Newspaper headlines: 'Drunken' Tory whip quits and No 10 'plans VAT cut'

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By BBC News
Staff
UK Parliament

The resignation of Chris Pincher as the government's deputy chief whip features on several front pages.

The Sun - which first reported his departure - says it has left Prime Minister Boris Johnson facing a "massive new headache".

The Guardian says Mr Pincher's conduct will put further pressure on the Mr Johnson to clean up the culture in Westminster, while the Daily Telegraph says there are also questions about him being allowed to continue to sit as a Tory MP in the Commons.

The Times reports the prime minister was warned about appointing Mr Pincher, adding his resignation will lead to questions about Boris Johnson's judgement.

The Daily Mail reckons the "shock resignation" risks reviving the "Pestminster row about political sleaze" - referring to a series of allegations of sexual misconduct and bullying in Westminster that emerged in 2017.

The Times also says that Number 10 plans to cut VAT to "curb inflation and help households" with the worsening cost of living.

The paper reports Steve Barclay, the PM's chief of staff, has suggested a temporary cut to the current 20% charged for the majority of transactions - reducing the tax bills of millions. It says Mr Johnson is under mounting pressure from Tory MPs to make good his pledge to reduce the tax burden.

According to the Telegraph, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has asked the Treasury to give teachers pay rises of up to 9%, in an attempt to see off strike action. It notes that Mr Zahawi is the first Cabinet minister known to have challenged Chancellor Rishi Sunak over his calls for pay restraint - amid concerns that large salary increases could stoke inflation.

The Financial Times reports that the UK's trade performance fell to its worst level this year since records began. It says the weak performance of exports and a surge in imports highlight the economic effects of Brexit. It adds the figures tally with academic studies showing a decline in exports since 2021, when the UK left the EU single market and new border controls were introduced.

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The online-only Independent focuses on defence spending, with the prime minister committing tens of billions of pounds to military budgets. But the paper quotes the defence committee chair Tobias Ellwood saying the pledge was "too little, too late".

The Financial Times describes the US Supreme Court ruling curbing the ability of America's top environmental regulator to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants as a big setback for President Biden. The Guardian says the decision effectively hobbles the federal government's ability to tackle climate change.

The i paper has comment pieces from Boris Johnson and five former prime ministers, marking the fiftieth anniversary of Britain's first Pride march. Theresa May writes that the government "must keep" its promise to ban transgender conversion therapy - and also expresses regret for her own previous opposition to LGBT equality.