What the papers say – March 8

Brexit returns to the top of the agenda on Friday while knife crime also continues to make headlines.

The Guardian reports that Theresa May is to make a last-ditch attempt to persuade the EU to give her a better Brexit deal after a “day of Cabinet chaos”.

The Prime Minister will plead for concessions to avoid a total collapse of negotiations, the i says.

The Times reports that Mrs May has been warned by Remainers in the Cabinet that she will lose control of Brexit next week unless she holds fresh votes on alternatives to her deal if it is defeated a second time.

The Daily Mail also leads on politics, reporting that Labour could face enforcement action from the Equality and Human Rights Commission over complaints about anti-Semitism in the party.

The paper also carries an image of 17-year-old stabbing victim Jodie Chesney after her father spoke of his family’s pain at her death.

The Daily Mirror runs with the headline: “Britain on a knife-edge”, while The Sun echoes this, as the papers report on another fatal stabbing involving a teenager.

Chancellor Philip Hammond was accused of using the knife crime crisis to “blackmail” MPs over Brexit, the Metro says, after he said cash set aside to cope with a no-deal departure could be spent on tackling knife crime.

The Daily Express also leads on the issue, carrying calls from the chief constable of Merseyside Police for criminals caught carrying knives to be jailed immediately.

In other news, the Daily Telegraph reports that banks will be compelled to publish regular updates on how much they invest in businesses run by women.