London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Oct 02, 2026

Newspaper headlines: PM hails 'Brexit breakthrough' but 'tensions loom'

Newspaper headlines: PM hails 'Brexit breakthrough' but 'tensions loom'

A deal reached between the UK and the EU on the flow of goods to Northern Ireland leads the papers.

A deal reached between the UK and the European Union to amend the Northern Ireland protocol dominates Tuesday's front pages. The Guardian reports that the agreement, which will reduce checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, has been called a "decisive breakthrough" by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The paper adds that it came after four months of "intense negotiations".




The Times quotes Sunak declaring the deal "decisively better" than the one delivered by his predecessor, Boris Johnson. It reports the agreement will give the Stormont assembly an "emergency brake" on any new EU law affecting Northern Ireland and that it has won praise from a number of senior Brexit-backing Tory MPs.


Referencing Johnson's claim - made more than three years ago - that his own deal with the EU was "oven ready", the headline in the Metro reads: "You can put the oven on".



The DUP have "sounded a warning" over the claim that Stormont will be able to veto new European law, according to the i. The paper also says Johnson is weighing up whether to stage a public intervention as Sunak tries to sell the agreement to his backbenchers.



The Financial Times describes the agreement as a "turning point" but says many Eurosceptic Tories may wait to take their lead from the DUP, whose leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, told the Commons on Monday that there remained some "key issues of concern".



The Telegraph quotes Sunak praising von der Leyen's "vision in recognising the possibility of a new way forward" and von der Leyen saying she hopes the deal will open a "new chapter" for UK-EU relations. The paper also says that an expected backlash from Tory Eurosceptics has so far failed to materialise.



The Mail says that a feared Tory revolt over the deal "melted away" last night and speculates that Sunak might have "done the impossible" by addressing the issues with the existing agreement. Conservatives MPs David Davis, Dominic Raab, Steve Barclay, all former Brexit secretaries, have also written a joint article for the paper describing the deal as a "complete and utter game-changer".


The Mirror reports that the ashes of Peter Sutcliffe, the serial killer known as the Yorkshire Ripper, have been scattered at a beauty spot near the Cumbrian village of Arnside, which he visited as a child.


Broadchurch star Andrew Buchan has left his wife, Downton Abbey's Amy Nuttall, and is believed to be living with Leila Farzad, his co-star in BBC series Better, according to the Sun. A source tells the paper that Nuttall has been left "devastated" by Buchan's departure.


And the Star reports that the president of Mexico has claimed a mythical tree-climbing elf has been captured on camera. "Yes, the actual president," the paper says.

A deal reached between the UK and the European Union to amend the Northern Ireland protocol dominates Tuesday's front pages.

"Brexit Breakthrough", reads the headline in the Times. Inside it says the "devil [will be] in the details" of the deal. The Daily Mail asks: "Has Rishi Done The Impossible?" It says a feared Tory revolt melted away after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled what the paper called a "historic deal".

In its editorial comment, the Daily Telegraph said Monday was "arguably [Sunak's] best day yet as prime minister", adding that "time will tell if he has pulled off a political triumph".

"1,215 days late... Brexit deal is finally done" is how the Metro puts it. The Sun's headline says: "Got Brexit done... again" - before adding in brackets "hopefully". Inside the paper, the foreign secretary, James Cleverly, has written an article in which he says the agreement is a "turning point for Northern Ireland".

The Guardian reports that the deal has been broadly welcomed but that the prime minister still faces opposition from hardline Brexiteers. The DUP have "sounded a warning" over the claim that Stormont will be able to veto new European law, according to the i. The paper also says Boris Johnson is weighing up whether or not to intervene.

In an editorial, the Dublin-based Irish Times sees the deal as a "route to stability and progress" but adds that the very nature of Brexit means that no agreement is going to give everyone all that they are looking for.

Tributes have been paid to former Commons Speaker Betty Boothroyd, who has died at 93.


In his column, Sam McBride of the Belfast Telegraph says the Windsor Framework is more democratic and less unpalatable for unionism but is not what Sunak has claimed. He says the prime minister's spin is not backed up by the fine detail of a "phenomenally bureaucratic new system" and the reality is that the Irish Sea border will be staying.

"One of a kind" is how both the Express and the Sun describe Betty Boothroyd - the first female speaker of the Commons - who has died aged 93.

The Guardian quotes the current speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle calling her "an inspirational woman". The Telegraph said she was renowned for her "fair play, sense of humour and passionate belief in the sovereignty of Parliament."

And the Star reports that the president of Mexico has claimed a mythical tree-climbing elf has been captured on camera. "Yes, the actual president," the paper says.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Councils to Receive Sweeping Planning Powers to Ban New Vape and Betting Shops
Chancellor John Healey Faces Tax and Pension Scrutiny Ahead of Autumn Budget
Metropolitan Police Apologise for Accidental Disclosure in High-Profile Investigation
UK Universities Report Record International Enrolment as Housing Pressure Grows
UK Logistics Firms Monitor Rhine Disruption as Low Water Threatens European Supply Chains
UK Food Industry Warns Inflation Could Approach 7%
UK Introduces Vaping Duty and Mandatory Retail Stamps
Scotland Raises Property Taxes and Expands Child Payment in Annual Budget
Greggs Plans Four Factory Closures With 740 Jobs at Risk
OECD Raises UK 2026 Growth Forecast to 1.1%
UK Inflation Rises to 3.1% as Bank of England Faces Rate Debate
Andy Burnham Criticises Brexit and Says Rejoining EU Single Market Remains an Option
UK Imposes New Sanctions on Russian Military Networks and Propagandists
UK Launches Nationwide Early-Release Prison Scheme
Andy Burnham Says Security Services See Signs of Iranian Involvement in RAF Fairford Incident
Manchester City Found Guilty on Premier League Financial Charges After Independent Investigation
Scottish Court to Rule on Bid to Force No-Confidence Vote Against Aberdeen Council Co-Leader
UK Bans Extra Charges for Seating Children Under 12 Beside Accompanying Adults
UK Introduces Vaping Duty and New Licensing Requirements
Greggs to Close Four UK Factories and Cut 740 Jobs
Hundreds of Prisoners Released Early as England and Wales Prisons Reach 98% Capacity
UK Unveils New Russia Sanctions Targeting War Funding and Shadow Fleet
Burnham Says There Are Strong Indications of Iranian Involvement in RAF Fairford Security Breach
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Raises Prospect of Reviewing Britain's Post-Brexit EU Relationship
Markets Price in Bank of England Rate Increases as Inflation Rises to 3.1%
UK Borrowing Costs Climb Toward 5.5% as Global Bond Sell-Off Intensifies
UK-France One-In-One-Out Migration Agreement Expires as London Seeks Alternative Measures
Southwest England Faces Flood Alerts After Heavy Autumn Storms
UK Expands Funding for Rapid Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Welsh Government Approves Funding to Upgrade South Wales Transport
Northern Ireland Tensions Rise as Orange Order Rejects Drumcree Compromise
NHS Leaders Back Early Design of Proposed National Care Service
More Than One-Third of Regional UK Universities Face Financial Deficits
UK Current Account Deficit Narrows as Cross-Border Financial Flows Remain Strong
Bank of England and FCA Issue New Rules for Stablecoins and Digital Assets
MI5 Warns UK Universities Over Research Links With Chinese Institutions
UK Energy Price Cap Rises 4% as Electricity VAT Is Temporarily Suspended
Equity Calls for UK Personality Rights to Protect Performers From AI Replication
OpenAI Pauses Advanced Model Training Following Safety Concerns
Scottish Government Proposes Replacing 32 Councils With Larger Regional Authorities
Ofgem Raises UK Household Energy Price Cap by 4% From October
UK Counter-Terrorism Police Continue Investigation After Five Arrests Near RAF Fairford
OECD Cuts UK 2027 Growth Forecast to 1%
Labour Says State Pension Triple Lock Remains Protected Through Current Parliament
Andy Burnham Pledges National Care Service With Free Social Care in England
Six Flags Permanently Shuts Landmark X2 Roller Coaster Following Safety Scandals
Metropolitan Police Rule Out Terrorism in Golders Green Stabbing Investigation
Lithium-Ion Battery Identified as Cause of Fatal Merseyside House Fire
UK Department Rejects New Sea Use Framework Due to Stakeholder Fatigue
Major Thames Water Pipe Burst Causes School Closures in London
×