What the papers say – September 21
The “humiliation” of Theresa May in Salzburg after a Brexit “ambush” by EU leaders tops nearly every paper on Friday.
Some report that the Prime Minister has been left angry yet defiant following the rejection of her Brexit proposals, while other say she has been left fighting to save her plans – and her premiership.
Several papers also carry images of the Duchess of Sussex and her mother, Doria Ragland, after she joined Meghan and Harry at the launch of a Grenfell community cookbook.
Mrs May was left “visibly furious” after EU leaders unanimously rejected her Chequers blueprint as unworkable on Wednesday, says the Daily Telegraph, which also picks out French president Emmanuel Macron’s dismissal of Brexiteers as “liars”.
Friday’s Daily TELEGRAPH: “ ‘Brexit is the choice of the British people…pushed by those who predicted easy solutions…Those people are liars” #bbcpapers#tomorrowspapertodaypic.twitter.com/E0gZv2RdZk
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) September 20, 2018
The Guardian says Mrs May was “clearly nervous and angry” after EU Council president Donald Tusk declaring Chequers “will not work”.
Guardian front page, Friday 21 September 2018: May humiliated as European leaders tell her: your Brexit plan won’t work pic.twitter.com/MhoulG2i7y
— The Guardian (@guardian) September 20, 2018
Mrs May is thought to have had a “blazing row” with Mr Tusk before he made his announcement and warned counterparts she could not make any more compromises, the Daily Mail reports.
Friday’s @DailyMailUK#MailFrontPagespic.twitter.com/kDriUVSAwd
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) September 20, 2018
The Daily Express describes the EU as “vengeful” and leads with the PM’s vow not to back down.
Friday’s Daily EXPRESS: “I Won’t Roll Over On Deal” #bbcpapers#tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/f7MMg0gGni
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) September 20, 2018
In a front-page leader, The Sun calls the EU chiefs “mobsters” who made a “cack-handed attempt” to sign Britain up to an unacceptable Brussels deal.
Tomorrow's front page: The Sun Says 'we can’t wait to free ourselves of the two-bit mobsters who run the European Union' https://t.co/JDOmkJqer3pic.twitter.com/YjioDyEtcr
— The Sun (@TheSun) September 20, 2018
The rejection has triggered a crisis in Government, with some cabinet ministers considering forcing her to abandon Chequers in a matter of days, The Times reports.
Tomorrow's front page: Humiliation for May as EU rejects Brexit plan #tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/2SIB7FsPzs
— The Times of London (@thetimes) September 20, 2018
The Daily Mirror says the plan is “broken” and “in tatters” and the chances of a no-deal Brexit have increased.
Tomorrow's front page: Your Brexit's broken#tomorrowspaperstodayhttps://t.co/QTGge0DFo6pic.twitter.com/xPmTpy5Ydq
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) September 20, 2018
The i describes the development as the “Salzburg disaster” and EU leaders had struck a “vulnerable” PM.
Friday’s i – “The Salzburg disaster” #bbcpapers#tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/Y4Lx0wfdt7
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) September 20, 2018
Mrs May now faces having to fight to salvage her plans at the Tory party conference ahead of a “moment of truth” – as described by Mr Tusk – when the EU leaders meet again on October 18, the Financial Times says.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Friday 21 September https://t.co/2t0RnzF9gbpic.twitter.com/Y1lV1ePIr9
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) September 20, 2018
In separate Brexit news, The Independent says the Labour party would get a large boost in voters if it backed a second referendum.
Tomorrow's @independent front page #tomorrowspaperstoday To subscribe to the Daily Edition https://t.co/XF8VnDpHYFpic.twitter.com/5xOS7hMOtB
— The Independent (@Independent) September 20, 2018
In other news, the Daily Star leads with the outcome of a three-year investigation into the Croydon cat killings – which are now suspected to have been caused by foxes.
Friday’s Daily STAR: “Outfoxed” #bbcpapers#tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/u7cqaUAA54
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) September 20, 2018