Reports on the potential entry of Israeli troops into Lebanon dominate Thursday’s front pages. The Financial Times leads on an Israeli army chief’s comments that extensive air strikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah could pave the way for them to “enter enemy territory”. The paper says Herzi Halevi’s remarks were Israel’s “most explicit threat” that a ground invasion may be imminent.
“Israeli boots ready to hit the ground in Lebanon” is the Telegraph’s headline. The report includes US President Joe Biden’s remarks to ABC News that all-out war in the Middle East is possible, but not “inevitable”. Also featured is Prime Minister Keir Starmer telling the BBC his chief of staff’s salary “should not be the subject of debate”, after it was revealed Sue Gray was paid £3,000 more than him a year.
“All parties need to pull back from the brink, to de-escalate,” Sir Keir told the BBC during UN meetings in New York on Tuesday. The comments, the subject of the i splash, followed the PM’s call for British citizens in Lebanon to leave “now”. The paper also reports that an expected meeting in the US between UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer has “fallen out of the diary”.
The Guardian quotes Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh as saying a ground offensive does not appear imminent in its Middle East dispatch, alongside detail of growing calls for a ceasefire. A story on Treasury fears that the UK government’s plans to crack down on the non-dom tax regime may fail to raise any money is also featured.
Sir Keir used an £18m penthouse belonging to a major Labour donor to broadcast a stay-at-home message to the public during the pandemic, the Times reports. No 10 tells the paper it’s confident no rules lockdown were broken in filming the December 2021 video at Lord Waheed Alli’s central London property. It follows criticism of senior Labour figures for donations they accepted from Lord Alli, including gifts of clothes to the PM’s wife that he initially failed to declare.
The Daily Mail says “mounting questions” face the prime minister over his use of Lord Alli’s penthouse. Sir Keir yesterday defended his stay there during the general election, telling the BBC it was important his son had a peaceful place to study for his GCSEs. In its headline, the Mail suggests the PM’s excuses “just don’t add up”.
The Express splashes on unions winning a non-binding vote at the Labour Party conference calling on the government to reverse its cuts to winter fuel payments. It quotes one Tory source as saying Sir Keir has “lost the support” of his party, MPs and “paymasters”.
The Mirror reports on the first Briton to die after under going Brazilian butt lift surgery. Alice Delsie Preete Webb, 33, died on Monday following the buttock enlargement surgery. The paper says Gloucestershire Police is investigating.
Darts star James Wade has denied letting out the “biggest fart in sporting history” at the Players Championship, says the Daily Star. In a statement, Mr Wade insisted it was the velcro on his new trainers. “I now consider this matter put to bed as don’t wish to talk about it again,” he said.
