The exit of Tory stalwart Michael Gove dominates a number of Saturday morning’s front pages. The Daily Mirror marks the news of Gove announcing he will not be standing to represent Surrey Heath as an MP in July’s election – having held the constituency for nearly two decades. Announcing his decision, Gove become the latest of more than 70 Tory MPs to declare their intention to step back from Westminster politics.
Veteran cabinet minister Michael Gove’s decision not to stand at the 4 July general election features again on the front of Saturday’s edition of the i newspaper. Again, the paper says Mr Gove, who has been MP for Surrey Heath since 2005, joins a growing parliamentary exodus coming mainly from the Conservative Party as it languishes behind Labour in the polls. More than 120 MPs have announced their decision to step back from Westminster politics.
The Daily Express also splashes with Michael Gove’s decision not to stand as an MP at the next election – the tabloid says in its headline Gove’s “shock exit rock Tories”. In other news, former head of the Post Office, Paula Vennells, features on the top corner of the front page after she gave evidence in central London where she was accused of living in a “cloud of denial” at an inquiry into an IT scandal which saw hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly convicted of fraud. The Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson is also pictured on the tabloid after her visit to the Cannes Film Festival.
Catching the eye on the front of Saturday’s edition of the Times is Dame Helen Mirren who looks resplendent in a sweeping purple gown as she is pictured walking the red carpet at a glitzy event at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Comedian David Baddiel and singer Paloma Faith also feature on the front as separate interviews with the pair are teased, but the lead story centres on longstanding Conservative cabinet minister Michael Gove quitting politics.
General election coverage continues on the front of the Daily Mail which leads on an exclusive interview with Labour’s shadow chancellor. Rachel Reeves makes a pledge to the paper’s readers she will not “play fast and loose” with the electorate’s cash. A photo of former prime minister Boris Johnson towers over the lead story as the former Tory leader tells the tabloid in his weekly column that he doesn’t believe opinion polls which put Labour ahead of the Conservatives.
In other election news, the Daily Telegraph notes former cabinet minister Dame Andrea Leadsom as also deciding not to defend her seat and take a step back from Westminster politics. At the top of the broadsheet is an interview with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer who vows to be in power for 10 years and he sets out why inside the paper. Elsewhere, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also gives a big interview to the Telegraph vowing tax breaks for middle classes as he declares: “We are the underdogs in this election.”
Moving away from politics, the Guardian splashes a huge photo of young England stars Phil Foden and Kobi Mainoo as the two Manchester clubs go head-to-head for English football’s FA Cup Final at Wembley later on Saturday. But, the paper leads with news from the UN’s top International Court of Justice which ruled Israel must immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah.
Finally, the Daily Star questions whether Saturday’s FA Cup Final will be Manchester United manager Erik Ten Haag’s “final fling”? The paper previews the big match at Wembley Stadium as United take on rivals Manchester City with the aim of trying to stop them clinching a domestic double. The tabloid’s lead story quotes a professor who says mastering the traditional Australian Aboriginal wind instrument can cure nightly snores in three months.
Michae wasl first elected MP for Surrey Heath in 2005, is understood to have made the decision in the last couple of days.
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