Newspaper headlines: 'Prince Harry's tabloid war' and 'Scotland Yard shame' By BBC News

Staff Published duration 5 October 2019

Prince Harry's decision to start legal proceedings against the owners of The Sun and the Daily Mirror leads many of Saturday's papers.

In the Financial Times, an opinion piece by Alex Barker sees Harry as "the hot headed prince" who, as a schoolboy at Eton, set up his own newspaper to sidestep journalists hounding his family. Yet the prince's current battle may be harder won, Mr Barker argues, and the risks of the court action, he says, are plain to see.

'Shaming of the Yard'

image copyright PA Media image caption Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve House speaks to the media outside New Scotland Yard

The fallout from the independent review into Operation Midland also features prominently in Saturday's papers.

"Shaming of the Yard" is the Daily Mail's verdict ; the paper points out that none of the key officers in the investigation into a bogus Westminster paedophile ring has faced disciplinary action.

According to the Times, the "Met 'broke law' over abuse case" . The paper suggests that officers could face possible misconduct allegations as calls grow for a criminal inquiry into what happened.

The Sun's front page focuses on the report's finding that Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson put pressure on the police to investigate . It quotes the former MP Harvey Proctor, who was falsely accused, calling for Mr Watson's resignation.

Brexit 'legal crisis'

"PM faces fresh legal crisis over Brexit" is the headline in the Guardian as the papers digest what many report as the mixed messages of Boris Johnson on Brexit.

The paper suggests that Mr Johnson is "careering" towards a fresh constitutional crisis after insisting there would be no delay to Brexit just hours after government lawyers promised he would obey the law and request an extension if a deal couldn't be done within a fortnight.

The Express applauds the prime minister's stance. In an editorial it praises his determination to enact the will of the people despite "the enemies of democracy who drew up the surrender act" who believe they have him "cornered."

"In Boris we Trust", the paper declares, "now let's get Brexit done, deal or no deal".

HS2 re-think?

image copyright PA Media image caption Plans to reduce the maximum operating speed of trains on the new HS2 line are reportedly being considered

Under the headline "HS2 rail review looks at cutting route to Leeds", the Financial Times reports that an option to axe the route beyond the East Midlands to Leeds and Sheffield is being explored, along with a plan to reduce train speeds by 40 miles per hour.

The paper quotes a source close to the review panel, which is due to report later this month amid growing concern about the spiralling costs of the project.

Dinner for one

And the i reports on new research from Birmingham University that suggests that eating with friends and family sparks ancient instincts to consume up to 50 per cent more than we might eat if we were dining alone.

The study found that a jovial atmosphere and the recognition brought by providing food replicated ancient hunter-gatherer feasting. The paper concludes that dinner-for-one may be better for our waistlines, despite the sad image it conjures.

Meanwhile, an investigation in the Times reveals an altogether different eating problem. Its research uncovers "15,000 restaurants are putting customers at risk" due to poor hygiene. The paper's analysis of 250,000 establishments found one in 20 were given a "failing" rating by the food watchdog.