Newspaper headlines: School's prayer ban win and 'cig-free generation'
BBC News - Staff
A number of Wednesday's papers lead with the news that a Muslim pupil has lost a High Court challenge brought against her school, north London's Michaela Community School, over a ban on prayer rituals. The Metro says the girl claimed the ban was discriminatory but that the school - known as Britain's strictest - argued that allowing prayer risked undermining inclusion. [BBC]
The headteacher at the school, Katharine Birbalsingh, is dubbed Britain's "bravest" on the front page of the Daily Mail. The paper says Ms Birbalsingh responded to the ruling by hitting out at "bullying identity politics" and describing the outcome as a "victory for all schools". [BBC]
The Daily Express reports that the judge in the case ruled that the ban was not discriminatory and was "proportionate". The paper also quotes Esther McVey, known unofficially as the government's minister for common sense, saying: "Hallelujah...from time to time, we all struggle to understand decisions made in the courts. Thankfully, this one is a victory for common sense which will allow Michaela to continue doing what it does better than anyone else." [BBC]
A planned ban on smoking for those born in 2009 or later leads a number of the papers. The Daily Mirror says the measure will bring about the first "cig-free generation" and quotes the British Heart Foundation saying it will protect future generations from the "devastating consequences of smoking". [BBC]
The Guardian says Tuesday's parliamentary vote on the ban - in which MPs backed it by 383 to 67 - has "underlined the depth of division" within the Conservative Party. It notes that among those opposing the measure were dozens of Tory MPs, including Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch, and says the vote delivered a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's authority. [BBC]
The Daily Telegraph says that, when abstentions are included, a total of 165 Tory MPs - almost half the parliamentary party - declined to give the ban their backing. The paper says that the "scale of the revolt will be seen by many as an indicator of dissatisfaction with Mr Sunak's plans and the potential direction of the party under a future leader", though adds that the prime minister sees the ban as a "major part of his legacy". [BBC]
At least a dozen officers from Greater Manchester Police are examining several allegations related to whether deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner submitted false information about her main residence to the electoral register, according to the Times. Ms Rayner was registered as living at a former council house until she sold the property in 2015, but appears to have given her husband's address when she re-registered the births of two of her children in 2010. Tax experts have suggested she may owe up to £3,500 in Capital Gains Tax - although she may owe nothing at all. A source tells the Times that the investigation is "very well resourced" and not limited to a single issue. "There is a volume of material and a clear public interest to fully investigate," they say. Ms Rayner denies any wrongdoing and has said she will step down if she is found to have broken the law. [BBC]
The Daily Star says former prime minister Liz Truss has accused its "loveable lettuce" of being part of a London elite. Ms Truss has just published a book about her short-lived premiership, the final days of which famously saw the Star run a live feed of a lettuce to see if it could outlast her time in office. [BBC]
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has urged his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, to keep a "calm head" following Saturday's attack by Iran and warned that a significant retaliation would "only deepen insecurity in the Middle East", according to the i. The paper notes that Mr Netanyahu was previously "too busy" to take Mr Sunak's call, but adds that European and US leaders hope to convince him that a new package of sanctions will be more effective than military action in disrupting the Iranian regime. [BBC]
The Financial Times reports that Jay Powell, the chair of the US Federal Reserve, has warned that it is likely to take "longer than expected" for inflation to return to its 2% target. The paper says his comments have the effect of "damping expectations over the number and pace of interest rate cuts this year". [BBC]
And the Sun leads with the news that England and Manchester City footballer Kyle Walker has become a dad for the sixth time. The paper says it comes after Walker and wife Annie Kilner took time apart in January after it was revealed he had fathered a second child by model Lauryn Goodman. A friend tells the paper that the couple are "committed to working on their relationship".' [BBC]
