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Treasury officials are "pushing big supermarkets to introduce voluntary price caps on staple groceries in return for lifting some regulations", the Financial Times reports, after food inflation hit 3.7% in April. Quoting those "close to the situation", the paper writes that grocers who cap the cost of "essential goods such as eggs, bread and milk" could see fewer packaging and healthy food regulations. Grocers have reacted "furiously" to the government's proposal, the paper says.
"Milk, egg and bread prices could be frozen" the Times says, writing that it is part of Chancellor Rachel Reeves's raft of new measures "to help with the cost of living, including scrapping plans to increase fuel duty by 5p from Setpember". The grocery price cap also comes after the SNP announced similar plans in Scotland, "which would limit the price of up to 50 essential items, including bread, milk and cheese".
"Retail sector decries '1970s-style' policy as Labour attempts to combat surging inflation," reads the Daily Telegraph's take on the price cap proposal. Meanwhile, the paper says "Nato is considering a mission to unblock the Strait of Hormuz by July... even without a peace deal between the United States and Iran". One-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments normally pass through the waterway and the paper writes "world leaders are becoming increasingly concerned that the strait's closure is causing a cost of living crisis".
"Cabinet ministers woo [Andy] Burnham" is the i Paper's lead story, after the Greater Manchester mayor was selected as the Labour candidate in the forthcoming Makerfield by-election. Elsewhere, the paper splashes "Strictly's triple twist", after the reality series announced its three new host:s Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe.
The Daily Express leads with remarks from Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch who penned a column in the paper. Forecasts from Cornwall Insight, an analyst group, suggest power bills could rise by £209 in July, which Badenoch calls "another failed promise", adding: "I still remember Keir Starmer promising to cut our energy bills by £300." A government spokesperson tells the paper: "We know families will be concerned about the impact the conflict in the Middle East will have on their energy bills."
The Metro leads with the BBC's investigation into the reality TV series Married at First Sight (MAFS) UK, where two women alleged they were raped during filming and another described an allegation of sexual misconduct. The paper quotes Conservative MP Caroline Dinenage in its headline: "In hindsight, no wonder it went wrong." Channel 4, which aired the show, said it had commissioned an external review last month of welfare on the show.
The Sun writes in its headline that the next MAFS UK season has been "axed" following the BBC's revelations, although its online version has been updated to reflect that the show "faces cancellation". It is understood no decision has been made on the broadcast of MAFS UK series 6. "Channel 4 also secretly paused production on its all-stars' special three weeks ago when they were made aware of the allegations," the Sun says.
The UK "must get used to being a hot country" is the Guardian's headline, citing warnings from the government's climate advisers in a new report. One of its key takeaways is that "British homes will need air conditioning to survive predicted levels of global heating".
The Independent writes that British detectives are "investigating two separate allegations of historic child sexual abuse following the release of files linked to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein". The alleged abuse occurred in "Surrey and Berkshire in the mid-1990s to 2000", while another is "linked to west Surrey in the mid-to-late 1980s" the paper reports.
Pop star Kylie Minogue "endured a private cancer battle 16 years after she was first diagnosed with the disease", the Daily Mirror writes. It adds: "She also reveals in a new documentary that she delayed chemotherapy back in 2005 because she was going through IVF."
A new 3D-printed egg used to "resurrect a terrifying 12ft bird" is hailed as a "scientific breakthrough" on the Daily Star's front page. "Flappy days!" it quips.
"Burnham said that men who identify as women should be able to use female toilets," the Daily Mail says, reporting on comments the paper says were revealed in an "exclusive leaked tape".
