Brief overview: Today’s papers focus largely on May trying to strengthen her position within the Conservative party. To do this, she has promised a more moderate government, brought Gove back into the fold, and edited her manifesto.

The Daily Mail

Owned by: Daily Mail and General Trust, owned by Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere

Editor: Paul Dacre

Political leaning: Right / far right

Daily circulation: circa 1,490,000

Today’s leading headline: An insult to terror victims.

Today’s paper today reports that an alleged terrorist is to receive a quarter of a million pounds in legal aid as he battles to remain in the country. The Mail, although unable to identify the man for legal reasons, reports that he has already had a nine-year jail sentence.

The paper goes on to note that the alleged terrorist’s argument to remain hinges around his human rights, and the danger he may incur should he be deported.

Afterthought: Theresa May last week pledged to alter how the UK deals with terrorists and their rights, in a move widely condemned. Today’s Mail keeps up the battle cry, stating that the terrorist claimed that ‘throwing him out would breach his human rights’. The laws around human rights exist for a reason — we cannot simply alter them should they become a burden in a particular case.

The Daily Telegraph

Owned by: Telegraph Media Group, owned by Sir David Barclay and Sir Frederick Barclay

Editor: Chris Evans

Political leaning: Right

Daily circulation: circa. 460,000

Today’s leading headline: Tories and Labour hold secret talks on soft Brexit.

Following the election result, many of the papers this weekend reported that May has lost any hope of securing a ‘hard Brexit’. To keep her position of power, she has been forced into agreements and discussions she would rather not have had: notably the hard-right DUP last week. Today, rumours circulate that senior Tory cabinet ministers are in secret talks with members of Labour, attempting to gain their backing to make Brexit a reality.

This paper understands from its source that Labour will use this leverage to end the freeze on the public sector in return for its backing of a ‘soft Brexit’.

Afterthought: This development should come as little surprise. May needs to strengthen her position in almost any way possible right now, and the last few days have seen her attempt to moderate her governance. She has removed her two most controversial advisors, brought the firm ‘Remainer’ Damian Green into the fold as her deputy PM, and edited her original plans laid out in her manifesto.

The Times

Owned by: News UK, Rupert Murdoch’s company.

Editor: John Witherow

Political leaning: Right

Daily circulation: circa. 446,000

Today’s leading headline: Austerity is over, May tells Tories.

In a move that many will see as an attempt to further increase her popularity, Theresa May has stated that after seven years, austerity is over. The Prime Minister made the announcement to her fellow Tories as she moves to bring the party together, warding off any potential leadership challenges.

Afterthought: Today, the deputy leader of the Labour party Tom Watson penned a letter to May, asking if Rupert Murdoch had asked her to appoint Gove to his new position. The PM has yet to reply.

The Guardian

Owned by: Scott Trust Limited, run by a board with a policy of non-interference.

Editor: Katharine Viner

Political leaning: Left

Daily circulation: circa. 161,000

Today’s leading headline: May: ‘I got us into this mess, I’m going to get us out of it’.

The Guardian today focuses its coverage on May’s apology to her Tory colleagues, following her less than pleasing general election campaigning. The paper reports that May has been forced to adopt a ‘more conciliatory approach on Brexit’, as she seeks to find a moderate middle point.

Afterthought: I don’t need to sit here and write that Theresa May is about to enter a minefield of potential blunders. As we approach the beginning of formal Brexit strategies, the country still has no formal plan. It doesn’t exist. Phrases such as ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ Brexit are thrown about like leaves in a hurricane, and neither seem to amount to anything other than a quick headline in our 24/7 news cycle.

The i

Owned by: Johnston Press, whose CEO is Ashley Highfield, significant ties to the BBC

Editor: Oliver Duff

Political leaning: Centre

Daily circulation: circa. 264,000

Today’s leading headline: May’s mea culpa.

The i today covers the same topics many of the others chose to focus on: friction within the Tory party concerning the outcome of Brexit. The paper reports that ‘hard Brexit’ MP’s from the Conservative parry are reaching out to their Labour counterparts in a bid to bring in a softer Brexit.

Afterthought: Gove’s appointment has had its 15 minutes of media analysis, all of which remains rather unsatisfactory. Likewise, there has been little front page attention focussed on what comes next for Labour. May has dominated the headlines; with every little thing she does consuming the news cycle.

The Daily Mirror

Owner: Trinity Mirror. Its chairman is David Grigson, formerly the chief financial officer at Reuters

Editor: Lloyd Embley

Political leaning: Left / far left

Daily circulation: circa. 716,900

Today’s leading headline: May the farce be with you.

Today’s left wing Mirror has put forward a headline image I would rather have never seen. May’s face has been photoshopped onto Princess Leia from the Star Wars franchise, and the paper has chosen to pun on the famous saying of ‘may the force be with you’.

The paper goes on to describe how May has to issue a grovelling apology to ‘angry MP’s’ in the light of last week’s election result.

Afterthought: The Daily Mirror reaches Snu-esque levels of painful tabloid coverage today.

Financial Times

Owner: The Nikkei, which is based in Tokyo.

Editor: Lionel Barber

Political leaning: Centre

Daily circulation: circa. 193,211

Today’s leading headline: Stop wasting time or risk an EU exit without deal, Barnier warns.

The Financial Times has spent the last month focussing on the repercussions the election result will have on May’s Brexit campaign. Today, it quotes the EU’s chief negotiator, who states that Britain risks ‘crashing out’ of the EU if May doesn’t approach the topic with a more serious plan.

Afterthought: Like the tinny headache and slightly sicky feeling that accompanies the morning after a night of drinking Buckfast, Brexit looms over May and her party. As the UK prepares, or attempts to prepare, expect more EU officials to give statements in a similar vein to this, as the hardballing begins.

The Sun

Owner: News UK, owned by Rupert Murdoch

Editor: Tony Gallagher

Political leaning: Right / far right

Daily circulation: circa. 1,611,464

Today’s leading headline: Mess, Prime Minister.

Today’s Sun covers May’s apology to her MP’s, during which the paper claims she ‘grovelled’ in front of the backbench. The paper says May has promised to mend the damage she has caused.

Afterthought: No mention of Gove or Johnson on today’s front page. May even seems to be getting an easier time than expected, perhaps due to her reappointment of Gove into the cabinet.