A majority of Sunday’s papers feature comments from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer about US politicians wanting to question Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor over his links to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. While Sir Keir’s suggestion that Andrew should give evidence echoes one he made earlier this month, it nonetheless “adds to pressure on the disgraced royal”, Sunday People reports.
The Sun on Sunday’s story adds that Metropolitan Police officers are searching for emails related to claims Andrew asked royal protection officers to find information on Virginia Giuffre. The prominent accuser of Epstein alleged Andrew had sex with her as a teenager – something the former prince denied.
Sir Keir has “heaped pressure” on Andrew to testify in the US, is the Daily Mail’s assessment. Sir Keir – who was asked about the former prince while attending the G20 summit – told reporters it was “a decision for him”. But, he added, “my general position is if you have relevant information you should be prepared to share it”.
The prime minister’s comments about Andrew also feature on the front page of the Sunday Times, but the paper leads with preparations by the chancellor to “end the two-child benefit cap” in her upcoming Budget. Writing in the paper, Rachel Reeves says “fiscal restraint is a Labour value and necessary to curb inflation”.
An exclusive interview with Reeves is the lead for the Sunday Mirror, in which she says “helping families is her top priority” at Wednesday’s Budget. In the interview, Reeves promises to “tackle the cost-of-living crisis”, “cut NHS waiting lists” and “reduce the national debt”.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski’s “hopes for Britain” lead this week’s Observer. Polanski tells the paper in his vision for a “green land”, the UK would “leave Nato”, “tax the rich” and “welcome migrants”.
The Sunday Telegraph reports on US President Donald Trump saying a US plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war is not his “final offer” for Kyiv, after Ukrainian allies voiced concerns over proposals. A large image, alongside the article, shows Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena outside a cathedral in the Ukrainian capital.
In other news, defence chiefs are considering a greater use of “fat jabs” in the military, the Sunday Express reports. Fighter pilots face strict weight limits so they can safely eject from aircraft – and obesity is becoming “common”, according to RAF medical professionals.
The Daily Star’s main story is about crime – specifically, the number of people sent to jail for shoplifting being “at its highest level in years”. “More must be done to end the epidemic”, according to experts cited in the paper, which notes that more than 12,000 thieves were jailed last year.
Finally, the Independent reports that the prime minister backs the paper’s campaign to raise money for the SafeCall service to help missing children.
Many of Sunday’s papers focus on comments the prime minister made at the G20 summit about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The Mail on Sunday says Sir Keir Starmer has “piled pressure” on the former prince to testify to US Congress over what he knew about Jeffrey Epstein. The former Duke of York has so far ignored requests by American politicians to come forward with any information. Sir Keir said it was ultimately up to Andrew but that anybody with information about what he called “these kind of cases” should give evidence.
The Sunday People says Sir Keir refused to comment on the case of the former prince directly, but said: “If you have relevant information you should be prepared to share it”. The Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph both point out that Congress cannot force foreign nationals to appear before its committees.
England’s dramatic loss – from a position of strength – in cricket’s first Ashes Test in Australia dominates the sports pages. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, the former England batsman Sir Geoffrey Boycott says: “I can’t take stupid England seriously”, highlighting what he calls reckless batting, and a refusal to listen to criticism. In the Sunday Times – which devotes six pages to the defeat – the former England captain Mike Atherton says the loss was one of the most discouraging under the current leadership of Ben Stokes and the coach Brendon McCullum. The Observer describes the England players as having to “peel themselves off the pitch in a state of disbelief”, after they “surrendered such a strong position.”
Ahead of her Budget on Wednesday, the Sunday Times says the chancellor is preparing to spend £3bn to end the two-child benefit cap. But it reports she has also insisted that the government will make another attempt to reform welfare. The Sunday Telegraph says Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Rachel Reeves of cowardice for refusing to admit she will raise taxes, by freezing thresholds for another two years. The paper’s editorial says all the signs are pointing to “a brutal assault on Middle England” in the Budget, squeezing people in work to pay for those on benefits. The chancellor herself tells the Sunday Mirror that she is going to tackle the cost of living crisis. She says working families will be at the front of her mind on Wednesday.
The Sunday Telegraph says a move by a Chinese company to take over Thames Water could be blocked. It reports that the government has been urged not to let CK Infrastructure take a controlling stake in the huge water company, which services 16 million customers across London and the south-east – and is more than £20bn in debt. One human rights campaigner warns such a takeover could literally allow China to “switch off the taps”.
And the Daily Express reports that the RAF is considering allowing overweight pilots to use weight loss drugs. The paper notes fighter pilots face strict limits on their weight so they can safely eject from aircraft.
