Newspaper headlines: May without 'no deal' Brexit plan By BBC News

Staff Published duration 12 March 2017

image copyright PA

Several of the papers put pressure on the prime minister to prepare for the "real prospect" Brexit negotiations could fail.

The front page has a photo of the Brexit secretary, David Davis, under a headline which says he has been "savaged" for a grossly negligent dereliction of his duty.

It adds that the Conservatives have been "rocked" by further infighting, with the pro-EU former minister Anna Soubry accusing Brexit supporters of trying to "pick off" the Chancellor Philip Hammond by stoking controversy over his Budget.

The Cabinet is "at war" over the Budget "shambles", according to the Sunday Telegraph.

It reports that Mr Hammond's hour-long briefing to his cabinet colleagues failed to mention that raising national insurance contributions for the self-employed clashed with a Conservative manifesto pledge.

'Smuggled in'

However the paper also quotes a Treasury source who points the finger for the row at the prime minister's desire to spend money "here, there and everywhere" to protect "just about managing" families.

Matt's cartoon in the paper has Robin Hood face down in Sherwood Forest with arrows in his back. Friar Tuck is saying: "Robin suggested taking from the self-employed and the men became less merry".

Andrew Rawnsley, writing in the Observer , blames the continuing fallout on both Number 10 and Number 11 for not anticipating the grief that would be caused by raising national insurance for the self-employed.

The Times reports that one of the prime minister's most senior aides was telling City contacts the day after the Budget that Mrs May had been opposed to the increase, which had been "smuggled in".

A minister close to Mrs May is quoted complaining that the chancellor "won't listen to anyone because he thinks he's the cleverest person on earth". But one of Mr Hammond's allies hits back, decrying "economic illiteracy" in Number 10.

Another Telegraph cartoon draws inspiration from the professor whose live BBC television interview was interrupted by his children. Mrs May sits frozen in embarrassment while Mr Hammond and a baby Boris Johnson career around behind her.

Meanwhile, the chancellor has been "teased" about the budget by Prince Philip says the Sunday Times. The pair met last week when they were both at a memorial service for war veterans.

A Whitehall source told the paper: "Poor old Phil is getting it from all sides. Even the royals are having a go at him". But the Sun imagines that the princely banter was along the lines of: "You'll never find yourself a plumber now".

The Express warns the Tories that, by breaking manifesto promises, they're in danger of becoming the "nasty party" again. It tells the government to collect tax from "major corporations" instead.

Intelligence agency GCHQ is concerned cyber attacks could disrupt the next general election, reports the Times' lead story.

The paper says the National Cyber Security Centre has written to the leaders of all the main political parties offering expert assistance to strengthen computer security.

The Sun reports that Operation Conifer, the inquiry into historical sexual abuse allegations against former prime minister Sir Edward Heath has cost more than £1m so far.

The paper criticises the investigation and brands it "expensive and ridiculous". It says that the declaration from Wiltshire Chief Constable Mike Veale that his conscience will not allow him to be frivolous with public money, "takes some believing".

The Times and the Telegraph dedicate their front pages to England's win over Scotland in Saturday's Six Nations clash.