The guilty verdict in Donald Trump’s hush money trial is featured prominently in several of Friday’s front pages. The former US president has been convicted of fraud by a jury that found him guilty on 34 charges of falsifying business records, the Times reports. The paper says opinion polls have suggested a criminal conviction could put off some voters, but some political strategists doubt whether it will have any effect in the US election later this year.
“Trump guilty”, is the Mirror’s headline. The paper’s entire front page is dedicated to the verdict, which it describes as “historic”.
Speaking outside court, Trump called the verdict a “disgrace” and said the trail was “rigged”, the i reports. “I’m a very innocent man,” he told reporters.
The Daily Star brands Trump an “orange manbaby”, with the paper’s main image showing the 77-year-old looking solemn in court.
Meanwhile, the Guardian says Sir Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure to end what his critics say is a “purge” of those on the Labour left. Accusations Sir Keir was conducting a “cull of leftwingers” came after several high-profile members were told they would not be selected to stand as Labour candidates, the paper reports. Labour has denied blocking candidates from running. The paper also carries an interview with Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner, who describes herself as being a “Marmite” figure.
The Daily Express reports Sir Keir was yesterday challenged by Ms Rayner to allow veteran MP Diane Abbott to stand at the general election, exposing divisions among the party’s senior ranks.
Most British voters expect their taxes to go up after the general election whichever of the two main parties win, a poll by Ipsos for the Financial Times shows. Elsewhere, the main picture on the paper’s front page is of Green Party co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay at the launch of their general election campaign.
The sentencing of Fiona Beal, a teacher who pleaded guilty to murdering her partner, Nick Billingham, is the lead story in the Metro. A statement read out on behalf of Yvonne Valentine, Mr Billingham’s mother, outside the Old Bailey yesterday said Beal had “demonstrated extraordinary evil”, the paper reports.
The Daily Mail reports that thousands of NHS patients will get personalised cancer vaccines over the next year, in a “landmark” breakthrough. It says the NHS is launching a “world-leading” scheme which will “match-make” patients with clinical trials.
Many of Friday’s front pages feature images of a frowning Donald Trump at the New York court where his hush money trial has been taking place.
The paper says a survey of swing states suggests that support for Mr Trump will increase because of what the Daily Mirror predicts could be “the most consequential verdict in American criminal history”.
But regardless of whether he goes to prison, the i points out he “could still become US president as a felon“, because “America’s founding fathers did not anticipate this scenario”.
The paper says Sir Keir Starmer was “openly challenged” by his deputy, Angela Rayner, who said Ms Abbott should be allowed to stand for the party at the election.
Sources tell the paper that Catherine was never expected to attend the Colonel’s Review, as she undergoes chemotherapy. But the army officer overseeing the ceremony says he is “determined to make it the best yet for her”.
