Newspaper headlines: Tories 'in turmoil' over Brexit By BBC News

Staff Published duration 13 March 2017

The papers say the Conservatives are in "turmoil" ahead of Monday's Brexit debate.

It is the second time MPs have voted on the EU Withdrawal Bill and the Telegraph heralds this as one of the most momentous weeks in recent British history.

But the paper does warn Britain must prepare for the prospect of Brexit without a deal with the EU.

The Financial Times says rebel Tory backbenchers have admitted they are unlikely to have the numbers to block the prime minister from triggering Article 50.

Hallelujah! says the Mail. Britain is finally due to set sail to freedom from the anti-democratic EU, the paper reports.

And the Daily Express says the debate brings Britain one step closer to regaining its sovereignty and making its own laws.

'Mind-boggling'

The Guardian can't muster much optimism this Monday though, believing a bleak week lies ahead.

The paper sees the decision to leave the EU as a calamity for the UK, and reports on research that suggests Britain's trade links with the EU could be worse than those of any other major industrialised nation if it leaves without a new commercial deal in place.

In a similar vein, columnist Ian Birrell, writing in the "i" says the prime minister is poised to lead her people in a mass leap over a cliff edge. He says the country should prepare for two years of madness as "Theresa May faces a sprint through a maze of mind-boggling complexity."

The Mail reports that the prospect of a Conservative rebellion over the Brexit bill has melted away and will not damage Mrs May's plans.

It says a small number of Tory Remainers may abstain, or vote against the government but it won't be enough to thwart the process.

But the Telegraph says Scotland's first minister will attempt to derail Brexit by setting out plans for a second independence referendum if the country is not offered a special deal.

Meanwhile, allies of Mrs May and Chancellor Philip Hammond have been fighting like ferrets in a sack, according to the Mail.

It says they're rowing over who is to blame over the self-employed tax "fiasco" in last week's Budget.

The Financial Times says the Cabinet Office is quietly undertaking a sweeping audit of all the agencies that combat economic crime. It comes amid concerns London is awash with so-called "dirty money".

The paper says the review is sparking fresh fears over the future of the Serious Fraud Office, which has a history of tensions with Mrs May, dating back to her time at the Home Office.

Former Liberal leader Lord Steel has revealed his wife has been in hospital for nine months suffering from severe depression, reports the Times.

According to the paper, Lord Steel says he is virtually retired from public life but looking after his wife has made him think more about mental health. He says he is determined to put the experience to good use by studying how care can be improved.

Ministers are set to launch a crackdown on speed awareness courses, reports the Times.

The paper says there are concerns that the courses fail to alter drivers' attitudes and are a way for police forces to make money.

It says ministers are to set a cap on fees, and insist that any money made from the system is invested in promoting road safety.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph says the RSPCA has accused handlers at Crufts of holding leads too tightly, causing the dogs distress, and putting them at risk of harm.

The paper says it is a well-known method of improving a dog's posture to pull firmly on its lead to encourage the animal to raise its head.