Saturday’s papers are leading with the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigning as an MP. It comes after he accused the House of Commons Privileges Committee – investigating whether he deliberately misled MPs about lockdown parties in Downing Street – of trying to “drive me out of Parliament”. His resignation triggers a by-election in his marginal west-London Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency, the paper reports, just hours after ex-culture secretary and Johnson ally Nadine Dorries also quit the Commons with “immediate effect”.
“Boris Johnson declares war on Sunak” headlines the i newspaper. The paper reports the ex-premier has attacked Rishi Sunak’s handling of the economy, tax, Brexit, trade and housing, before threatening his successor with a future return.
The Telegraph focuses on Mr Johnson’s resignation statement, including the claim he says there has been a “witch hunt” among some Conservative MPs who saw his removal as a necessary first step to the reversal of Brexit. He also says Labour’s Harriet Harman and Privileges Committee chairwoman already expressed “prejudicial remarks about my guilt before they had even seen the evidence”.
“Johnson quits over Partygate” headlines the Mirror with its critical report of the ex-premier. It calls him a “shamed ex-PM” and says he is “deluded” in claiming he has been forced out.
Image source, BBC
A picture of former US President Donald Trump on the golf course makes the front page of the Times as he is accused of multiple criminal counts over retaining national defence information, nuclear secrets, and obstruction. But like other papers, it leads on Mr Johnson’s resignation with the headline: “The party’s over now”.
The Daily Express also headlines on Mr Johnson comparing the Privileges Committee to a “kangaroo court”. It observes that Ms Dorries’ resignation appears to be a “co-ordinated move” with her ex-boss.
The Sun describes the ex-prime minister as “raging” in his resignation statement. It observes Mr Sunak faces a “knife-edge by-election”.
The Daily Mail reports Mr Sunak was “stunned” following Mr Johnson’s departure and warns there was dismay in No 10 at the “prospect of a fresh round of Tory bloodletting”. The paper opines the ex-premier can “hold his head high” despite the “sanctimonious crowing” from his enemies on the left, liberals and Remainers.
The Guardian calls Mr Johnson’s statement “bitter”. It notes his departure from political life comes less than four years after he won an 80-seat majority at the last general election. Canadian trans actor Elliot Page also features on the front page as he gives an interview to the paper on Hollywood and coming out.
A red nose has been super-imposed on the face of Mr Johnson, as the Daily Star publishes a damning assessment of the ex-PM who it describes as a “shamed clown” stepping down.
“The party’s over now”, declares the Times in its coverage of Boris Johnson’s resignation as an MP. The Sun calls the announcement a “resignation bombshell”, with the former prime minister said to be “raging” having learnt the findings of a Parliamentary inquiry into whether he knowingly misled the House of Commons about lockdown parties. The paper says the affair risks “reopening years of bitter Tory civil war”, with Priti Patel among a group of Johnson supporters threatening to resign.
The Daily Express says “in what appears a co-ordinated move” Mr Johnson’s resignation as an MP came just hours after a similar announcement from the former culture secretary, Nadine Dorries. The Tories now face the prospect of two by-elections. Labour sources quoted in the Daily Mail are predicting the party will “win big” in Mr Johnson’s old seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip where he won in 2019 by just over 7,000 votes. In Ms Dorries’ constituency of Mid Bedfordshire, the Daily Telegraph reports that the Liberal Democrats will deliver their first campaign leaflets today and have “dozens” of activists out over the weekend.
Much of the focus is on what the resignation means for the prime minister. “Boris Johnson declares war on Sunak as he quits Parliament” is i Weekend’s main headline. The Daily Mirror calls the announcement a “fresh bombshell” for Rishi Sunak while the Daily Mail reports that the prime minister was “stunned” at what happened. The paper adds “there was dismay in Number Ten at a fresh round of Tory bloodletting”.
The Sun says Mr Johnson’s departure is a “sad loss to Parliament” and the paper’s columnist, Trevor Kavanagh, predicts “he won’t disappear”. The Times reports he has been spotted in his former constituency of Henley in Oxfordshire, where the long-standing MP is standing down. But the Daily Telegraph says while the former premier had “long been rumoured” to be switching constituencies, a general election is due before the end of next year “leaving little time for an about turn”.
Image source, Getty Images
Former US President Donald Trump has been charged over his handling of classified documents after he left the White House.
“Could he go to jail”, is the question posed by the Guardian about Donald Trump, after he was charged over mishandling classified documents. Writing in the Daily Mail, the author, David Cay Johnston, says if found guilty, the former president could receive a 100-year sentence. He adds that while such a term is “improbable” the clear strength of the case against him deals a blow to his “crumbling reputation” and chances of regaining the White House.
“Obsession” is the Sun’s take while the Times opts for “missing piece of the jigsaw” as the sports sections preview Manchester City’s attempt to win a first Champions League title on Saturday night. “City fans hoping for Turkish delight on final night”, is the Daily Express headline, because victory against Inter in Istanbul would complete a treble. The feat was last achieved by Manchester United in 1999. The Daily Mirror has a “good luck” message for City in its editorial and the paper’s advice for United fans: at least there is a weekend of glorious sunshine ahead.
