'French right humiliates Macron' and 'Saved by the Bell'

Jude Bellingham after scoring in England's Euros game against SlovakiaImage source, EPA
Image caption,

Jude Bellingham, whose last-minute goal saved England from an early exit from the Euros, features on many of the front pages

  • Published

Time for a look at the papers and England's last-minute win over Slovakia at the Euros, and the success of the National Rally in France are on most front pages.

Marine Le Pen's words that her party had "practically wiped out" Emmanuel Macron make the Daily Telegraph's front page headline, external. The paper says the election was considered a referendum on Mr Macron's leadership, and a National Rally victory would create untold headaches for him.

"French right humiliates Macron" is the Times' headline, external. The paper says National Rally hopes to be ruling France during the Paris Olympics.

The Financial Times says the far right hasn't been in power in France since the Vichy regime, external collaborated with Nazi Germany during the Second World War. The paper says the National Rally could now move from the fringes of politics to heart of government, sending shockwaves across Europe.

Sir Keir Starmer tells the Guardian, external that, if Labour wins the UK election on Thursday, it will have to stave off a rise of the populist right, by urgently restoring faith in British politics -- as he put it "through deeds, not words". He promises to hold his ministers to high standards, with even the most senior figures sacked for serious breaches.

In an interview for the Telegraph, Rishi Sunak claims that Vladimir Putin is hoping for a Labour victory. The Prime Minister says the Russian leader doesn't want the Conservatives to be re-elected because of their support for Ukraine. Mr Sunak also claims that Labour would cut defence spending "on day one."

According to the Times the Prime Minister will turn his fire on Nigel Farage in a speech later today, mocking his ambition to become the leader of the opposition. He'll say that "Reform just won't win enough seats to oppose Labour."

Writing in the Daily Mail, an expert on Russia's disinformation campaigns, Neil Barnett, argues that Moscow is trying to disrupt the general election by flooding our social media with distortions and fabrications. He says a report by The Australian Broadcasting Corporation -- that Russian propagandists are using a number of Facebook pages to boost support for Mr Farage's Reform UK party -- is only the tip of the iceberg.

Several papers report that president Biden has been meeting his family, at his country retreat Camp David, as pressure mounts on him to abandon an attempt to win another term in office. The Times says after his poor performance in a TV debate with Donald Trump, nearly three-quarters of voters believe Mr Biden lacks the cognitive health, external to serve as president.

According to the Telegraph, the Democrats are laying the ground work, external for him to make a dignified exit from the race. One official said Mr Biden could not be "dragged off stage", and needed relatives and trusted advisers to convince him to "walk off" on his own terms.

In an editorial, the Sun says the president's wife, Jill, appears to be the only person who can persuade him to step down. The paper says it's astonishing that she holds the future safety and security of America and its allies in her hands.

The Daily Mirror says England scraped through to the Euros quarter-finals, after a near humiliation by Slovakia. "Saved by the Bell" is the Sun's headline, external, under a picture of Jude Bellingham scoring the late equaliser which saved England from defeat.

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