Newspaper headlines: Raab fights for political life and SpaceX blows up

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By BBC News
Staff
Getty Images

The Daily Telegraph says Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab will "fight to the death " to keep his cabinet job following the report into allegations of bullying. Rishi Sunak is expected to announce his decision today, and Mr Raab's allies tell the paper the delay shows the evidence is not "cut and dry".

The paper adds if Mr Raab is forced out, then Mr Sunak would be only the second prime minister since 1979 to lose three cabinet ministers in his first six months in office.

The i headline declares "Deputy PM Raab refuses to resign" and says he is confident the official inquiry shows he has not breached the ministerial code. It reports that civil servants who made the claims are angry at the delay and anxious that he may continue in post.

The Times describes Mr Sunak as "agonising" over the future of the justice secretary. It claims officials who have seen the report have described it as "terrible" and believe he should be sacked.

It goes on to say that senior civil servants have prepared briefing packs for new government ministers in the event of a cabinet reshuffle.

"Raab fights for his political life" is the headline in the Guardian. It says the PM is facing accusations of "dithering" over the review by Adam Tolley KC, which has taken five months.

The paper says government sources have indicated Mr Raab wants to stay in his job despite what are said to be "searing findings''. Mr Raab has always denied allegations of bullying.

The Daily Mail leads on a claim that "unelected Lords" will try to block a bill that would stop judges halting deportations to Rwanda.

It reports that the Illegal Migration Bill is likely to face "massive opposition" in the House of Lords claiming it could even face "being ripped up". The Mail warns such action would risk triggering "public outrage".

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The Daily Mirror's front page says the killer of Olivia Pratt-Korbel has launched a High Court appeal against his 42-year minimum jail sentence. It describes Thomas Cashman, who shot the nine-year-old at her home in Liverpool, as a "coward without shame".

It says the move will come as a "major blow" to the girl's family. Cashman was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court less than three weeks ago.

Instagram is cutting jobs at its London centre and relocating staff to New York, according to the Financial Times.

The paper says it has seen internal staff documents which say Instagram-owner Meta is planning to cut around 500 jobs from its UK workforce of around 5,000.

The photo-sharing app had been expanding its British operation in recent months. The FT says the company has declined to comment on the plans.

Meanwhile, photographs of Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket blasting off from its Texas launch site shortly before it exploded feature on the front pages of the Daily Star, Financial Times, Metro, Daily Telegraph and Times.

The front pages of the Sun and the Daily Star pay tribute to the "TV legend" Paul O'Grady whose funeral took place on Thursday.

They both carry pictures of his husband holding their "beloved dog" Conchita on a horse drawn hearse. Hundreds of mourners and dozens of dogs lined the route to a church in Kent.

The Sun says they came to say a "final ta-ra to the TV and radio favourite".