Newspaper headlines: 'Rod attacks Tories' and 'Zahawi to reveal taxes'

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By BBC News
Staff
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The Sun reports that HS2 might not reach Euston but could stop instead at a new hub in West London - with commuters finishing their journeys into central London by Elizabeth line or tube. The government has not denied the report.

The paper says HS2 is blighted by soaring inflation. It quotes insiders saying that subcontractors in their droves have warned that due to the rising cost of concrete, steel and labour, they can't fulfil their contracts without going bust.

The suggestion by the head of HMRC that Nadhim Zahawi did not make an innocent error in his tax affairs is widely covered. The Guardian reports that Mr Zahawi is under pressure to reveal the source of about £30m of unsecured loans made to his wife's UK property company.

The Daily Telegraph says Nicola Sturgeon's controversial trans laws are in disarray after she was forced to announce that a rapist who now identifies as female would be moved into a male prison - after what it describes as a "fierce backlash". It quotes critics saying the row highlights the risk of the SNP's proposal to allow people to self-identify their legal gender without a medical diagnosis.

The Daily Mail previews a speech today by the Chancellor in which he'll set out plans to boost economic growth and argue that the economy is standing up well against global rivals. The paper says Jeremy Hunt will "make the case for optimism" and hit out at what he'll call the "declinism" of the opposition.

The Times reports that foreign students will be allowed to work longer hours under plans to boost the economy by plugging vacancies in areas such as hospitality and retail. The paper says Rishi Sunak is concerned that he will struggle to fulfil a pledge that the economy will grow this year unless the government can deal with the surge in job vacancies.

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there's been an angry reaction to a decision by the government to row back on a series of commitments made in the wake of the Windrush scandal. The move was revealed in a written Commons statement by the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman.

She said she would not establish a migrants' commissioner or increase the powers of the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration. Windrush campaigners tell the paper the u-turn is a "slap in the face".

The longstanding Conservative supporter Sir Rod Stewart is pictured on several front pages after he rang a Sky News phone-in to call for a change of government. During the call, he expressed heartbreak at the state of the NHS and said it was time for Labour to "have a go". In a reference to one of the star's songs, has a picture of him on stage with the caption: 'I do want to talk about it.'

"Legend savages Tories" is headline. it will be a blow to Rishi Sunak - coming just three years after Sir Rod congratulated Boris Johnson on his election victory.