What the papers say – December 15
Theresa May’s bruising “bust-up” in Brussels leads a swathe of Saturday’s papers.
The Guardian says Mrs May has been left “brutally exposed” after she returned from Brussels “empty-handed” following her last-ditch attempt to secure legal concessions on the Irish backstop.
Guardian front page, Saturday 15 December 2018: Angry and bruised, May returns empty-handed pic.twitter.com/ZkYMzv0dlJ
— The Guardian (@guardian) December 14, 2018
A “robust” exchange between Mrs May and EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, in which she reportedly admonished him for calling her “nebulous”, was caught on camera, the Daily Telegraph says.
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph 'I've been very clear: don't call me nebulous' #tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/3YzD5lH6D1
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 14, 2018
Mr Juncker was accused of showing “disrespect” to Mrs May, the Daily Express reports.
Saturday’s Express: “Why the hell do we bother?” #BBCPapers#tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/dDH8XGEIES (via @MsHelicat)
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 14, 2018
The PM has threatened to “crash” the deal if the EU does not give ground, the Financial Times says.
Just published: front page of FT Weekend, UK edition, Saturday 15 December https://t.co/o4sK2RmbFjpic.twitter.com/oEeJMCJRbq
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) December 14, 2018
The Times says a majority of Cabinet ministers view the PM’s deal as “dead” and are discussing alternative options – including a second referendum.
May's Brexit deal is 'is dead'#tomorrowspaperstoday@MsHelicatpic.twitter.com/xzSH10rYbl
— The Times Pictures (@TimesPictures) December 14, 2018
Some senior Tories have told the PM to open talks with Labour in a final bid to save the deal, The Independent reports.
Tomorrow's @independent front page #tomorrowspaperstoday To subscribe to the Daily Edition https://t.co/XF8VnDpHYFpic.twitter.com/U73EU8Ht6y
— The Independent (@Independent) December 14, 2018
In other Brexit news, The Sun says EU chiefs plan to charge Britons £6 to visit the bloc in future.
Tomorrow’s front page: Brits will have to pay £6 to visit Europe https://t.co/BZjbrndin3pic.twitter.com/utJ7LeSMZy
— The Sun (@TheSun) December 14, 2018
Meanwhile, away from Brexit, the Daily Mail reports on drastic Christmas sales measures taken by high street retailers to keep afloat.
Tomorrow's @DailyMailUK#MailFrontPagespic.twitter.com/h6Cpkjqku4
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) December 14, 2018
And the Daily Mirror leads with the case of a fraudster who lied about having terminal cancer to swindle her husband and family out of £250,000.
Tomorrow's front page: Cancer wife's 4-year con#tomorrowspaperstodayhttps://t.co/8N8YsvqjD0pic.twitter.com/que0qxfJTU
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) December 14, 2018