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'Wes, prime minister?' and 'My flare lady'

News imageThe headline on the front page of the Metro reads: “Wes, prime minister?”.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting dominates the front pages, as Sir Keir Starmer continues to try and retain his premiership. "Wes, prime minister?" asks the Metro, reporting that Streeting has told his allies he will challenge Sir Keir on Thursday. It comes following what the paper describes as a "bombshell 16-minute face-to-face confrontation" in Downing Street on Wednesday, just hours before the King's Speech.
News imageThe headline on the front page of the Sun reads: “Street fighter”.
The Sun says the Labour Party is in "civil war", and Streeting is planning to "fire the starting gun" on a "bloody" leadership contest. Catherine, Princess of Wales, is pictured front and centre of the paper in a fitted blue suit with flared trousers. "My flare lady" is visiting Italy on her first overseas trip following treatment for cancer.
News imageThe headline on the front page of the Times reads: “Streeting prepares to quit ahead of No 10 challenge”.
"Streeting prepares to quit ahead of No 10 challenge" reads the Times, which says the health secretary is expected to quit the government on Thursday morning to formally launch his campaign for No 10. The paper says this will trigger a three-way fight between Streeting, Sir Keir and a soft-left candidate, which it predicts will be Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham or Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. A government source has told the Times that a leadership contest would "essentially shut down" the government for months.
News imageThe headline on the front page of the Guardian reads: “Streeting on manoeuvres ready to launch leadership challenge today”.
Streeting's move to force a race has prompted a "frantic scramble", the Guardian says, as the left of Labour looks for a candidate to oppose him. The paper suggests that Miliband and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner are their key contenders, noting that while Burnham is a "favoured replacement" for Sir Keir, he does not have a Commons seat.
News imageThe headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph reads: “Miliband to fight Streeting for No 10”.
The Daily Telegraph is leading on Miliband's possible bid for leadership, and says Sir Keir is expecting the energy secretary to "throw his hat in the ring" shortly after Streeting's anticipated resignation. Sources told the paper that Miliband was the most likely proposition for the soft-Left faction of the Labour party, as Rayner was still dealing with unresolved tax issues. Much like the Times, the Telegraph has been warned that the leadership contest is likely to "plunge the country into chaos" by "paralysing" government and spooking the bond markets.
News imageThe headline on the front page of the i Paper reads: “Streeting set to resign and will challenge PM”.
The i Paper suggests that while Burnham does not currently have a seat, he is still intending to join the leadership contest as his team has identified an MP who is willing to stand aside. The paper says Burnham has told Labour MPs he is "ready to go" - it notes that he still has to win the seat he has found.
News imageThe headline on the front page of the Financial Times reads: “Starmer rallies Labour loyalists in move to see off Streeting challenge”.
Several potential scenarios following the expected resignation of Streeting are detailed in the Financial Times' leading story, which suggests that Labour's National Executive Committee would have the power to delay any leadership contests to allow Burnham time to become an MP. It also considers the global impact of a UK leadership contest, reporting that European leaders have already expressed concern about instability ahead of a UK-EU summit scheduled for early July.
News imageThe headline on the front page of the Express reads: “Finally, a move to bring down 'Zombie' Keir?”.
The Princess of Wales' visit to Italy is one of the main stories for the Express, which features a photograph of Catherine smiling at an infant on the front page, captioned "Ciao baby!" On Streeting, the paper declares it is "finally" seeing a political play that could "bring down 'zombie' Keir".
News imageThe headline on the front page of the Daily Mail reads: “Streeting to ignite Labour day of anarchy”.
The Daily Mail writes that Streeting is poised to "plunge Labour into civil war" on Thursday morning, forcasting a "day of anarchy" in Cabinet.
News imageThe headline on the front page of the Star reads: “Downing Streeting”.
"Downing Streeting" declares the Daily Star over a photo of the health secretary. Another photo shows one of No 10's most long-lived residents, Larry the Cat, who has seen numerous previous prime ministers come and go. "Here we go again," says Larry in a speech bubble.
News imageThe headline on the front page of the Mirror reads: “Farage in £5m sleaze probe”.
One of the few front pages not to feature a photograph of Streeting, the Mirror's, instead focuses on an inquiry launched into a £5m gift received by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Political opponents have said that the gift, which was from billionaire Reform backer Christopher Harborne, should have been declared in the MPs' register of interests. Farage has said he was under "no obligation" to declare the gift because it was given before he was an MP.

The morning papers anticipate a leadership bid by Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

The Daily Mail predicts a "day of anarchy" is ahead, with Labour "plunged into civil war". The prospect of a challenge is welcomed by the Daily Express, whose headline reads: "Finally, a move to bring down zombie Keir". The Sun chooses "Street fighter", while the front page of the Daily Star says "Downing Streeting". Sir Keir Starmer's allies tell the Financial Times they are "sceptical" the health secretary has the necessary backing. But one of his supporters insists that "Wes is a very good politician, he doesn't rely on shonky data".

A minister is quoted in the Sun as saying Sir Keir has warned that Streeting will "destroy" Labour and the country - however Downing Street denies he said that. With the prime minister expected to join any contest, the Times says it will be a "three-way fight for Number Ten" - though the Guardian reports there is now a "frantic scramble" to find the candidate for the Labour left. According to the Daily Mirror, the left of the party is "divided" over who to choose. The Daily Telegraph predicts it will put forward the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, because the former deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, is embroiled in an as yet unresolved tax row. One senior figure on the left tells the Times she is well liked but a "complete liability".

Allies of Andy Burnham tell the i Paper that he will try to join the fight - saying he has "found a seat", but it "might not be winnable". According to the Mail, they are lobbying for an extended timetable to any leadership contest, but the paper says any delay could leave the UK with a "lame duck prime minister". A supporter of Burnham quoted in the Telegraph admits that he will "probably be squeezed out of the race". One MP backing the Greater Manchester mayor tells the Guardian he has "run out of time"- while another says his "best hope now is to do a deal" with Sir Keir.

In its leader column, the Financial Times insists that what it terms the "battle for the soul of Labour" should not be a "drawn-out process". It warns that the UK "finds itself in a moment of great peril" and calls for Labour to remember the principle of "country first, party second".

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