Newspaper headlines: 'PM's team plots new referendum' and Strictly winner By BBC News

Staff Published duration 16 December 2018

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It's no surprise that the word "Brexit" is in many of the headlines.

Two of the prime minister's senior allies are preparing for a second referendum behind her back according to the Sunday Times - in what the paper describes as "another Tory civil war".

It reports that David Lidington - who is in effect, Theresa May's deputy - held talks on Thursday with Labour MPs to try to build a cross-party coalition.

Number 10 chief of staff Gavin Barwell is also reported to have told a cabinet minister that a second vote was the only way forward, as MPs are unlikely to back Mrs May's deal.

The paper adds that Mrs May has tried to kill the referendum talk and denounced those backing the People's Vote campaign.

The Observer leads with a warning from a cross-party group of MPs that the deadlock over Brexit is "blocking vital domestic policy reforms".

The chairpersons of six all-party select committees urge Mrs May to bring the Brexit process to a close, to prevent what they describe as "serious damage to our country".

While the six have different views on Brexit they agree that the government's near total pre-occupation with the issue is letting people down in a time of serious problems in areas like the health service and social care.

The paper's editorial concludes that "British politics is paralysed" and the government "totally incapacitated".

It contrasts the awards of up to £75,000 a year with the corporation's "threat" to scrap free TV licences for the over 75s.

It reports that the number of managers earning more than £150,000 has gone up - despite promises to bring the figure down.

One executive's rise was 30% - to £325,000 a year. According to the the Mail's headline, the BBC is the "Big Bucks Corporation".

Among the stories on the front page of the Sunday Telegraph is a claim that tens of thousands of school pupils could be spied on by webcams.

The report says the children may find themselves being monitored because of what's called "classroom management software" that flags up words linked to extremism, self-harm and cyber-bullying.

The paper says it's discovered that one provider of the software can remotely enable webcams without students or their parents knowing.

The article highlights fears over privacy, and of hackers gaining access to the database.

Several papers carry pictures of a serious fire at Chester Zoo.

The Sun on Sunday says thousands of visitors had to flee the monsoon forest, after the blaze ripped through an area housing crocodiles, snakes and endangered apes.

The paper says the animals got out "two by two".

But the Sunday Express suggests that some of the crocodiles have gone missing.

The zoo says it is working hard to account for all its animals.

And the "miracle of my Christmas baby" is the headline on the front page of the Star on Sunday

The paper has picture of little Layla Daly, who it says, has cheated death three times in her short life - overcoming liver problems and sepsis.