What the papers say – October 18
Brexit tops the agenda on Thursday after Theresa May indicated she was ready to consider extending Britain’s transition out of the EU for a further year to the end of 2021.
“Brextra time!”, declares The Sun, as it reports that the move would risk infuriating the hardline Brexiteers intent on leaving the EU next March.
Tomorrow's front page: Theresa May says Britain could stay tied to EU for another year https://t.co/3wiwkFal9Dpic.twitter.com/tJ2RDH5kC8
— The Sun (@TheSun) October 17, 2018
The Daily Telegraph says Mrs May was playing for time as she called on EU leaders to show “courage” and come up with “creative” ideas to break the Brexit deadlock.
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph 'May offers to extend transition by a year' #tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/3ibAZrAiIB
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) October 17, 2018
But The Guardian says the PM “irritated” the leaders by offering no new ideas to solve the Irish border question, instead highlighting the progress made by officials since the Salzburg summit last month.
Guardian front page, Thursday 18 October 2018: Brexit deadlock as May ‘offers no new ideas’ at EU summit pic.twitter.com/xfkgqo5DJA
— The Guardian (@guardian) October 17, 2018
Delaying Britain’s transition out of the EU by another year would mean contributing another annual £10 billion payment to the EU budget, the Daily Mail reports.
Friday’s @DailyMailUK#MailFrontPagespic.twitter.com/k2C6ZVJgyd
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) October 17, 2018
The i reports that Mrs May was open to an extension in a bid to save the Brexit deal.
Thursday’s i – “May open to Brexit extension in bid to save deal” #bbcpapers#tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/yCQeLGNSfj
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) October 17, 2018
Meanwhile, the Metro reports that Emmanuel Macron’s government has proposed that Britons living in France will instantly be deemed illegal immigrants if the UK crashes out of the EU without a deal.
Thursday’s METRO: “MacNON!” #bbcpapers#tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/L2ZrQpqiCD
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) October 17, 2018
And the Financial Times says one of the US’s top market regulators has threatened to stop European banks from using American futures markets if the EU refuses to water down post-Brexit plans to oversee clearing houses.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Thursday 18 October https://t.co/tNV7l2HusFpic.twitter.com/FLbF0bLEyr
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) October 17, 2018
In other news, the Daily Mirror carries an interview with the mother of poisoned former spy Sergei Skripal, who says she fears she will never see her son again.
Tomorrow's front page: 'I fear I'll never see him again,' says poisoned spy's mum #tomorrowspaperstodayhttps://t.co/OCJc8sa61Wpic.twitter.com/yTHGJTOPK4
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) October 17, 2018
The Times leads on an investigation which it says found a young autistic woman was “pimped out” by her carers.
Tomorrow's Times front page: Autistic woman ‘pimped out’ in care scandal https://t.co/0coIYuNYGxpic.twitter.com/sex8oFURYb
— The Times of London (@thetimes) October 17, 2018
And the Daily Express reports that charities and campaign groups reacted furiously to plans to cut free TV licences for the UK’s oldest pensioners.
Thursday’s Daily EXPRESS: “Scrapping Free TV Licence ‘Act Of Cruelty’ “ #bbcpapers#tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/mNm6HJGFH8
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) October 17, 2018