The Papers: DUP leader charged and 'hefty' water bill rise

By BBC News

Staff

Times front page — Image caption,

While none of them lead with it, many of Saturday's front pages feature the news that Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP has been charged with rape, and other historical sexual offences, and has resigned as Democratic Unionist Party leader. A 57-year-old woman has also been charged with "aiding and abetting additional offences," the Times reports. The paper's main story, however, is about patients at some of the England's worst hospitals for long waiting lists who will reportedly "be offered treatment in the private sector… so they can be seen quicker".

i front page — Image caption,

The i, which also carries the story about Sir Jeffrey, has an exclusive report about "cash-strapped" local councils in England that are said to have cut more than 90% of their bus services since 2010. Local leaders are blaming "cuts in central funding," the paper says, adding the north of England has been hit the hardest – with a "32% reduction in total services". Elsewhere, there are Easter-themed baking recipes as UK residents get settled in for the bank holiday weekend.

FT front page — Image caption,

A report on Sir Jeffrey features on the Financial Times, with the added detail that the MP's social media accounts were "deleted overnight". The business paper leads on reports that Thames Water will raise annual bills by a "hefty" 56% by 2030, including inflation – or about £262 per household. The company has been warned that the hike will be "unaffordable for many households," the FT writes.

Daily Express front page — Image caption,

The Daily Express is the only paper to carry an image of Sir Jeffrey but the main focus of its Saturday edition is an exclusive interview with former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith. In it, he warns that anyone planning to vote for Reform UK at the next General Election "is taking away only from the Tories, helping Labour re-enter the European Union".

Daily Mail front page — Image caption,

Sticking with Westminster politics, the Daily Mail carries results of a survey that it carried out on readers as part of its Don't Leave Britain Defenceless campaign. The "damning poll" reveals that voters "no longer view the Tories as the party of defence," the paper reports, adding that respondents feel Labour is more trustworthy on issues including defence and national security. "The dire findings will rock Downing Street," the Mail warns.

Daily telegraph front page — Image caption,

The main report in the Daily Telegraph says that ministers are considering publishing what are described as migrant "crime league tables" to allow MPs in England and Wales know the "migrant nationalities with the highest rates of crime". The paper also promotes a feature about the upcoming Netflix film Scoop – billed as an insider's account of former Newsnight host Emily Maitlis's infamous interview with Prince Andrew in 2019. Actress Gillian Anderson, who portrays Maitlis and is pictured on the front page says the role was "even more daunting" than when she played former prime minister Margaret Thatcher in The Crown.

Daily Mirror front page — Image caption,

The Daily Mirror's feature focuses on Ms Anderson's co-star Rufus Sewell, who plays Prince Andrew and who told the paper he based his performance on David Brent – the fictional character played by actor Ricky Gervais in BBC mockumentary The Office. Elsewhere, Edward Putman, who "used a fake ticket to claim a £2.5m lottery jackpot" has been "freed early" from prison, the paper reports.

Guardian front page — Image caption,

On a different topic altogether, schools in England are closing down "legitimate debate" about the war in Gaza because teachers feel "ill-equipped to discuss it and are concerned about political impartiality," the Guardian reports – citing the government's independent adviser on social cohesion, Dame Sara Khan. Teachers feel there is little guidance on teaching "controversial issues" and are worried about a "lack of support" from the Department for Education, it adds.

Sun front page — Image caption,

The Sun reports on an apparent "Easter chocolate crisis", with countries around the world said to be dealing with the price of cocoa having "trebled to an all-time high". The cause? Poor weather and crop disease in West Africa, which the paper says has led to shortages "with manufactures warning of further price hikes".

Daily Star front page — Image caption,

"Dad's hairy army" is the Daily Star's main headline – on the back of an announcement by the British Army that soldiers and officers are now allowed to grow beards while serving. There are strict rules though, the paper writes, including that facial hair must be neat, properly groomed and will be routinely checked.

Newspapers in Northern Ireland focus on the resignation of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson. The Belfast Telegraph says he is likely to step aside as an MP, and sources have told the paper he has left Belfast for his flat in London. The i warns that if hardliners take over the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the Executive could collapse again.

But the Guardian argues there is no immediate threat to Stormont. The Irish Times – based in the Republic – agrees that it is in nobody's interest to abandon power sharing – but adds "this is a crisis which is just beginning".

Former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson looks down while speaking to the media (file photo from February 2023)

Both the Times and the Daily Mail are calling for defence spending to rise to 3% of GDP by 2030. The Times, in its editorial, says the current spend is too limited with threats from Russia, China, and Iran – arguing that Britain merely relying on its allies would be "a dereliction of national duty".

The Mail, which is running a campaign on the issue, has a poll on its front page that suggests Labour is now more trusted than the Conservatives on defence – seven in 10 say the issue could sway their vote.

Tory MPs have told the Daily Express that voting for Reform UK in the general election will allow Labour to, in its words, "kill Brexit".

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith tells the paper "all of the things that Reform stands for will be lost" if Labour wins by a landslide.

The Times says the growing question among Tory MPs is not whether Labour will win, but whether Rishi Sunak will still be prime minister on polling day. Allies of his have told the paper he is likely to face a confidence vote after the local elections in May.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak walks out of 10 Downing Street (file photo from February 2024)

The Daily Telegraph reports that some Tory MPs want the government to publish what the paper describes as a "league table" of the migrant nationalities with the highest crime rates in England and Wales. Backers of the plan tell the paper the Home Office could then focus on deporting asylum seekers from those countries.

The Guardian carries a warning that teachers in England are shutting down legitimate debate about the conflict in Gaza, because they feel ill-equipped to discuss it with pupils and are concerned about their legal duty to uphold impartiality. A government adviser on social cohesion says schools risk fuelling anger, hate and polarisation by stopping discussions about the war.

And Channel 4 chiefs are considering axing Bake Off's chocolate week because of rising prices caused by a global cocoa shortage, according to the Sun, which describes it as a ""Choccy Horror".

The paper says the show thinks displaying what it calls "gooey, chocolatey wares" could be in poor taste. The paper's editorial encourages readers to savour every precious mouthful of Easter egg "while you can".