'Brexit and Thatcher to blame' and 'Hottest summer ever'
Many of the papers look at Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first parliamentary sitting since becoming leader. "Brexit and Thatcher to blame for UK's era of low growth" is the Guardian's summary of the prime minister's speech in the House of Commons, after Burnham urged Britain to be "brutally honest" about a "series of wrong turns" over the past 40 years. It also notes that former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced he would stand down as an MP, despite initially vowing to stay until the next general election, "saying he wanted to focus on international affairs".
The Times continues: "Burnham lays blame on Brexit for UK's woes", in addition to the Conservative Party legacies of Thatcher and austerity. "Political power was centralised, economic power privatised, the country deindustrialised," is Burnham's "diagnosis" of the country's economic problems. Elsewhere on the front page, Amal and George Clooney are captured arriving by boat for Venice's 83rd film festival "where the actor will receive a lifetime achievement award".
"Britain's problems? I blame Thatcher and Brexit, says Burnham" is the Daily Mail's take. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch "mocked" the new prime minister for "living in the past", according to the paper. She referred to him as a "Messiah without a mandate".
"Historic battle" is how Metro frames the first Commons showdown between Badenoch and Burnham, with the Tory leader accusing the prime minister of "dragging Britain back to the 1970s". Burnham "promised a ten-year plan of national renewal", pledged "defence spending will rise" and "insisted he would help people fight cost of living pressures".
Reflecting on the Commons debate, the Daily Express summarises Badenoch's critique of Burnham's "nationalisation drive".
The i Paper says Burnham "pushes welfare cuts into 2027", delaying the budget measure by another year and "raising the prospect of tax rises or further spending cuts ahead of October's Budget". It adds that the "landmark review into young people and work will not be published until later this autumn". The paper also says the prime minister wants "bolder devolution", including for parts of the country without elected mayors.
"Markets turn on Burnham" is the Daily Telegraph's lead. "Borrowing costs soar to highest in decades," the paper reports, "leaving PM with £14bn shortfall." It cites criticism from Lord O'Neill, a former Goldman Sachs economist "who turned down an offer to join" Burnham's government, saying that the prime minister's first speech was "the last thing investors wanted to hear".
The Daily Mirror depicts the new political battle as a "fresh start versus Farage farce", writing that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage "broke Commons rules on his first day back" after he "filmed on the roof of Parliament". The MP "heckled as he returned after his by-election" in the seat of Clacton, according to the paper.
Away from politics, the Daily Star writes that 2026 was officially Britain's "hottest summer ever", warning that after "five heatwaves" a "sixth" is on the way. "Phew! What scorchers" is the paper's expressive take.
The Financial Times says Russia is "secretly helping Iran develop advanced supersonic cruise missiles", citing its own investigation which started in 2023 finding that the "multiyear covert programme... has enlisted some of Russia's most experienced missile specialists to help Iran develop a new class of weapon". It writes that such weapons would be "capable of threatening US aircraft carriers and other warships in the Middle East". It embeds a photo of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin shaking hands on Tuesday, where the Russian leader expressed solidarity with his counterpart for "fighting for their interests" as the Washington-Tehran conflict rages on.
Finally, the Sun splashes on the marriage breakup of Katie Price and her "conman hubby", as the paper puts it, with: "Katie: I'm divorcing you, Lee." The Premier League's £3.5bn "window record" also features on the front page, with Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez claiming the "joint-biggest transfer fee of £125m" to join Manchester City.
