'BBC star facing fresh claims' and 'Kyiv's Nato delay'

People walk into the BBC Broadcasting House buildingPA Media

Fresh claims over the conduct of a BBC presenter led Wednesday's papers.

By BBC News
Staff

The Guardian says Jeremy Hunt has told ministers there will be no extra money to give public sector workers an average 6% pay rise if Rishi Sunak decides to implement the recommendations of the independent pay review bodies, which the paper says are due out as soon as tomorrow. It says the chancellor has ruled out providing any more funding than has already been budgeted for. It says Hunt's stance may force departments to choose between increasing salaries and cutting services.

The front page of the Sun carries further allegations about the unnamed BBC presenter accused of paying a teenager for explicit photos. As we have been reporting, the paper claims the man travelled to meet a 23 year old they had contacted through a dating site during one of the national Covid lockdowns. The BBC has not been able to independently check the claims. In its editorial, the paper defends its decision to run the original story, reporting that it is "squarely" in the public interest.

The Daily Telegraph reports comments from the prime minister's press secretary on the allegations. He urges any other potential complainants to come forward to ensure they are supported and their claims looked into.

The Daily Mail focuses on allegations from campaigners that China sent a spy to "infiltrate" a House of Commons briefing which was addressed by Hong Kong dissidents. It says a man claiming to be a tourist tried to enter the invitation-only talk in a committee room deep in the high security Houses of Parliament. The paper says the gathering was attended by two people who had arrest bounties put on their heads by Beijing last week.

The Times was listening to Sir Keir Starmer's interview with Classic FM in which the Labour leader said the music of Beethoven helped him deal with the pressures of Westminster. Sir Keir - who played the flute, piano and violin when he was growing up - cited the second movement of Beethoven's piano concerto The Emperor Concerto as his favourite passage to relax to.