'Two-tier' trade deal and 'Labour turmoil' over winter fuel
- Published
Several newspapers lead with stories on a new trade deal worth £5bn between India and the UK. Quoting both Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, the Telegraph's report describes the agreement as implementing a 'two-tier' tax deal - because it exempts Indian migrants from National Insurance payments. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch said she had declined to sign the deal when business secretary, and added: "When Labour negotiates Britain loses." The government said the reduction in tariffs on UK exports would be a "£4.8bn boost for British businesses".
Tory and Reform frustration at the UK-India trade deal also leads the Times. The deal is the "biggest involving trade since Brexit" and will lead to a 90% fall in taxes on UK exports like whiskey and cars, the paper says. The government defended the deal, saying that it was similar to other agreements signed with the US and EU, according to the paper.
Conservative Party criticism of the UK-India trade deal also leads the Daily Mail. Under the agreement, the paper reports, it will become easier and cheaper to hire Indian workers because they will be exempt from paying National Insurance. Tories accused the prime minister of "undercutting British workers", according to the report.
The i newspaper also leads with a full front page on the backlash to the UK-India trade deal. It cites Conservative and Reform accusations that the deal will implement a "two-tier" tax system. The government says there will be "no major changes to immigration system" under the deal, according to the report.
The Daily Express leads with a report on "Labour turmoil", after Keir Starmer ruled out a U-turn on cutting winter fuel payments for OAPs. It comes despite Health Secretary Wes Streeting admitting that the cuts were an issue for the party at local elections last week.
Starmer's refusal to scrap cuts to winter fuel payments is like "rolling out the red carpet to Reform", according to Labour MPs quotes on the front page of the Daily Mirror.
Newly-elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney telling US President Donald Trump that Canada is "not for sale" at the White House features in the top half of the Financial Times front page. The paper also reports that the US and UK are close to reaching a deal to lower levies for UK exports of steel and cars to the US. Citing senior UK officials, the report says that talks are progressing "at speed" - but that disagreements remained over pharmaceutical exports.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's comments that Gaza "will be entirely destroyed" fronts The Guardian. It comes following Israel's approval on Tuesday of a plan for the "conquest of the Gaza Strip". The report also cites the UK's Middle East minister Hamish Falconer's "strong opposition" to Israel's plan.
Photos from the Met Gala feature in the Metro newspaper. But the paper leads with a personal story about the girlfriend of a motorcycle racer who died in a "horrifying" crash this week. Hannah James also lost a partner in a crash nine years ago.
An exclusive interview with Ryan Reynolds - actor and Wrexham Football Club co-owner - leads the Daily Star. Reynolds, the paper reports, is "so in love with footie that he has become an addict".
The Sun previews an investigation due to be broadcast on Channel 4. The report says new "bombshell" evidence related to Madeleine McCann has been found at the home of a suspect, Christian Brueckner.
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