'Don't cap food prices' and '20ft from WW3'

2 hours ago

"Don't cap food prices, Bank warns Reeves," reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph. — A backlash against the government's floated proposal to cap food prices leads the Daily Telegraph, topping with Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey's warning it could be "unsustainable" and "risked backfiring". Addressing MPs at a select committee, Bailey says the measure would mean "effectively artificially moving prices relative to costs", creating what another official calls a "highly distorted" economy, the paper writes. A cheering Prince of Wales also appears on the front page under the caption "William wills Villa to victory", as he celebrates Aston Villa's 3-0 victory against Freiburg.

"Bank chief joins attack on freezing food prices," reads the headline on the front page of the Times. — The Times' main story also headlines with the Bank of England chief's "attack on freezing food prices". Meanwhile, the paper features a photo handed out by the family of three sisters who drowned at Brighton beach on 13 May. Their father, who is also pictured with them, says they were his "joy and strength", the paper reports.

"Supermarket backlash forces Reeves into U-turn over grocery price caps," reads the headline on the front page of the Financial Times. — "Supermarkets backlash forces Reeves into U-turn over grocery price caps" is the Financial Times' headline. Citing two people "with knowledge of the situation", the paper says the chancellor backed down on the proposal following fierce criticism. It quotes Marks & Spencer's chief executive, Stuart Martin, who says the supermarket chain "already made losses on milk, bread and bananas".

The headline on the front page of the i Paper reads: "Food price caps retreat after backlash from supermarkets". — "Ministers in talks with UK supermarkets to help cut food costs for shoppers" the i Paper writes as the government abandons plans for "voluntary price caps".

"Labour's happy shoppers" is the headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror. — The Daily Mirror reports on the government's planned cost of living reprieve, writing "shoppers could save on food staples like baked beans, crisps and margarine" after Reeves announced she would "cut tariffs on more than 100 items and kids will get free bus rides throughout August".

"Burnham 'backs Mahmood's plans to tighten rules on immigration'," reads the headline on the front page of the Guardian. — Andy Burnham, Labour's candidate in the forthcoming Makerfield by-election, "is understood to be supportive of the home secretary's attempts to limit both legal and illegal migration", the Guardian reports, citing those close to his election campaign.

"20ft from World War 3," reads the headline on the front page of the Sun. — "20ft from World War 3" is splashed across the Sun, reporting that "Russian pilots risked World War Three by flying 20ft from an RAF jet" over the Black Sea. The paper calls it a "near miss" and "close call" on the front page, quoting Defence Secretary John Healey who condemned the "dangerous behaviour from Russia".

"Putin jets menace RAF plane with 'crazy Ivan' stunt," reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Mail. — "Putin jets menace RAF plane with 'crazy Ivan' stunt" is the Daily Mail's take on the incident, apparently referring to a Soviet-era surprise manoeuvre where naval captains would turn sharply and rapidly. It comes as "Labour was accused of funding Moscow's war machine against Ukraine by watering down sanctions on Russian oil", amid concerns about fuel price rises caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

"It's King Charles the Turd," reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Star. — "Cheeky seagull splatters royal" is the Daily Star's caption on a photograph of King Charles III appearing to have bird droppings smeared on the back of his jacket. "King Charles the Turd" the paper jokes. After laughing off the incident, the paper adds "his Maj poo poos attack" for good measure.

"Burnham rival's rants revealed," reads the headline on the front page of the Metro. — The Metro writes "Burnham rival's rants revealed", referring to the Reform UK candidate in the Makerfield by-election, Robert Kenyon.

"No thank you to another PM who does not back women," reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Express. — The headline on the Daily Express' front page reads "No thank you to another PM who does not back women" next to an embedded photograph of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

The Financial Times reports that a backlash from supermarkets has led Chancellor Rachel Reeves to back away from the idea of a cap on the price of essential goods. Treasury officials tell the paper that talks with the industry are continuing, and they insist there was never a plan for a formal policy announcement today.

The Times and the Daily Telegraph highlight a warning from Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey to MPs yesterday, that the idea is "not a sustainable thing in the long run".

Under the headline 'Labour's Happy Shoppers', the Daily Mirror reports on what Reeves will do on the cost of living, saying shoppers could save on staples like baked beans, crisps and margarine. Writing in the Mirror, and the Times as well, Sir Keir Starmer says the government is "tearing down" the status quo to help working people.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is backing changes to the immigration system being introduced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, according to the Guardian. The paper says it's a "blow" to some in the party who want a softer approach. Allies of former Health Secretary Wes Streeting tell the Times he's likely to abandon his tilt at the leadership if Burnham becomes an MP.

The Daily Mail leads on the close encounter between an RAF spy plane and two Russian jets. The paper says lives could have been lost in what it calls a "crazy Ivan stunt" over the Black Sea. The Sun's headline is "20ft from WW3". Both papers carry a front page image of one of the Russian warplanes, the pilot clearly visible, taken from the British aircraft.

Scientists at Cranfield University tell the Daily Telegraph about a novel approach to saving lives in a bomb blast: The humble lavender. The researchers have exhibited their project, called the Blast Ecoshield, at the Chelsea flower show. They say lavender is so effective at shock absorption it could replace the concrete and metal barriers that guard some government buildings, providing more of a sense of calm.