Things do not look good for Theresa May on the front pages of today’s papers. She is variously described as “lonely”, ordered to quit, described as being “in quicksand” and of her hopes of getting a deal through parliament “dramatically receding”.
The Sun leads with a front-page editorial calling for May to step down when her Brexit deal is approved. The paper says the prime minister has shown courage but “Time’s up Theresa”.
The award for the most absurd use of a biblical metaphor goes to the Daily Telegraph via its columnist and wannabe PM Boris Johnson, who managed to draw a parallel between Theresa May’s Brexit journey and that of Moses fighting to free his people from slavery in Egypt. “Let my people go” screams the front page.
The responses were as colourful as you might expect, with a law professor at Glasgow University writing on Twitter: “I can’t believe Boris Johnson gets a front page splash for quoting from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream coat when I know all of Cats off by heart and the Telegraph won’t even publish my letters.”
Back on planet Earth, the Guardian features photographs of four key Brexiters – Iain Duncan Smith, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Michael Gove and Boris Johnson – arriving at Chequers for a high-stakes summit with Theresa May: “Brexiters pile on pressure as May’s deal drifts away”.
The Daily Express is still backing May, ordering MPs to: “Get behind PM and sort out Brexit!” The paper lays the blame squarely at the feet “of a ‘Remainer cabal’” who should be “censured and ousted”.
The Times seems sure that May’s departure from office is imminent. “May clings on and defies call to set No 10 exit date”. The paper says that May has “resisted pressure” to set a date to leave the job “after a threatened cabinet coup fizzled out”. The paper features a photograph of Duncan Smith arriving at Chequers in a convertible Morgan sports car.
The Financial Times reports on the failed “crisis talks at Chequers”, saying: “May’s battle to win over sceptics spurs doubts on survival chances”.
The i says the prime minister is “in quicksand” after the emergency Chequers summit. “Lonely May refuses to stand down,” is its headline.
The Mail goes slightly off-script with a health story: “Children aged nine addicted to cannabis”.
The Mirror is also not hugely interested in Brexit. Its lead story today is “Skint mums using ‘baby banks’”. The paper does devote a small square of its front page to the political happenings, with “Brexit: May’s last bid to save her deal and her job”.