'Row over early prison release' and 'Gary's back of the net tax'

13 hours ago

News image — A number of the papers are focusing on a review of the early prison release programme, after the family of a policeman killed in 2019 expressed outrage that two of the three men jailed for his death could be released after serving only half of their sentence. The headline of the Guardian gives an apt summary: "Burnham steps in to order review in row over early prison release".

The headline on the front page of the Guardian reads: "Burnham steps in to order review in row over early prison releases". — A number of the papers are focusing on a review of the early prison release programme, after the family of a policeman killed in 2019 expressed outrage that two of the three men jailed for his death could be released after serving only half of their sentence. The headline of the Guardian gives an apt summary: "Burnham steps in to order review in row over early prison release".

The headline on the front page of the Times reads: “Prison chaos as Burnham calls halt to early release”. — The Times reports prison bosses have been ordered to put a hold on plans for the early release of inmates in September, a move by new prime minister Andy Burnham that the paper says has led to "chaos in jails" across England and Wales. Burnham spoke to reporters in Bath, it says, telling them he was making no guarantees but wanted to assure himself that "everything has been looked at before this policy proceeds".

The headline on the front page of the Telegraph reads: “It is deplorable that freeing prisoners early is acceptable”. — "It is deplorable that freeing prisoners early is acceptable" reads the headline of the Telegraph, quoting the widow of PC Andrew Harper, who was killed in 2019 after investigating the theft of a quad bike in Berkshire. Two then-teenagers attempted to flee the scene in a car driven by a third person, the paper reports, dragging the police officer for more than a mile along country roads after his ankles became caught in a tow rope.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Express reads: “My Andrew and every victim deserves better”. — The Express features a full page photograph of Andrew and Lissie Harper, paired with the headline: "My Andrew and every victim deserves better".

The headline on the front page of the Independent reads: “PM pledges review as widow says PC killers' release is 'deplorable'”. — The same image of the couple is front and centre of the Independent, which also carries statements from the late policeman's family. It includes remarks from Harper's mother, who said it was an "insult" that two of her son's killers could be considered eligible for the early prison release scheme.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mail reads: “Burnham forced to review early prison release”. — The Daily Mail suggests that following Lissie's "dramatic intervention", the future of the entire early prison release scheme is now in doubt.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror reads: “Make us pay more tax”. — More than 100 millionaires have urged the prime minister to make them pay more tax, according to the Daily Mirror. The paper reports the group Patriotic Millionaires includes former England striker Gary Lineker. It has put out a statement that says a 2% tax on the assets of people worth more than £10m could raise £24bn for the UK.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Star reads: “Gary's back of the net tax”. — The Daily Star calls it "Gary's back of the net tax".

The headline on the front page of the Metro reads: “Andy Tap!”. — Burnham's vision for a "nationally integrated public transport system" is considered by the Metro, following the announcement of a reduction in the national cap on most bus fares in England.

The headline on the front page of the Sun reads: “Stig: I nearly died in Freddie crash”. — The Sun features an interview with Paul Rees, a Top Gear driver who played "The Stig" and is suing the BBC following a crash involving Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff in 2022. Rees is suing BBC Studios for damages in excess of £100,000, after he says he suffered back injuries and post traumatic stress disorder. BBC Studios previously said in a legal response said Rees did not complain of any injuries at the time or after the crash. The company denied it was negligent "as alleged or at all".

The headline on the front page of the i Paper reads: “Water execs face criminal charges, accused of major conspiracy to fake sewage tests”. — "Water execs face criminal charges, accused of major conspiracy to fake sewage tests" reads the i Paper, reporting that Southern Water's former chief exec Matthew Wright and three others have been charged with conspiring to defraud regulators for allegedly faking key sewage data. The paper calls it a "landmark for environmental accountability".

The headline on the front page of the Financial Times reads: “Fear for winter supplies drives gas prices near Iran war peaks”. — The latest developments in the Strait of Hormuz is the key story for the Financial Times, which reports European gas prices have surged nearly 50% in the last month. It says the market is particularly sensitive to fluctuations as a result of heat waves and concern for winter supplies.

Just days after he took office, the Guardian says that Andy Burnham has become "immersed in a deepening political row", as he paused plans for some prisoners to be released early. One government official is quoted as saying that there are "no easy choices", adding that "we will hit prison capacity by Christmas" if he doesn't continue with the scheme. But the shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy writes in the Daily Telegraph that "the clock is ticking" and "victims need certainty".

Despite the government insisting that the scheme will still go ahead in September, one prison boss tells the Times that they have been instructed to "put planning on hold" until ministers' intentions "become clear". Another source says that the pause has caused "bedlam", as the paper reports "chaos" in jails across England and Wales. An insider interviewed by the Daily Mail says that officials have been "summoned" to an online meeting with the Prison and Probation Service today.

The i Paper says the government is looking at giving low-income households large plug-in batteries to help them cut energy bills. According to the report, the batteries - which are about the size of a cabin suitcase - can store cheap power when demand is low and release it later.

The Sun leads with an interview with the stunt driver who is suing BBC Studios over a crash while filming Top Gear. Paul Rees is revealed as having played the anonymous racing driver, known as The Stig. He was a passenger in a car being driven by Andrew Flintoff when it flipped over in 2022. He tells the Sun he broke his back and thought he was going to die. BBC Studios denies it was negligent.

And a study in the Daily Express suggests that some users of appetite-suppressing drugs aren't just losing weight - but their hair too. The paper says that the research links jabs such as Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro, to alopecia. According to the Daily Mirror, it could be caused by "sudden drops in calorie intake and nutrient deficiencies". But the Daily Star insists there is no suggestion people should stop using weight loss jabs - saying the study is just "food for thought".

'Row over early prison release' and 'Gary's back of the net tax'

Daily Express

Daily Mail

Daily Mirror

Daily Star

Daily Telegraph

Financial Times

Guardian

Independent

Metro

Sun

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