Newspaper headlines: 'Huge Shambles 2' and nuclear plant luck 'will run out'

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By BBC News
Staff
HS2

The HS2 high-speed rail project will be delayed by two years to cut costs, it has been announced

A number of Friday's papers lead with the announcement that the HS2 high-speed rail project will be delayed by two years to cut costs.

"Huge Shambles 2", says the Daily Mirror. It believes the announcement represents a "betrayal of the North". The i warns that the hold up could put the government's levelling up plans at risk, while the Daily Express greets the news with a question: "Who'd have thought it?" In its editorial, the Times describes the project as a "national embarrassment".

It's "your problem, not ours", is what the Independent says French President Macron has told Prime Minister Rishi Sunak about stopping small boats crossing the Channel. The Times has details of plans to give France £200m to invest in police, security, and intelligence.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the Home Office has had to find an extra £2bn to fund hotel rooms for asylum-seekers. The paper says there are "asylum hotels" in 90% of England's 48 counties.

The Daily Mail accuses Gary Lineker of "playing the BBC for fools" over his social media posts about the government's asylum policy. The Sun says the Match of the Day host will escape a red card, while the Times suggests Lineker is "confident" he will present the show this weekend.

An investigation by the Guardian reports that more than 500 seriously ill patients died last year after ambulances took up to 15 hours to reach them. The data includes people who had a stroke or a heart attack. The paper says this shows the growing risks to people from what it calls the "implosion" of NHS emergency care.

Reuters

Boris Johnson is reported to have nominated Paul Dacre, head of the Daily Mail's publishing company, for a peerage

The Daily Telegraph carries a warning from the head of the schools watchdog Ofsted, who says that some children's sex education lessons have "no basis" in "reputable" science.

Amanda Spielman tells the paper that there are currently "no limits" on what can be taught. But the i's Paul Waugh writes that the government is buying into "myths" about sex education in schools. The prime minister has announced a review of what is on the curriculum.

Sources tell the Guardian that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has created a "headache" for Mr Sunak by nominating Paul Dacre, the Daily Mail chief, for a peerage in his resignation honours list. It reports that previous attempts to honour Mr Dacre were blocked by the House of Lords appointments commission.

Cabinet secretary Simon Case is in the "endgame" of his civil service career, says the Telegraph. Senior officials who have spoken to the paper have criticised what they call his "weak leadership".

The i also says Mr Case's government career is in danger because he is perceived as being "too close" to ministers. Downing Street has previously said Mr Case would remain in position "for a very long time to come".

British ambassadors have been told to stop SNP ministers talking about independence while on overseas trips, according to the Scottish Daily Mail. It says Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will set out his "fears" in letters to officials around the globe.