'Burnham's power play' and Widdecombe 'hit 21 times with a hammer'
UK media outlets are focusing on the brutal murder of Ann Widdecombe and the initial policy pledges of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Reports detail the violent nature of the attack on Widdecombe while simultaneously questioning the fiscal feasibility of Burnham's early government spending plans.
Why it matters
The coverage highlights the dual challenge of a new administration managing public safety concerns alongside significant economic and fiscal scrutiny.
Image caption, Andy Burnham's first full day as prime minister and fresh details about Ann Widdecombe's death dominate Wednesday's front pages. The Metro leads with reports that Widdecombe was hit on the head with a hammer 21 times on the day she was killed. Prosecutors told Westminster Magistrates' Court it was a "planned and targeted" attack carried out with a "ferocity of violence". Meanwhile, the paper also reports on Burnham's bid to cut bills as he holds his first cabinet meeting.
Image caption, Similarly, the Sun reads: "Ann 'hit 21 times with hammer'". The paper draws attention to the detail that the former MP was eating her lunch at the time of the attack, reporting that a kitchen camera is said to have captured her killer entering the Dartmoor bungalow.
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