What the papers say – September 27
The uncovering of the “real identity” of one of the Salisbury nerve agent attack suspects leads many papers on Thursday.
Jeremy Corbyn’s closing speech to the Labour Party conference also makes headlines.
The Daily Telegraph reports that one of the alleged assassins wanted over the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal is a decorated colonel in the Russian army.
Thursday’s Telegraph: "Novichok hitman is Russian colonel decorated by Putin" #tomorrowspaperstoday#bbcpapers (via @MsHelicat) pic.twitter.com/a1uPkacQL3
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) September 26, 2018
Anatoliy Chepiga is a senior member of Russian military intelligence unit the GRU, the Metro reports.
Thursday’s METRO: Novichok hitman a Putin war hero #tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/aWd8cnExwk
— Helen Miller (@MsHelicat) September 26, 2018
Chepiga, who travelled to Britain under the pseudonym Ruslan Boshirov, once received Russia’s highest military award, says the Daily Express.
Thursday’s EXPRESS – Unmasked: Putin’s hitman #tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/svWgSiLT2U
— Helen Miller (@MsHelicat) September 26, 2018
The medal was given to him by Russian president Vladimir Putin, the Daily Mirror reports.
Thursday’s Mirror: "Putin gave Novichok hitman a medal" #tomorrowspaperstoday#bbcpapers (via @MsHelicat) pic.twitter.com/eMTL3ODzxB
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) September 26, 2018
The Daily Mail says the revelation of his true identity contradicts claims made by Mr Putin, who said on television that Chepiga and his suspected accomplice, Alexander Petrov, were civilians.
Thursday’s Daily Mail: "Unmasked" #tomorrowspaperstoday#bbcpapers (via @MsHelicat) pic.twitter.com/GY7NvunZb9
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) September 26, 2018
The disclosure, by investigative journalism organisation Bellingcat, adds weight to suggestions the attack on Mr Skripal was sanctioned by the top of the Kremlin, The Times reports.
Tomorrow's front page: Salisbury spy ‘hitman’ is a decorated colonel #tomorrowspapertodaypic.twitter.com/kIjyYW9OUE
— The Times of London (@thetimes) September 26, 2018
Meanwhile, Mr Corbyn told Theresa May that Labour MPs will vote against her so-called Chequers plan unless it keeps Britain in a customs union and protects consumer and worker rights, The Guardian reports.
The Guardian front page, Thursday 27 September 2018: Get a good Brexit deal or face Labour veto, Corbyn tells May pic.twitter.com/wKAaZjLb02
— The Guardian (@guardian) September 26, 2018
The i also leads with Mr Corbyn’s speech.
Thursday’s i – Corbyn: I’m ready for power #tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/ew0B2E3ivj
— Helen Miller (@MsHelicat) September 26, 2018
In other news, a nurse who was the first person in the UK to contract monkeypox has blamed “pathetically small” NHS gloves, The Sun reports.
Tomorrow's front page: A hospital worker is the first person to catch monkeypox in the UK and says "pathetically small" NHS gloves failed to protect her. pic.twitter.com/UEVZNuXGhg
— The Sun (@TheSun) September 26, 2018
The Independent leads on figures that show a fall in rape prosecutions.
Tomorrow's @independent front page #tomorrowspaperstoday To subscribe to the Daily Edition https://t.co/XF8VnDpHYFpic.twitter.com/Sv7PERQVba
— The Independent (@Independent) September 26, 2018
And the Financial Times reports on Comcast’s purchase of the broadcaster Sky.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times UK edition Thursday September 27 https://t.co/r4wXPbDa6Ipic.twitter.com/A1BxlVUCdl
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) September 26, 2018