Newspaper headlines: Roadworks 'misery' to end and EU 'saves May' By BBC News

Staff Published duration 21 October 2017

image copyright Getty Images image caption A number of papers focus on what the UK's Brexit bill might be

Some of the papers try to put a figure on what the UK's Brexit bill might be.

The Daily Mirror thinks it could be £36bn, noting that Prime Minister Theresa May did not rule out a doubling of the current £18bn offer.

The paper says this would leave the prime minister needing to convince taxpayers why it is worth paying such a huge sum, although it does note some believe that the long-term losses from not striking a deal could dwarf this figure.

It says a study has found that a network of more than 13,000 bots - or automated pieces of software - tweeted predominantly pro-Brexit messages in the run-up to the vote.

The researchers at City, the University of London, say they are concerned this tactic gave a "false sense of momentum behind certain ideas".

Damian Collins, the Conservative chair of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, tells Buzzfeed he has written to Twitter to ask whether there has been any "interference in the democratic process".

Twitter says its systems identify more than three million suspicious accounts every week.

EU's 'softened' stance

There seems to be a consensus that the EU softened its stance on Brexit at the European Council summit.

The Daily Telegraph thinks this was because of fears in Brussels that Mrs May's government could collapse if the negotiations remained deadlocked.

Oliver Duff, the editor of the i paper , goes further, arguing Mrs May successfully emphasised her weakness - in effect saying "you think I'm a pain in the proverbial? Try Boris or David Davis".

image copyright Getty Images image caption A number of papers focus on what the UK's Brexit bill might be

The Sun warns Brussels not to overplay its hand by asking for too much money in return for trade talks.

The Guardian thinks the prime minister had a decent 24 hours in Brussels and hopes there is a shared recognition that the EU and the UK have a common interest in making the best of Brexit.

The Times columnist, Matthew Paris, warns the crisis in Catalonia could bring a violent civil conflict to Spain and threaten its very existence.

He is angry that what he calls "tinpot nationalists on both sides have puffed themselves into an entirely avoidable high noon", arguing the problems could have been resolved with "a little respect".

Trump backlash

Donald Trump's tweet claiming crime in the UK has risen because of Islamic terror prompts a backlash in the papers.

The Daily Mirror quotes the Conservative MP Sir Nicholas Soames, who calls Mr Trump "a daft twerp", suggesting he should "fix gun control" instead.

In its coverage of the controversy, the Daily Telegraph compares crime levels in London and New York and comes to the conclusion the British capital is worse.

It says the cities both have similar populations but in London someone is six times more likely to be burgled and three times more likely to report a rape - although the murder rate in New York remains higher.

The paper puts the difference down to New York's zero tolerance approach in the 1990s.

'Silly stunts'

It says forces are being urged to abandon silly stunts and get officers back on the beat.

In its lead, the Times reports that the 50mph (80km/h) speed limit imposed on drivers going past roadworks is to be eased.

It says research involving heart monitors suggests drivers are more relaxed going at 60mph (96km/h), in part because they can overtake slower-moving lorries.

But, it seems, motorists are facing added stress at airports because of a sharp rise in short-term parking fees.