Newspaper headlines: 'The gig is up, Boris' and 'Johnson buckles'

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By BBC News
Staff
PA Media

Most of the papers lead on Parliament's decision to hold an inquiry into whether Boris Johnson misled the House of Commons about lockdown parties.

"At last... Tories turn on PM" declares the Daily Mirror on its front page.

The Times reports Downing Street's plan to delay any vote was withdrawn after six members of the government told Conservative whips they could not support the amendment.

The i notes this initial plan lasted just 14 hours, with one former minister describing what had happened as "extraordinarily shambolic".

The Daily Mail's headline paraphrases an exasperated PM: "How long can the partygate farce go on?" Mr Johnson has warned this third investigation could ultimately "crowd out" the public's priorities, the paper says.

The Sun's leader appears equally weary. It says Labour must have "no policies worth mentioning" if they "devote every moment" to focusing on what happened in Downing Street two years ago.

"Calls to Turbanate PM", is the Metro's headline, combining pictures of the prime minister's trip to India with the former minister Steve Baker calling for Boris Johnson's resignation.

The Guardian describes Mr Baker's comments that the prime minister should be "long gone" as a "humiliating blow".

Another influential backbencher, Mark Harper, has told the Daily Telegraph he believes Mr Johnson will face a no confidence vote by July.

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The Financial Times reports that the government is preparing legislation that will give ministers sweeping powers to rip up the post-Brexit deal governing trade in Northern Ireland.

Whitehall insiders said Boris Johnson was developing the plans in case the Unionist parties, who oppose the protocol, refuse to re-enter the power-sharing executive following next month's election.

The change would allow ministers to stop checks on goods travelling to Northern Ireland from the UK. A government spokesperson said no decisions had yet been taken, the paper reports.

"Revitalised Russia can still win the war," is the warning from western intelligence reported in the Times. Officials believe the Ukrainian army is outnumbered three to one in the east. The firm and flat terrain of the eastern Donbas is also said to offer Russian artillery and tanks an advantage compared with the forests north of Kyiv.

The Daily Mail describes the briefing as the "bleakest assessment of the campaign since the very first days".

The Daily Express reports that Prince Harry's aides are making plans for him to be by the Queen's side at her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

A source has told the Daily Mirror that everything will hinge on whether he can get police protection and a deal could see him offered taxpayer-funded protection if attending public family events, the paper reports.

The Times reveals that Westminster's IT gremlins appear to be taking sides. Electronic card readers in the opposition voting lobby stopped working on Wednesday evening, meaning clerks with pencils had to be speedily deployed to count votes.

Upon receiving the complaint from Labour, leader of the house Mark Spencer pointed out that if the party's MPs wanted to vote electronically the readers were working fine in the government lobby.