Newspaper headlines: 'Boris painted into corner' and how to get 'fancy wallpaper'

By BBC News
Staff

Published
image caption"Interior resign" is the Metro's headline as it reports the "fiercest Commons clash yet" between Boris Johnson and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. The paper says Sir Keir told the PM he must quit if he has lied about the Downing Street flat makeover - and the claims that the PM said he would rather see "bodies pile high" than order a third lockdown. Its main pictures are of a visibly angry Johnson and exasperated Sir Keir taken during Wednesday's PMQ's, where Mr Johnson firmly denied wrongdoing.
image captionMr Johnson is "painted into a corner" according to the Daily Mail's headline which continues the papers' home decorating wordplay. The paper says he and fiancee Carrie Symonds "may have to hand over personal emails and phone messages" to an official inquiry into how the flat renovations was funded. The Electoral Commission, leading the probe, "has sweeping powers to demand documents and interview witnesses", the Mail notes. It even suggests Mr Johnson "could be first PM interviewed under caution". Elsewhere, the paper pictures the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their 10th wedding anniversary.
image captionThe prime minister will give evidence to the Electoral Commission, says the i paper's headline. It says the case could be passed to police for criminal investigation if it is suspected any failure to declare funding was intentional. The paper adds that Dominic Cummings could also be asked to give evidence.
image captionThere is concern in Downing Street over the "paper trail" over the PM's flat renovations, the Times reports. It says there are claims the joint Tory party chairman Ben Elliot warned Mr Johnson in February last year that plans to fund the project through donations were "madness". The paper's main front page picture is of Julia James, the police community support officer who was found dead near woodland in Kent - as murder detectives investigate.
image captionMr Johnson's anger during his Commons clash with Sir Keir Starmer leads the Guardian. Its story is accompanied by a four-way split picture of of a red-faced prime minister using a jabbing finger to put forward his case during PMQs. It says a "cash for curtains" row is increasingly engulfing Mr Johnson - but notes his insistence that he has done nothing wrong.
image captionThe Daily Telegraph leads on the comments of England's deputy chief medical officer Prof Jonathan Van-Tam who says two-jab protection allows vaccinated people to "meet freely". The paper says Prof Van-Tam believes there is little risk for those who have been fully jabbed to gather - but he urged them not to so. Its main image is of Prince William and Catherine in what the paper describes as an "affectionate embrace" as the couple mark 10 years of marriage..
image captionThe Electoral Commission probe leads the Financial Times, which reports a second investigation into the flat will be led by Sir Christopher Geidt, the Queen's former senior adviser. The FT also reports the resignation of NI First Minister Arlene Foster, who it says has "caved to pressure".
image captionIt is the second investigation led by Sir Christopher that catches the eye of the Daily Mirror. It claims Mr Johnson will be the judge at his own trial - as it reports the PM's spokesman as saying Mr Johnson would be "the ultimate arbiter of this, yep" when asked who would receive the probe's findings.
image captionThe news that 60m more booster vaccines have been secured by the UK leads the Daily Express. It says the move could "halt a third wave". Elsewhere, it promotes a special "Kate & Wills souvenir pullout" for the royal couple's "happy and glorious" anniversary.
image captionThe Daily Star offers its readers "proper fancy wallpaper" of the kind said to be favoured by Mr Johnson and Ms Symonds in a two-page pullout. The paper helpfully advises readers that they only need to buy 104 copies of the paper in order to decorate a 6m x 3m room.