What the papers say – December 4

Brexit, climate change and criticism over this year’s train timetable chaos all feature on the front pages on Tuesday.

The Daily Telegraph leads on the ongoing battle over the Brexit legal advice, reporting that Attorney General Geoffrey Cox admitted Britain would be “indefinitely committed” to the customs backstop with the EU if it came into force.

Mr Cox said it was a “calculated risk” worth taking as he faced a contempt challenge in the Commons after refusing to publish the legal advice in full, the paper adds.

The Independent asks the PM to “think outside the box” as it urges: “Give the people a final say on Brexit”. The paper says it has collected more than one million signatures backing its petition.

Several papers lead on a report criticising this year’s train timetable chaos, with The Times reporting that Chris Grayling was blamed for failing to avert the crisis.

MPs also accused train bosses of adding “insult to injury” with a rail fare increase, the Metro says.

Climate change leads both the i and the Daily Mirror, after Sir David Attenborough appeared at the United Nations climate talks in Poland.

The naturalist warned time was running out to take action or the world would face the collapse of civilisation, the papers say.

In other news, The Guardian carries the second day of its investigation into racial bias in Britain.

The Sun reports that a man who murdered three children has been cleared for release by the Parole Board.

And the Daily Express says figures reveal the number of police officers has dropped to its lowest level in 37 years.

Elsewhere, the Daily Mail leads on its Christmas campaign to recruit an army of NHS volunteers.

And the Daily Star reports that common British sayings mentioning animals risk dying out because they might offend vegans.