'Tax squeeze backlash' and Clarkson's health scare

Next week's Budget has dominated several front covers. The i newspaper looks at what it says is a "growing Labour backlash over tax squeeze for 'working people'."

Some form of tax hike is expected, despite Labour's manifesto pledge that working people would not face increases.

According to the paper, Labour MPs have "signalled concern over the mixed messages being put out by ministers ahead of the Budget".

One Labour MP has told the i that they are "really worried" about the "high-wire act" that the chancellor and prime minister are trying to pull off.

The Daily Telegraph says Chancellor Rachel Reeves is essentially admitting that some working people will face tax rises.

On Thursday, Reeves said she could only commit to not raising "key" taxes on workers.

The paper also details a "growing backlash" to the prime minister's recent comments that he would not count people who work but get additional income from assets such as shares or property in his definition of "working people".

"Starmer's 'insult' to middle Britain" is the Daily Mail's main headline, referring what it calls a "ferocious backlash" to the prime minister’s attempts to define what "working people" are.

Sir Keir has warned against making "assumptions" about what that meant for Labour's tax policy.

Among the people that the Daily Mail has spoken to this who are opposed to his definition is Lancashire landlord and small business owner Patricia McGirr, who said the PM was "out of touch" to think people like her don’t work for their money.

The Times states that the Budget will place a larger burden on businesses.

According to the paper, Rachel Reeves will face accusations she has broken Labour's promise not to raise national insurance, to which she is expected to argue that it is not a breach because it will not directly affect employees.

The front page of The Times also features an image of Kaleb Cooper, a star of documentary TV series Clarkson's Farm, who has been interviewed about his life as a farmer and father of two.

An exclusive interview with Jeremy Clarkson, the main star of Clarkson's Farm, covers the front page of The Sun.

The TV presenter recently underwent emergency heart surgery but tells the paper that he was not afraid until doctors told him that he would have to make adjustments to his lifestyle in order to stay healthy.

"Literally, I'm not allowed to have fun anymore," Clarkson says.

He adds that the worst part is having to change his diet in order to "cut my alarmingly high levels of cholesterol", which means he can no longer eat things like bacon, chips and "proper milk".

The Daily Express leads on the controversy surrounding the axing of the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners.

The paper reports that senior Conservative Mel Stride has written to the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall demanding that eligible pensioners be given a guarantee they will not miss out on fuel payments over winter due to pension credit delays.

Stride argues that many pensioners who would qualify for pension credit, never receive it and has called on the government to reverse the "heartless policy" in the Budget.

The Financial Times leads on EU preparations of a possible second Trump presidency. Polling suggests he and Kamala Harris are currently tied.

EU officials are said to be holding daily meetings to discuss where a Trump administration could "cause the most pain for the bloc".

According to people familiar with the talks, officials are discussing topics including how to withstand a "barrage" of trade tariffs, offset an end to US aid in Ukraine, and maintain sanctions against Russia if the US decides to lift theirs.

"Everyone needs a Florrie in their life" reads the headline on the front cover of the Daily Mirror. It is accompanied by an image of actor Michael Sheen appearing to beam at eight-year-old Florrie Bark, who won the Child of Courage trophy at the Pride of Britain Awards, which honour unsung heroes.

Florrie, who has leukaemia and is waiting for a lung transplant, caught the hearts of many with her "infectious laugh and boundless charm", according to the paper.

The Mirror is among the organisations that is backing Florrie in her bid to raise £1m by Christmas for her charity that helps children with cancer get access to education.

A case of mistaken identity covers the front page of the Daily Star.

Accounts sales manager Martin Caroll says he was bombarded with requests for his autograph at a curry house in Stratford-upon-Avon, where staff were convinced he was The Jam frontman Paul Weller, who was in town, despite a lack of physical resemblance.

Mr Carroll says he repeatedly denied he was the musician and would be mortified if people thought he was trying to pass himself off as him.

The restaurant, for its part, said Mr Carroll should not have allowed them to take a picture with him if he wasn't Paul Weller.

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