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All the front pages lead with the release of documents relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US. He was sacked in September, following new revelations about the extent of his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "Starmer did ignore Epstein warnings" is the Independent's headline, writing "documents show the prime minister [Sir Keir Starmer] was told Lord Mandelson had 'close ties' with Jeffrey Epstein even after the financier was convicted of procuring an underage girl". Sir Keir has maintained he did not know "the extent and depth" of Lord Mandelson's relationship with Epstein when he appointed him.
"Mandelson was shown secret files before 'weirdly rushed' vetting" is the i Paper's take, with Number 10 files appearing to show the peer "was given access to highly classified material before he had full security clearance".
The PM was "handed a dossier of evidence about the peer's relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein", the Guardian reports. It also features an update on the US-Israeli conflict with Iran on its front page, writing "Iran ramps up 'war of attrition' with attacks on commercial ships" across the Gulf region.
The Daily Express says "PM was warned on 'reputation risk' of hiring Mandelson".
The Sun quips "for Peter's sake, PM" on its front page, in reference to Lord Mandelson, adding: "Warning over Epstein ignored".
Several papers lead with suggestions that Lord Mandelson asked for a payout of more than £500,000 when he was sacked as ambassador. "£500k to walk away" is the Metro's headline. The BBC understands Lord Mandelson takes issue with this claim and the Treasury ultimately agreed to a payment of £75,000.
The Daily Star calls Lord Mandelson's payout request a "golden mandshake" in its headline. It also splashes the Cheltenham Festival across the front page, announcing the cartoon character Andy Capp will join the paper's racing coverage.
"Shameless peer's cash bid after sacking over friendship with pedophile," is the Daily Mirror's take on the Mandelson story.
The Daily Mail leads with fresh questions raised by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch over Sir Keir's judgment. "Not fit to lead the country" is Badenoch's view, the paper writes, adding that she said "Labour MPs must oust" the prime minister.
The papers continue to cover the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. "Record IEA [International Energy Agency] oil release as strait tensions hit markets" is the Financial Times' headline. It reports the agency "launched the historic release of 400mn barrels of oil as its members respond to turmoil in energy markets unleashed by the Middle East war".
"Iran: We can push oil up to $200 a barrel" reads a headline on front page of the Times. Next to a photo of smoke billowing out of a large ship, it writes: "Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC] vowed not to allow 'a litre of oil' through the Strait of Hormuz, choking off about a quarter world production." It says the attacks have led to a "huge release of global reserves aimed at saving economies from inflation".
"Iran planning to bomb California, says FBI" reads a headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph. Separately, the paper features a photo of the Princess Royal and Carole Middleton, the Princess of Wales's mother, in the stands of the Cheltenham Festival.
