PM 'toughens migration rules' and Zelensky ready to 'face Putin'

Many of Monday's papers are leading on the government's new plans to control the levels of migration into the UK. The Guardian says the prime minister is toughening rules in what it calls a "challenge to Reform [UK]", which inflicted losses on Labour in the recent local elections. It states that adults such as spouses, siblings, parents and grown-up children who accompany foreign workers to the UK will be expected to pass an English language test, while care homes will be prevented from recruiting staff from abroad.

"Migrants must earn right to stay... and improve their English," headlines the i Paper as it quotes Sir Keir Starmer saying new immigrants have to earn the "privilege, not right" to settle in the UK. The paper analyses this as the government "seeking to seize [the] narrative from surging Reform UK".

The Times also goes with migrants needing to "earn their right to remain", with those who pay their taxes on time, work in the public sector or have high-skilled jobs, or volunteer in the community, being "prioritised for residency rights". Shadow home secretary Chris Philip says it is a "joke" to say the plans will be tough on criminal migrants.

"Migrants must wait ten years to become British", the Daily Express says under what it calls a "crackdown". It explains that automatic settlement and citizenship for anyone living in the UK for five years will also end. The paper hears from the Conservatives who accuse the government of "pretending to be tough" on the issue.

The Conservative response is also highlighted by the Daily Mail. It says the Tories have called the plans "laughable" for not including a cap on numbers and the paper adds that critics "immediately questioned" how success would be measured. The prime minister vows that "migration numbers will fall", the paper adds, as it puts the other side of the political argument.

The Daily Telegraph focuses on another part of the wide-ranging proposals with the headline "Starmer to shut ECHR migrant loophole". It says the white paper will "tighten legislation" that currently allow courts to grant asylum to what it calls "foreign criminals and illegal migrants" under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

The Sun leads on an exclusive which claims that while Starmer is announcing his crackdown on foreign criminals being granted asylum, Trinidadian rapper Bang Em Smurf - real name Daniel Calliste - is staying at a taxpayer-funded hotel while seeking asylum in the UK. The paper reports that the rapper - who is a "pal" of 50 Cent - has previously been jailed in the US "following a shootout".

The Financial Times says Chinese companies are "accelerating a purge of foreign components" from their supply chains, and were "increasing efforts to source domestic inputs" to replace them with. This follows the "steep tariffs" slapped on China by the US. An analyst for research provider Rhodium Group says the tariffs increase Beijing's desire to become self-sufficient - something Chinese President Xi Jinping pushed for in policies called "Made in China 2025".

"I'll face Putin to get peace", reads Metro's headline on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreeing to hold "direct negotiations" with his Russian counterpart. The paper says Zelensky accepted President Vladimir Putin's peace talks offer after pressure from the US president - and hours after saying there would be no talks without a ceasefire first.

The Daily Mirror claims "weight-loss jabs 'cut cancer risk'", according to new research that suggests they could cut the risk by nearly half. One expert says it could "herald a new era of preventative cancer medicine", the paper reports.

And finally, the Daily Star- keen as ever on a weather-related story - splashes a Photoshopped image of beach-ready seagulls - towel, sunnies and hat in tow - and the sub-headline "27C hotter than Malta". It says a "two-week heatwave starts" is starting today and that Britain will be warmer than Mediterranean resorts including Malta. "Grab an ice cream!" it adds.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's plans to tighten immigration dominates the news today. The Guardian notes the language he is expected to use is "more closely associated with populist parties". The Times reports that migrants who pay their taxes on time or volunteer in the community will be prioritised for residency rights, while the Daily Express highlights comments by the Conservatives who say the plans do not go far enough - and that Starmer is "pretending to be tough".

Daily Mail uses its lead to criticise the white paper. "Far from being a cohesive attempt to tackle the crisis", the column says, "it reeks of being rushed out to combat the surge of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party". The Sun suggests having chosen this course, voters "will be watching" and "any back sliding will be punished heavily at the next election", as the i Paper warns that the prime minister may face a more immediate challenge - namely from MPs who "were elected last July on a less hard-line immigration platform".

Meanwhile, Metro leads on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's offer to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on Thursday. The paper says there are now "hopes for a breakthrough in the Ukraine war". The Times describes Zelensky's plan as a "smart move" because it keeps US President Donald Trump on side and "may call Putin's bluff", should Russia's leader fail to turn up.

The general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing has told the Guardian that her members may go on strike again unless ministers dramatically improve their pay offer for NHS staff in England. Nicola Ranger describes nursing as "undervalued, misunderstood and underpaid". A government spokesperson says they are "carefully considering" recommendations from the NHS pay review body.

And the Daily Mirror is among the papers covering what it calls the "gongs, glamour and gossip" from the Bafta TV awards. The Times and the Daily Telegraph both feature photographs of Billie Piper, who lost out to Marisa Abela in the leading actress category. "What's occurring?" asks the Daily Express, as it celebrates Ruth Jones's final outing as Nessa in Gavin and Stacey, which won her the best female comedy performance category.

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