Newspaper headlines: 'Record cancer backlog' and Princess Charlotte turns seven
- Published
Cabinet ministers will be sent to campaign in Tory strongholds , externalthis week ahead of the local elections over fears a poor result could trigger a challenge to Boris Johnson's leadership, the i reports. The paper says Conservative rebels could use the loss of long-held local authorities as justification for an attempt to remove the prime minister.
The Times has spoken , externalto an unnamed MP who wants former health secretary Jeremy Hunt to challenge Mr Johnson, as the party needs somebody "who is uncontaminated by Boris, who has experience, and who is moral".
A number of the front pages include a picture of a smiling Princess Charlotte with her new pet dog, released by Kensington Palace to celebrate her seventh birthday. The Daily Express , external opts for the headline "Seventh Heaven" and the Sun , externalgoes with "Charlotte's Seven Pup".
The Daily Mirror hails , external"Charlotte's Birthday Smiles", while the Daily Mail's , externalroyal editor Rebecca English says the image captures Charlotte's "natural joie de vivre".
The Daily Telegraph , externalsays the PM has asked officials to put together proposals to allow housing association tenants to buy their home at a discount - which it calls a return of Margaret Thatcher's 'right to buy' scheme. It also claims Downing Street is exploring transforming housing benefit payments to help recipients secure mortgages.
The online-only Independent claims , externalthe NHS is dealing with a "crisis at every level". It reports the problems are leaving stroke victims waiting for six times the recommended time for a paramedic to arrive, and requiring rising numbers of people to travel to A&E departments independently.
The Guardian's front page , externalalso focusses on the NHS, with a report saying so-called "dental deserts" are being created in England because thousands of dentists are going private. The paper says the numbers registered to provide NHS treatment fell by almost ten per cent in just over a year to this January.
Chinese ministers and financial regulators have asked banks to consider , external how the country could protect foreign-held assets in the event of sanctions being implemented by the US, according to the Financial Times. It claims Beijing is concerned the US government could implement the type of punishments it has against Russia in the event of a crisis involving China.
It seems the discussions are yet to yield positive results, with a source who has been briefed on the meeting saying "no-one could think of a good solution," adding that "China's banking system isn't prepared" to deal with those type of sanctions.
THE TRUTH ABOUT COLOURISM: The world's most shocking beauty trend?
SEVEN YEARS. SIX HABITATS. ONE PLANET: Fighting to save the world's most threatened ecosystems
