England bid for Euro glory and Starmer's defence plan

Could Lord Mandelson be heading for Washington?

Several papers lead on the Nato summit in Washington.

The Guardian says Sir Keir Starmer will urge other countries in the alliance to increase their defence spending to 2.5% of their economic output.

According to the Times, the prime minister has been accused of "playing with fire", because he is delaying a decision to increase the UK's military budget until after a major review of the armed forces.

The paper says that could take months, and some former military leaders say investment in the forces can't wait, given the gravity of the threats facing the UK.

The Daily Telegraph says the review will consider an increase in the size of the armed forces. The paper says that will include troop numbers, which have been cut to their smallest size since the Napoleonic era.

According to the article, the review will focus on the changing threats of warfare, including a focus on drones.

Separately, in an editorial, the Telegraph urges European Nato powers to start taking greater responsibility for their own security, and increase defence spending.

The paper says, despite the war in Ukraine, Sir Keir has yet to say when the military budget will reach 2.5% cent of the economic output, and the German government has approved an increase in defence spending amounting to just a fifth of what the country's defence minister said was necessary.

According to the i, the national security adviser, Sir Tim Barrow, has been told that he will not be Britain's next ambassador to Washington, even though he was appointed in the final weeks of Rishi Sunak's administration.

The paper says the prime minister is now expected to make a political appointment to the job, and the frontrunners are the former Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, and the former Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson.

In an editorial, the Daily Express criticises Labour's decision to scrap the Conservatives' plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda. The paper says Sir Keir and his friends have axed a vital deterrent.

The shadow home secretary, James Cleverly, tells the paper the new government has in effect hung an "open" sign on the white cliffs of Dover.

A report in the Daily Mail says Royal Mail will no longer use trains to transport post, after nearly two centuries of doing so.

The postal service will tell its staff today that it is planning to sell its freight trains and increase deliveries by road. The paper says the decision represents a major U-turn - coming just a year after Royal Mail opened its super hub at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal.

And "how's the nerves?", asks the Daily Star as it leads on tonight's Euro 2024 semi-final between England and the Netherlands.

"Let's make history", is the rallying cry from the England manager, Gareth Southgate, in the Daily Express.

The Daily Mirror reports the Three Lions have the backing of pub landlords in Germany - in the hope a victory will keep England fans boozing.

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