Newspaper headlines: 'Williamson forced out' and Hancock enters jungle

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By BBC News
Staff
Reuters

Many of Wednesday's papers lead with the resignation of Cabinet Office Minister Sir Gavin Williamson after allegations of bullying.

The Guardian reports that Sir Gavin's fate appears to have been sealed by comments from his former deputy, Anne Milton, who described his behaviour as chief whip as "unethical and immoral". The Daily Mail says Ms Milton also accused Sir Gavin of using "salacious gossip", including details of sexual preferences, as leverage against MPs while in the role.

The Times says Rishi Sunak is facing questions about his judgement in the light of the resignation. It adds that it is notable Sir Gavin was allowed to quit rather than be sacked, with Mr Sunak said to have been "reluctant to give in to pressure".

The Daily Telegraph agrees, saying the development will "pile pressure" on Mr Sunak to explain both why he appointed Sir Gavin and to what extent he was aware of the bullying claims before he did so.

In other news, there are further reports about the government's plans to fill the black hole in the public finances, with the Times suggesting Mr Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt are "thinking the unthinkable" to balance the books.

It says they've "returned to discussions" about allowing local authorities to raise more in council tax, having initially rejected the plan over concerns it would hit the poorest hardest.

The Daily Telegraph claims ministers are weighing up whether to lower the threshold of £150,000 a year above which people start paying the top rate of income tax. It says the Treasury is also considering increasing the National Insurance rate paid by employers.

Despite the pressures on its finances, the Daily Express says the government "looks likely to honour" the triple lock on the state pension in the Autumn Statement next week. The paper claims credit for the decision, noting that 300,000 people backed its "crusade" to get the prime minister to maintain the policy.

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The Financial Times says Liz Truss' plans for up to 200 low-tax investment zones to boost economic growth are due to be axed as part of the statement. The paper says Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove "lobbied hard" for them to be ditched in favour of a revamped urban regeneration policy.

Photographs of the former health secretary, Matt Hancock, appear on several front pages to mark his debut on I'm A Celebrity.... Get Me Out Of Here!

The Daily Mirror says he can expect a grilling from other contestants about what it describes as "his PPE and care home mistakes during the pandemic". It also says his hope that joining the show will allow viewers to see "me as me" are "deluded".

And the Sun says sources in Westminster have told it Mr Hancock "faces a barrage of votes" from people inside his own party who believe he only went on the show because he failed to secure a job in Mr Sunak's cabinet.