Brief overview: Today’s papers choose to cover the fallout of Saturday’s attacks. The right-wing papers have swung back to the extreme, and rampant accusations of terrorist sympathies lie within. On the left, heavy criticism towards May is common, considering her comments towards changing the laws surrounding human rights. Finally, I would like to commend the i for its coverage of the attacks this week, which has been dignified and moving as it highlighted the lives of the victims.

The Daily Mail

Political leaning: Right

Today’s leading headline: Apologists for terrorists.

Today’s Mail headline declares outright that the trio of Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and Diana Abbott befriend terrorists and demean the institutions that keep the public safe. The article explains that Corbyn especially has spent his life ‘courting’ terrorist around the world, whilst simultaneously holding hostile views towards Britain.

This is in reference to Corbyn’s stance on a variety of issues, such as finding peace with the IRA and his views on Israel. The first 13 pages of today’s Mail are consumed with attacking Labour and Corbyn on these issues.

Afterthought: Let’s take a step back from the edge please. We are closing in on the anniversary of Jo Cox’s murder, for which much of the blame was laid on the poisonous atmosphere created by this country’s toxic media coverage.

Accusing Corbyn of terrorist sympathies due to his IRA links is a route long used by Tory papers, and some may find legitimate problems with his behaviour in this field. However, it is Britain’s record of selling weapons to Saudi Arabia that should perhaps be more heavily scrutinised. Reports show that in since 2015 the British government has sold nearly £3.3bn worth of arms contracts to Saudi Arabia. These weapons often find their way into the hands of many groups our government considers to be terrorists.

The Daily Telegraph

Political leaning: Right

Today’s leading headline: ‘I’m going to be a terrorist’.

This paper’s headline focuses on the revelation that one of Saturday night’s attackers, named Zaghba, declared that his sole intention was to become a terrorist in the UK. It also sheds light on claims that Italian agencies warned their UK counterparts of the potential threat that Zaghba represented. Finally, the paper touches on May’s pledge to tighten control over potential suspects.

Afterthought: The criticism continues to be heaped on the UK police force as to how they could have allowed the men, previously flagged for their extremist views, to carry out this attack.

The Times

Political leaning: Right

Today’s leading headline: MI5 was warned attacker ‘wanted to be a terrorist’

Today’s Times takes a similar angle as the other more moderate right wing papers, asking how Zaghba could enter the country, given his record for extremism that included having ISIL material on this phone, and an arrest record for having attempted to fly to Syria for training.

The paper states that May has ordered an ‘overhaul of security service methods’ as a repercussion of these revelations. This skirts around the statement May made with regard to changing the human rights laws to fit her needs.

Afterthought: Reform is needed in this area. So is funding, for these come hand in hand. However, May, nor any other party, cannot be allowed to push through reforms that limit the freedoms of the British people, or impede and stamp on existing laws. We do not want a Patriot Act 2.0 in this country.

The Guardian

Political leaning: Left

Today’s leading headline: May threatens to dismantle human rights laws in wake of terror attack.

The Guardian highlights today the dangerous narrative that May has chosen to take to win support on the issues of security. The paper explains that May has been under constant criticism following the attacks of the last three months due to her cuts to the security services across the country.

Afterthought: May’s claims that ‘if human rights laws stop us from doing it [keeping the country safe], we will change those laws so we can do it’ sets another depressing law in this general election cycle. Just take a second to let her statement sink in.

It would be nice to see a left wing paper offer a serious breakdown of Labour’s policies as we approach this election, instead of leaving it for the right wing media.

The i

Political leaning: Centre

Today’s leading headline: The nurse who ran towards danger

Today’s paper carries on celebrating the lives of the victims of the Saturday night’s attack, rather than the criminals who committed them. The paper’s front page today is dedicated to Kirsty Boden, the 28 year old who hearing the attack taking place, ran towards it in an attempt to help the victims.

Afterthought: There are two camps when it comes to dealing with the attackers in the aftermath of a terrorist attack. Some believe that the attackers identities should be examined and plastered all over the papers, so that the public can see who committed the atrocity. The other camp pushes for the attackers to get as little media coverage as possible. They believe this is what the attackers would have wanted, to gain a level of infamy. I cannot commend the i enough for their continued highlighting of the heroics of the victims rather than the murderers over this last week.

The Daily Mirror

Political leaning: Left

Today’s leading headline: I’m going to be a terrorist

Today’s Mirror joins the ranks of the other papers who choose to focus on the revelation that Zadha has stated his intention to the authorities.

Afterthought: The paper reflects the ‘fury’ that many feel about how this attack was allowed to have been able to take place.

Financial Times (UK)

Political leaning: Centre

Today’s leading headline: May targets Labour heartland and ramps up anti-terror rhetoric.

Today’s paper states that May has vowed to ‘ramp up’ the war on extremism, by introducing a set of tougher laws that will aim to hold tech groups responsible for their perceived part in helping terrorists. Essentially this article is a repackaged version of the one that appeared in the FT on Monday.

May has used the attack to hone in on potential Labour voters who are not convinced that Corbyn has a hard line enough stance on counter terrorism. The paper notes that the Tories are confident of a win tomorrow. This seems clear to from much of the recent polling, although as Nate Silver of 538 has said, beware of the pundit’s curse.

Afterthought: May has had one of the poorer Tory campaigns of late. Her empty slogans have been a testament to how out of touch many young voters feel the Tories have become. However, the danger of echo chambers has been shown numerous times in the last two years alone. So despite videos of May getting booed collecting thousands of retweets or likes, polling suggests that she will find herself sitting in number 10 come Friday.

The Sun

Political leaning: Right

Today’s leading headline: Jezza’s jihadi comrades

It’s a triple hit in today’s Sun headline, as they smash three of their most feared targets: Corbyn, Muslim extremists and communists. The paper asks its voters to vote against Corbyn (presumably for May), as a speech he gave in 2002 was attended by several figures who had listened to a hate preacher.

The paper, in an ironic twist even a 12 year old could spot, calls the 2002 speech ‘incendiary’.

Afterthought: The Sun and The Mail often scrap as to which can host the most provocative headline of the day. Today it’s a painful tie.