The papers focus on the government’s new Brexit proposals, including plans to replace the Irish backstop. …
By BBC NewsStaff
Image caption Thursday’s papers focus on the new Brexit proposals the government has delivered to the EU, including plans to replace the Irish backstop. The Financial Times reports the plans have won plaudits from Eurosceptics, but serious doubts remain about whether it could unlock a new deal with the EU. Image caption For the Daily Telegraph the prime minister has put Ireland under “huge pressure” to accept the proposals after Labour rebels suggested they were prepared to help Mr Johnson get a deal through Parliament. The paper says Ireland’s prime minister, Leo Varadkar, is now the main obstacle standing in the way of the UK leaving with a deal on 31 October. Image caption The prime minister’s chances of a new Brexit deal were “hanging by a thread” on Wednesday night after EU leaders withheld approval for formal negotiations on his plans to replace the Irish backstop, the Times reports. The paper notes that Mr Johnson set out proposals that would in effect keep Northern Ireland in the EU single market for all goods while following UK customs rules. Image caption However, the Guardian says the UK appears to be fighting a losing battle to avoid staying in the EU beyond its Brexit deadline of 31 October, with the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said to be privately scathing of the prime minister’s new plan for the Irish border. Despite concerted efforts to avoid publicly trashing the proposals, the plans were met with dismay behind the scenes, the paper adds. Image caption “Dear Jean, Here’s How I Leave EU,” puns the Metro, referring to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The paper notes that in his “break-up” letter to the EU Mr Johnson says: “Our predecessors have tackled far harder problems – we can surely solve this one.” Image caption “Brexit: Is this the beginning of the end?” the Daily Express asks in its front-page headline. According to the paper, the prime minister was edging towards a Brexit “breakthrough” as of Wednesday night. Image caption The Daily Mirror chooses to focus on the prime minister’s speech on Wednesday at the Tory Party conference in Manchester, describing it as “all prattle and no policy”. Hopes for a new deal with the EU “don’t look great”, the paper adds, according to officials quoted on the front page. Image caption The Daily Mail reports that police watchdogs are to investigate the Met Police over its handling of a VIP paedophile operation. It follows false allegations of murder and child sexual abuse made by Carl Beech, known as “Nick”, who was jailed for 18 years in July for the claims. Image caption The Sun is one of the few papers to lead on non-political news, claiming that Prince Harry went “rogue” when he criticised parts of the press for its treatment of his wife, Meghan. The paper reports that he apparently refused to consult his father, Prince Charles and brother, Prince William, before writing the complaint. Image caption And finally, the Daily Star leads on a report that Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd has told how his mental health suffered and he considered quitting the show after he began losing his hair two years ago.
