Newspaper headlines: 'Red October' and Kate 'the princess of wheels'

"We must stand together against the smugglers" is the headline in the Times, for an article written by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni.

They write that they are "working together to stop the boats" and call on their counterparts across Europe to "act with the same sense of urgency". The two leaders warn that tackling illegal migration is the only way to protect Britain and Italy's "historic role as places of asylum and sanctuary".

In Scotland, the Daily Record hails what it calls an "historic" victory for Labour in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election. It says the Conservatives were "humiliated" - having received so few votes they lost their deposit - and it was also a "terrible night" for the SNP.

The Herald pins the blame on First Minister Humza Yousaf, saying the scale of the defeat could spark questions about his future and "whether he can turn the SNP's fate around". In an analysis piece, the paper asks why party members should listen to him when he sets out his independence strategy next week. The National declares that Labour is now on the path to winning the next general election.

Scottish Labour candidate Michal Shanks celebrated his win with leader Anas Sarwar

The Daily Mirror reveals what it says is "the truth" about Rishi Sunak's plan for rail projects - or, as it calls it, "the HS2 cash con". It says the scheme is a "shambles" and claims many of the Network North proposals have been announced previously or have already been completed. The i says the plan is "beginning to unravel". It also reveals that the company behind HS2 bought a property in Staffordshire worth more than £1.5m just a day before the prime minister axed the northern leg.

But the Daily Telegraph focuses on Sir Keir Starmer's refusal to commit to building the HS2 route between Birmingham and Manchester. The paper says it is likely to "fuel criticism that Labour lacks ambition". In the Guardian, what are described as "key figures" who helped Tony Blair win the 1997 election urge Sir Keir to be bold. They say his cautious approach risks damaging his chances of winning the next vote.

The Financial Times reports that Metro Bank has approached its rivals to gauge their interest in buying more than £2bn of its mortgage book. Sources tell the paper the bank has contacted Lloyds, NatWest and HSBC in an attempt to "bolster its balance sheet".

According to the Daily Mail, ministers are working on "radical plans" to temporarily hire thousands of foreign doctors to limit the damage caused by NHS strikes in England. Whitehall sources say the proposal is known as "the Ronald Reagan project" - a reference to the time in 1981 when the former US president sacked thousands of striking air traffic control staff.

And the Sun says Saudi Arabia is prepared to suspend its alcohol ban "to boost its unpopular bid to stage the 2034 World Cup". It is illegal to sell or drink alcohol in the country but a Saudi source tells the paper: "We want the world to understand that we are changing."