Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Front Pages
‘Night of the blond knives’: UK newspapers dissect ‘hollow victory’ for Boris Johnson
The frontpages ask if the “Party’s over” for the UK prime minister or has he survived to “lie another day”.
THE FRONT PAGES of today’s newspapers in the UK focus on the fall-out from a deeply wounding confidence vote for Boris Johnson.
The overriding impression from across the news outlets is that the UK prime minister is on borrowed time after yesterday’s poll of Conservative MPs.
Tuesday’s Sun: Night of the blond knives #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/YgLUVWR8D0
— Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) June 6, 2022
The Sun says Johnson has “just” survived the “night of the blond knives”, adding that the 57-year-old leader was “stabbed in back by 148 Tories”.
Both the Metro and the Daily Mirror declared that the “party’s over” for the administration, with the latter paper adding that Johnson has been warned he’ll be “out in a year”.
Tuesday’s Mirror: Party’s over, Boris #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/ncNb63rx1B
— Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) June 6, 2022
The Guardian describes the confidence vote as a “humiliation” while The Daily Telegraph reports the “hollow victory” has left Johnson’s authority “crushed”.
Tuesday’s Guardian: PM clinging to power after vote humiliation #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/QHKRh43drl
— Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) June 6, 2022
Tuesday’s Daily Telegraph: Hollow victory tears Tories apart #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/ilrn8I4Hw8
— Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) June 6, 2022
The Financial Times, i and The Times labelled the Tory leader “wounded”. The Daily Star says the “Fibber PM” has survived to “lie another day”.
Its frontpage screamed “Carry on Pinocchio” along with a mocked-up cartoon of several cabinet members, including Johnson complete with a long nose.
Tuesday’s Daily Star: Carry on Pinocchio #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/vEsKDP2Xwj
— Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) June 6, 2022
There’s something of an obstinate tone on the Johnson-friendly outlets. The Daily Express reports that the prime minister is “defiant and unbowed” as the Daily Mail quotes Johnson as vowing to “bash on” and “focus on the things that people want”.
Tuesday’s Daily Mail:
— Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) June 6, 2022
Boris vows: I’ll bash on #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/afxZVTwbs5
Meanwhile, The Independent looks ahead to Johnson potentially facing further blows in two key by-elections in Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton later this month.
In Scotland the Daily Record also declared that the “party’s over” adding that it is time to “Get Borexit done”.
Tuesday’s Daily Record: Get borexit done #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/hBAODZH7OD
— Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) June 6, 2022
Additional reporting from Press Association
have your say