The key facts
- The Independent and Sunday Telegraph write about violent protests in France and hundreds of arrests
- The Times reports that five SAS soldiers arrested in 2022 on suspicion of murder were returned to the combat zone 48 hours after questioning
- Mail on Sunday accuses BBC Bitesize of promoting 'left-wing' views; the BBC rejects the accusations
Protests in France
The Independent reports hundreds of detentions amid what the paper describes as 'some of the most violent protests in the country in recent times'. According to the newspaper, a tourist office was set on fire in Lyon, and in Marseille the town hall was vandalised. The causes of the protests are said to be 'rising prices and the degradation of services'. The Sunday Telegraph puts on its front page a photo of protesters in Paris with the caption 'Rioters run riot across France'.
Investigation into SAS soldiers
The Times publishes an investigation: five SAS soldiers accused of murder were sent to combat zones while under police investigation. According to the newspaper, they were arrested at secret bases in Syria and Iraq in 2022, which began an 'unprecedented three-year criminal investigation' that plunged the regiment into crisis. Forty-eight hours after questioning they were returned to the conflict zone, and three years later they were told no charges would be brought. All five have already left the army and wrote a letter to former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer complaining about 'potentially unlawful arrests'. The Ministry of Defence said that personnel 'are entitled to expect a fair and professional investigation', and that all allegations of wrongdoing must be properly assessed and, where necessary, investigated.
Criticism of the BBC
The Sunday Telegraph writes about the use of civil servant fact-checkers at the BBC, which, in the newspaper's view, calls into question the broadcaster's impartiality. A BBC spokesperson denies that civil servants influenced editorial decisions, stating that all decisions are made by BBC journalists and editors. The Mail on Sunday, in its lead article, accuses the BBC of 'brainwashing children': according to the newspaper, the educational website BBC Bitesize promotes 'far-left' views, including through a game called 'Increasing Immigration' that rewarded pupils for choosing to open borders and grant an amnesty to 'illegal migrants'. The BBC responded that Bitesize creates resources with educational consultants in line with curricula, does not accept such a characterisation, but will consider the cited examples under its editorial standards.
Other front-page topics
Nigel Farage of Reform UK told the Sunday Express that Britain will never vote to return to the EU, and accused premier Andy Burnham of an 'outdated worldview', warning that pressure from traditional Labour regions of the North will not allow him to quickly return the country to the bloc. The Daily Mirror reports that Eli Prior, an off-duty doctor who suffered multiple injuries in a plane crash in Bedford but stayed to help the victims, will receive a Pride of Britain award; air ambulance doctor Rob Wilmore called her bravery impressive. The Sunday People writes about a campaign for a wealth tax ahead of the budget on 28 October. The Daily Star reports that 68-year-old comedian Paul Whitehouse fought off a robber at a cash machine. The Observer, based on new research, writes about a 'postcode lottery': a child in Blackpool is 27 times more likely to skip school than a child in Lambeth; the children's commissioner, according to the newspaper, has declared a 'national emergency'.
The Independent focuses on the hundreds of people who have been arrested across France, following what it says were "some of the country's most violent protests in recent times". The paper says a tourist office has been torched in Lyon, and a town hall vandalised in Marseille, as people protest "rising costs and declining services".
The Times leads with an investigation, reporting that Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers accused of murder were sent into war zones while still under police investigation. It says that five men were arrested on secret bases in Syria and Iraq in 2022, kicking off an "unprecedented three-year criminal investigation" that the paper says "plunged the regiment into crisis". It writes that the five men were sent back into the war zone just 48 hours after being questioned by police, and "left in limbo for three years" before they were told no charges would be brought. The former suspects have all since left the military, the Times says, in addition to writing a letter to former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to complain about their "potentially unlawful arrests". A Ministry Of Defence spokesperson said personnel are "entitled to expect that any investigation is conducted fairly and professionally and rightly there are procedures in place for people to report concerns ... If allegations of wrongdoing arise, it is right that they are properly assessed and, where appropriate, investigated".
Protesters in Paris have also been pictured on the front page of the Sunday Telegraph, captioned: "Rioters on the rampage across France." The paper carries a story about the use of Civil Service fact-checkers at the BBC, a revelation which it says has lead to questions about the broadcaster's impartiality. A spokesperson for the BBC has denied that civil servants had editorial influence on stories, and stated that all editorial decision-making was made by BBC journalists and editors.
The Mail on Sunday has accused the BBC of "brainwashing children" in its main story, alleging the broadcaster's education website, BBC Bitesize, is pushing "'extreme' Left-Wing views" on millions of pupils. It reports that the website included an online game called "Increasing Immigration", which rewarded students for choosing to open borders and grant amnesty to "illegal migrants". A BBC spokesman said: "BBC Bitesize works with educational consultants to develop resources that help young people explore and understand a wide range of topics, aligned to the respective curriculums across the UK ... While we don't accept the characterisation of Bitesize in this story, we regularly review content to ensure it remains relevant and to ensure it meets the BBC's editorial standards and will review these examples in that context."
Reform UK Nigel Farage has spoken to the Sunday Express, declaring that Britain will never "vote to rejoin" the European Union. Farage accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of having an "outdated view of the world", and warned that pressure from "Labour's traditional heartlands in the North" will prevent him from leading the UK straight back into the bloc.
A photograph of television presenters Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates walking together leads the Sun on Sunday, which says the "Match of the Day lovebirds" were stepping out together as a couple for the first time.
An off-duty doctor who helped wounded passengers in the Bedford plane crash earlier this year is set to receive a Pride of Britain Award, according to the Daily Mirror. The paper reports Dr Eli Prior had multiple injuries herself, but stayed on the train to help others who had been hurt in the crash. Air ambulance doctor Rob Wilmore said he was "humbled" by Prior's bravery.
"Rich pickings", reads the headline of the Sunday People, homing in on campaigners who argue that a wealth tax "could help so many". It comes ahead of the Budget, which is set to be delivered on 28 October.
"Comedy legend fights off mugger", reads the Daily Star, alongside a photograph of comedian Paul Whitehouse. The paper reports the 68-year-old was accosted at a cash machine, but fought back against the thief, who it says "scuttled away empty handed".
The Observer explores what it is calling the "childhood lottery", writing that a child in Blackpool is 27 times more likely to miss school than one in Lambeth. The piece hinges on a new study, which it says has exposed the vast inequalities of childhood in England and prompted the children's commissioner to declare a national emergency".
