The Scottish newspapers: the shipyard “recovers” and Charles on the Rwandan plan
The latest twist in Ferguson’s controversial shipyard story is The Scotsman’s main story. The newspaper says the Port Glasgow shipyard has finally agreed completion dates for two CalMac ferries which are already two and a half times over the original budget and around five years behind schedule. The Scottish government’s ferry purchasing company, CMAL, reportedly said it would “absolutely” contract Ferguson to build more ferries.
The Herald leads with local authority Cosla warning of risks to public services after the government admitted cuts would have to be made to some services due to a funding shortfall. The newspaper reports that Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of refusing to engage in discussions with local authorities over the situation.
Allegations that the Prince of Wales criticized the UK’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda are reported on some of Saturday’s front pages. The Daily Mail claims Prince Charles has ‘privately condemned’ the government’s plan as ‘appalling’. The newspaper notes that the reported comments come after the High Court ruled the first flight to Rwanda could go ahead and said the prince ‘risked a major clash with No 10’.
The Times also talks about Prince Charles’ supposed dislike of Rwandan politics. He reports that the heir to the throne is “particularly frustrated” by the policy, fearing it will overshadow a Commonwealth summit in Rwanda, where he is to represent the Queen. The Times says Clarence House did not deny that Prince Charles was opposed to politics, but insisted the prince was not trying to influence the government and stressed that he remained politically neutral.
The Daily Record speaks to a radio amateur who told how Albanian police seized his equipment after suspecting him of being a spy. Delivery driver Colin McGowan, from Stenhousemuir, was on a five-day trip around the country when he was asked about the radio equipment, which was sent to the Albanian crime lab for further examination.
The Daily Telegraph takes a positive view of Boris Johnson’s reaction to a review of England’s food strategy. British government ministers have been accused of planning to ignore recommendations including a tax on sugar and salt. The Telegraph features a beaming Boris Johnson petting a cow at an agricultural show in Cornwall. The newspaper says farmers will be urged to produce more fruit and vegetables to help reduce the cost of living and “the food threat of war in Ukraine”.
The i reports that the Prime Minister is facing a new plot to overthrow him with backbench MPs mobilizing the party from below. He suggests the plan is to get 65 local Tory chairmen against Boris Johnson to force a non-binding vote of no confidence on their leader’s fate at the general meeting of the Conservative National Convention.
The Daily Express says there has been a surge in the number of people planning holidays in the UK amid recent “travel chaos” at airports. The newspaper says the “skyrocketing” jump is an attempt by families “to avoid unbearable queues at airports and flight cancellations”.
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are set to host a live episode of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing at Buckingham Palace, according to The Sun. The newspaper says the ‘Strictly superfan’ prince and duchess have held secret talks with BBC bosses and the episode is set to be hosted in the palace ballroom later this year.
The National says the SNP has denounced the Tories’ ‘obsession’ with Brexit as the economic impact of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU is revealed by new research. The newspaper says the latest figures from the Center for European Reform suggest Boris Johnson’s Brexit strategy has cost the UK economy £31billion.
The Glasgow Times predicts the city will host a record number of music events this summer as police say they are ready to help deal with hundreds of thousands of spectators.
The press and newspaper report that the popular Parkrun in Inverness has been canceled after an unauthorized travellers’ camp appeared on the site.
The Edinburgh Evening News reports that a community fundraiser for a Tranent man who died after being hit by a taxi hit more than three times its goal in a single day.
The Evening Express leads with a rapist pleading guilty to attacking an 18-year-old woman in Aberdeen after being on the run for eight years.
The Courier says Perth and Kinross Council has pledged to support the more than nearly 300 Ukrainian refugees arriving in the area.
The Evening Telegraph reports the death of a convicted sex offender in prison.
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