Newspaper headlines: MI5 Manchester failings and Hancock 'betrayed'

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By BBC News
Staff
PA Media

Sue Gray, who investigated lockdown gatherings in Downing Street, has been offered a job as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff

A variety of stories lead Friday's papers.

"Is this proof the Partygate probe was a Labour plot?" asks the Daily Mail. It says there's "outrage" among Conservative MPs over what it calls Sir Keir Starmer's "plum" job offer to Sue Gray. It says allies of Boris Johnson believe it shows the senior civil servant's investigation into Downing Street lockdown parties was a "stitch up". Meanwhile, The Guardian reports that they've launched "an all-out effort to scupper" a parliamentary inquiry into the scandal. According to The Times, the prime minister is concerned Ms Gray could use "privileged information" to benefit Labour. The Financial Times says Rishi Sunak "may intervene" to block her from taking up the role for months.

The latest instalment of the so-called Lockdown Files in The Daily Telegraph suggests that - during the pandemic - senior police officers were summoned to Downing Street and told to be strict in enforcing Covid rules. Leaked WhatsApp messages reveal the then health secretary, Matt Hancock, gave them what he called "marching orders" and suggested ministers needed to "get heavy with the police". The paper says the messaging "suggests a worrying erosion of the police's operational independence".

The Telegraph also reports that officials joked about "locking up" travellers in what they called "shoe box rooms" when they returned from holidays. It quotes WhatsApp messages from when the UK introduced quarantine hotels to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.

In the Daily Mirror, teachers respond to the messages in which Mr Hancock and the former education secretary, Sir Gavin Williamson, criticised them and their unions. One teacher tells the paper they were "beyond angry and frankly disgusted". Another described the comments as "repugnant". The paper's leader column says teachers were "absolute heroes" during the pandemic - while the two ministers sent "puerile messages" like "silly schoolboys". Mr Hancock says the messages are partial accounts spun with an agenda. Sir Gavin insists he was referring to some unions and not teachers.

Reuters

Research suggests some whales use a vocal technique to help them track and catch their prey

"MI5 could have stopped him", says the front page of the digital-only Independent - as it reports on the findings of the inquiry into the Manchester Arena bombing. "Failed", is the Daily Mirror's take on the story. The Guardian focuses on what it calls the "fury" of the victims' families. The Sun says the bomber, Salman Abedi, had been "free to murder angels". Its headline is: "22 who should be alive".

The Mirror reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were evicted from their UK home after the King learned of Harry's accusations against the Queen Consort. Sources tell the paper that the King was "outraged" by the duke's claims - including that Camilla had leaked stories to the press. They say the monarch believed his son had "crossed a line".

According to the i, whales employ a vocal technique - similar to one used by humans - to help them track and catch their prey. It says a study has found that, when hunting, sperm whales, dolphins and porpoises use a vocal fry - which involves "dropping the voice to its lowest natural register". The paper compares their singing with that of Mick Jagger and Britney Spears.