Categories: WORLD

Terror plot ‘foiled’ and ‘fight off Reform’

There are several stories leading Monday’s papers. The Daily Mail focuses its coverage on raids conducted by counter-terrorism police across England, which resulted in eight arrests as part of two separate investigations. A “major attack” was being plotted, the Mail reports, citing unnamed sources – one that “could have led to an imminent threat to life”. In entertainment news, the paper continues its coverage of David Beckham’s 50th birthday with a photograph of Posh and Becks dolled up for the night, but reports a “crisis” with son Brooklyn, who snubbed the event, deepens.

The Daily Telegraph also leads with the counter-terror operations. It says the arrests, seven of which were of Iranian men, have led to renewed calls for the government to proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp. The Telegraph reports its understanding that doing so has previously been opposed “because it would prevent the UK maintaining its back-channel to Iran”. It includes comment from the Home Office refusing to speculate on such a move. The Telegraph also carries a photograph of the Beckhams.

The activity of counter-terrorism police also make the front page of the Times, however it’s the latest in Britain-EU relations that makes the top story. The Times reports that the EU has told British negotiators there can be no access to its crime and illegal migration databases as part of Britain’s Brexit reset. The paper describes it as a blow to Downing Street’s efforts to improve security ties with Europe. It cites an unnamed source as saying the government was not seeking direct access to the databases, but a “workaround” to allow Britain and EU to share key data.

The Guardian also leads with political news, focusing on comments from former transport secretary Louise Haigh, who it says has urged the prime minister to avoid a “simplistic and naive” lurch to the right in the wake of Reform UK’s success in local elections. Pictured centrally on the Guardian is a Gazan woman grieving a relative, which accompanies a story on Israel calling up reservists for a new offensive in Gaza.

The government’s reaction to Reform UK’s local election success also leads the i paper, which reports that Downing Street believes it can counter Nigel Farage’s party with plans to “tackle legal and illegal immigration”. It says Labour MPs “admit Reform UK has become a bigger threat” following the local elections.

The Financial Times is yet another paper to report on the impact of Reform’s success on government policy, this time detailing “fresh pressure” on the prime minister from Labour MPs to reverse cuts to the winter fuel allowance. It says the removal of the support payment “was a key reason voters told Labour activists they would not support the party” ahead of the local elections. The FT’s lead story, however, describes efforts from Chinese exporters to avoid tariffs on their goods entering the US by shipping via third countries. It reports that Chinese social media is “awash with adverts offering place-of-origin washing”.

US policy also ties into the top story of the Daily Star, which reports that president Donald Trump is “wrecking the hunt” for aliens “by cutting Nasa’s budget by £4.5bn”. It also reports on the reported drama of the Beckham family with a pun about Brooklyn being “out of the frame” alongside the image of Posh and Becks ahead of the footballer’s 50th birthday party.

The front page of the Daily Mirror takes in VE day commemorations, which begin this week, leading on a feature of a 99-year-old veteran who returns to a cemetery every year to salute his “fallen pals”, saying “the heroes are here. I was the lucky one, I survived.” It also features Brooklyn Beckham’s absence from his father’s birthday bash.

Another 99-year-old graces the front page of the Daily Express on Monday. The paper quotes a Ukrainian veteran who fought alongside Allied Forces 80 years ago who has “pleaded” for Britain not to give up on its support for his country in its war with Russia.

The counter-terrorism operations, in which seven Iranian nationals were arrested, is the lead for a number of the papers. The Telegraph says there is speculation that the target may have been a synagogue or somewhere else linked to the Jewish community. It also reports that the attack was “foiled” only hours before it was due to be launched.

The Times says a request from the government to access the European Union’s crime and illegal migration databases has been rejected. The paper says Sir Keir Starmer had made improved access to such data one of his central requests as part of a “Brexit reset” with the EU. According to the Times, Brussels has told negotiators it can’t share information including the fingerprints of illegal migrants with British police and immigration officials.

The fallout from last week’s local elections continues in many of the papers. The Express carries an interview with the Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, who insists her party is “down but not out”. The former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, who resigned from the Cabinet in November, has written in the Times. She has urged the Prime Minister to “rip up” Labour’s “self-imposed rules” not to raise income tax, VAT or national insurance – and show the country what the party stands for by investing in communities. And the i paper says Starmer is “pinning his political hopes” on an expected interest rate cut this week, and a “looming” immigration crackdown to fight off Reform UK.

The Mirror pictures a 99-year-old British veteran of the Battle of Arnhem saluting the graves of his fallen comrades in the Netherlands ahead of VE day events this week. The paper says Geoff Roberts returns to the cemetery every year to remember the friends he lost.

And the Sun reveals that David Beckham’s 50th birthday party was shut down at around 03:30 yesterday morning after people living near the West London restaurant where it was being held complained about the noise. It quotes one on-looker as saying that two council officials turned up and the music stopped, immediately.

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