The Papers: ‘Crunch’ Brexit talks amid fresh deal hope

Front page of the FT on 12 October 2019 — Image caption The FT Weekend calls forthcoming negotiations between the UK government and the EU “crunch talks” and reports hope is growing for a Brexit agreement. The paper says that if EU leaders agree a deal, Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a “moment of truth” at a special Commons sitting next Saturday.

Front page of the Guardian on 12 October 2019 — Image caption The Guardian says Mr Johnson has “signalled that he will make a last-ditch U-turn on his plans for the Irish border”. It quotes EU sources saying the PM has conceded there could not be a customs border on the island of Ireland. The reported development is a “critical step away from his previous position”, the paper writes.

Front page of the Daily Telegraph on 12 October 2019 — Image caption “Johnson opens door to customs compromise”, is the headline on the front of the Daily Telegraph. The paper says there is mounting speculation the prime minister has proposed a compromise to the EU that “could see Northern Ireland remain politically part of a customs union with the EU but one administered by the British government”.

Front page of the Times on 12 October 2019 — Image caption The Times reports on its front page that Mr Johnson has backed the newspaper’s campaign for new air quality laws. Separately, the paper, like many others, features a photo of Richard Ratcliffe and his daughter Gabriella, who has returned to the UK from Iran. The five-year-old’s mother, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, remains in an Iranian jail after being convicted of spying.

Front page of the Daily Express on 12 October 2019 — Image caption The front of the Daily Express declares: “Voters back Boris.” Research by ComRes has given the Conservatives a “thumping five-point lead over Labour”, the paper says.

Front page of the i on 12 October 2019 — Image caption The i Weekend features the headline: “Terror arrest after ‘brutal machete attack on shoppers”. Five people were injured in a knife attack at the Arndale Centre in Manchester. A man, aged 40, was initially arrested on suspicion of terror offences, but was then detained under the Mental Health Act.

The front page of the Daily Mirror on 12 October 2019 — Image caption “Terror at the shops”, is the headline on the front of the Daily Mirror, which features a photograph of a police officer handcuffing a man as he lies face-down on the pavement. The tabloid quotes a witness saying: “It was like a nightmare. Like something out of a horror film.”

Front page of the Sun on 12 October 2019 — Image caption The Sun reports on the row between Coleen Rooney and Rebecca Vardy over leaked stories. The wife of footballer Wayne Rooney has claimed newspaper stories about her had come from Ms Vardy’s personal Instagram account. Ms Vardy has denied the allegations. The Sun says Ms Vardy is “raging” and has warned Ms Rooney: “Believe me or I’ll see you in court.”

Front page of the Daily Star — Image caption Finally, Danny Dyer has “vowed to knock Ant and Dec off their perch as kings of Saturday night TV”, according to the front page of the Daily Star. The EastEnders actor is to host the BBC One game show The Wall.

Even though details of Boris Johnson’s latest proposals for Brexit are not officially known, several of the papers believe they have worked them out.

The Daily Mail says it has been told by sources that the prime minister has, in effect, agreed to scrap the customs border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic – replacing it with one in the Irish Sea.

The paper uses the example of a fridge, claiming that an exporter from the British mainland would have to pay the required EU tariff if it was heading to Northern Ireland.

That would mean that if the fridge was destined for the Irish Republic or the rest of the EU then it could simply continue its journey.

But if it was staying in Northern Ireland, the importer there would receive a rebate if the UK’s tariff for fridges was lower than that of the EU’s.

Image copyright AFP

A picture of Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of the jailed British-Iranian woman, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, being reunited with his five-year-old daughter, Gabriella, is on many of the front pages.

The two are seen hugging after the girl flew home from Iran, where she had been living with her grandparents.

The Sun reports the prime minster is facing a Conservative revolt because he is accused of going back on a promise to end investigations into troops who served in Northern Ireland.

Mr Johnson vowed to end unfair prosecutions during his leadership campaign, and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is said to have brandished the pledge during a cabinet meeting when he learned the law would not be in Monday’s Queen Speech.

The Daily Telegraph says the planned amnesty had been jettisoned in favour of laws on sustainable cat litter. Number 10 tells the paper it is determined to legislate on the issue of legacy prosecutions.

Image copyright Getty Images

The Daily Mail leads with a claim from the head of NHS England that rumours spread outside school gates have led to a lower take-up of childhood vaccinations. Simon Stevens tells the paper internet firms need to do more to stamp out fake health news.

A spat between the man who edited the Daily Mail for 26 years, Paul Dacre, and his successor, Geordie Greig makes the front page of one of its rivals.

The Financial Times reports that Mr Dacre has responded angrily to a claim made by his replacement that the paper’s softer tone had brought back advertisers.

Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning

In a letter to the Financial Times, he accuses Mr Greig of being “economic” with the truth and defends his long tenure, saying he had made billions in profit.

The article points out the current editor loathes his predecessor. Daily Mail Group Media says revenue from new advertisers in the past year has more than offset those it has lost.