Newspaper headlines: Tory MP rape arrest and Wagatha Christie husbands 'at war'

The papers are full of speculation about the cost of living, as new figures due out this morning are expected to confirm that the UK's rate of inflation has reached its highest level in 40 years.

The Guardian says that with the rate forecast to top 9%, senior Conservatives are pressuring the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to take "decisive action" on the cost of living. It says they want a cut in VAT and increased benefits.

The Daily Telegraph reports that ministers are "warming to the idea" of a windfall tax on gas and oil companies, after private polling for the government discovered that it was "wildly popular" with the public.

And the Times says Mr Sunak is drawing up plans to increase the warm home discount by hundreds of pounds in July, before announcing general tax cuts in the autumn.

The inflationary pressures were stoked by yesterday's job figures, according to the Financial Times, which showed the lowest unemployment rate in nearly half a century. It says that underscored the scale of the challenge faced by the Bank of England - trying to rein in surging inflation, as workers seek pay rises.

The Daily Mail leads with what it calls the "revelation" that the Bank's staff are allowed to work from home four days a week. It says "so that's why the Bank of England is helpless" on controlling inflation.

Sign up for a morning briefing direct to your inbox.

Most front pages highlight the arrest of a Conservative MP on suspicion of rape and sexual assault, but the police investigation means they can add little detail.

The Daily Telegraph says the Tory Party is being urged to identify the MP to prevent other politicians falling under suspicion.

But the Times says the party whips fear that if the individual is suspended, and so their name becomes known, that could identify the alleged victim or victims.

The Daily Mirror dedicates a large part of its front page to the so-called Wagatha Christie trial, after Wayne Rooney testified on day six of the libel case. In case you've not been following it, Coleen Rooney is being sued for libel by Rebekah Vardy, who denies Mrs Rooney's accusation that she leaked private information about her.

The Sun says the Wagatha trial "erupted" as the husbands of Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy "kicked off their own war of words".

The court heard that ex-England skipper Wayne Rooney asked his teammate Jamie Vardy to get his wife to "calm down" at Euro 2016, the paper says. The paper points out that Jamie Vardy responded that his former international skipper was "talking nonsense" and "must be confused".

'Cliff-edge scenario'

The Guardian describes Tuesday's announcement of legislation to override the Northern Ireland Protocol as "a needless and untimely provocation".

It says that while the Commons statement was more "measured" than recent briefings, there was still "posturing, grandstanding" and a "slide to confrontation".

The i says the row could leave Boris Johnson facing another "no-deal, cliff-edge scenario" at the time of the next election.

But the editorial in the Daily Mail says the proposals from the Foreign Secretary Liz Truss were common sense steps. It says Britain is right to sort out the mess on its own, if the EU will not be flexible.

The Queen is on many front pages, opening the new Elizabeth line in London.

The Daily Express says that after being forced to cancel several recent events, she is "back on track". The Daily Mirror calls her unexpected appearance at the event, wearing a bright yellow coat, a "sunshine surprise".

And the Times says the monarch was given a free Oyster card - but notes that it was loaded with only £5 of credit - enough to go from Paddington to Tottenham Court Road and back.

It says that in the end, the 96-year-old Queen passed up the opportunity to travel - and was driven back to Buckingham Palace.

• A NATIONAL SCANDAL: A boy whose dream was twisted into a nightmare

• FOUR MURDERS, FOUR DECADES: Investigating the aftermath of each unsolved case