’
A dramatic image of a Hezbollah drone being intercepted by Israeli forces is on The Financial Times front page. The paper reports the impact of the biggest exchange of airstrikes between the Iran-backed militant group and Israel will “still have to be assessed”.
Shadow home secretary James Cleverly has accused Labour of “conning” the electorate by axing pensioners’ winter fuel payments, the Daily Express reports.
According to the i, the Cabinet is “split” as concerns grow over a potential voter backlash stemming from Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ plan to axe winter fuel allowance payments. She has indicated there will be no U-turn on the policy, and letters from constituents suggest people are worried about this issue, the paper says.
Labour will need at least 10 years to rebuild the country, Prime Minister Keir Starmer will say in his speech on Tuesday, according to The Times. He will also use the recent riots as a “metaphor” for the long path ahead to clear what he describes as the “rubble and ruin” left by the previous government, the paper reports.
Several papers lead with anaylsis of the airstrikes exchanged between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Guardian says Israeli air raids on the Iranian-supported group’s rockets are “not the end of the story”, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The front page is illustrated with a photo featuring blue and white feathers and smiles, taken at Notting Hill Carnival on Saturday.
The Daily Mirror also leads on the situation in the Middle East, saying fears of an “all-out war” have been stoked by Israel’s airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, and their retaliation.
The Daily Mail claims Prime Minister Keir Starmer was embroiled in a sleaze row” after reports about how Labour’s biggest personal donor – Lord Waheed Alli – was granted “unrestricted access” to Downing Street. It also references rumours that Oasis band members could be reunited.
Several Conservative MPs wrote to Labour’s Cabinet secretary demanding to know who greenlit a security pass for Lord Alli in what the newspaper describes as a growing “cronyism row” that could threaten the government, The Daily Telegraph reports.
And the Daily Star suggests the 24C temperatures anticipated in parts of the UK on Bank Holiday Monday signal the perfect time to don the sunglasses and “grab yer budgie smugglers”.
