Papers split between covering end of Theresa May’s tenure, and start of Boris Johnson’s bid to replace her

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Theresa May’s misery at being pushed to set a timetable for her departure as prime minister, is the lead story on many front pages.

“May ends in June” is the solid pun attempt from the Mirror, which reported that the prime minister was “left in tears yesterday after being forced to announce a date to finally quit” while the country was “in tears” at the “dreaded prospect of Boris Johnson becoming PM”.

Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) Tomorrow's front page: May ends in June #tomorrowspaperstoday https://t.co/GPMpO8KdNF pic.twitter.com/5fO7aoGYsP

Many of the papers were struck by May’s emotional response to the day’s events.

The Telegraph’s headline is: “Tory ‘men in grey suits’ tell tearful May her time is up”, with the paper saying the “prime minister’s fate is sealed in hour-long meeting with senior MPs who want to elect her replacement before summer recess”.

Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) Friday’s Daily TELEGRAPH: “Tory ‘men in grey suits’ tell tearful May her time is up” #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/u7tI014yIf

The Times reports “May pleads for time as Johnson targets No 10”, saying the prime minister “resisted calls to set a departure date from No 10 during a ‘tense and emotionally charged’ meeting”.

Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) Friday’s TIMES: “May pleads for time as Johnson targets No 10” #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/VJ3vjurE7D

The Mail focuses on the contender for the top job. “Boris shows his hand”, says the paper. “I’m going for it” the paper quotes Johnson as saying in what it calls a “dramatic bid for No 10”. “Dramatic” feels an odd choice of adjective, “completely unsurprising” or “ very well presaged”, might be better.

The i has a quote from Johnson that says it all: “‘Of course I’m going to go for it.’” The paper’s headline is: “Johnson: make me your prime minister”.

Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) Friday’s i - “Johnson: make me your prime minister” #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/I545MccqdI

The FT says: “May to set timetable for No 10 exit after June vote on withdrawal bill” saying that a fourth defeat on her Brexit bill is “expected”, meaning the countdown to the leadership race begins.

Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) Friday’s FINANCIAL TIMES: “May to set timetable for No 10 exit after June vote on withdrawal bill” #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/wDycg8SkIC

May agreeing to set a timetable for her departure from the top job (“Countdown to end of May’s time as prime minister”) features on the Guardian’s front page but top billing goes to an exclusive from Middle East correspondent Martin Chulov: “Iran tells militias to prepare for proxy war in Middle East”. The picture slot is given to a story about the death of university student Natasha Abrahart.

The Guardian (@guardian) Guardian front page, Friday

17 May 2019: Iran tells militias to prepare for proxy war in Middle East pic.twitter.com/QooEP6bPVD

The Express doesn’t mention Johnson or May on the front page, instead leading on a campaign by a mother whose child has cystic fibrosis: “Give children drugs to keep them alive,” it says.

Daily Express (@Daily_Express) In tomorrow's @Daily_Express

- Give children the drugs they need to keep them alive #cysticfibrosis

- Old enemies remember Monte Cassino

- Rocketmania as Elton's movie magic at #Cannes2019 #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/Le9xLC5TYB

The Sun features a small story about the leadership spat under the headline “Month longer for PM”, but leads on a story labelling navy leaders a “bunch of anchors” for sacking a navy “hero” over misuse of a car.