'Healey to defer defence spend target' and 'Fergie's coming home'
UK Chancellor John Healey faces criticism over plans to scale back defence spending targets, while Prime Minister Andy Burnham navigates political pressure and polling shifts. The papers also cover the King's response to a tragic police crash and ongoing debates regarding tax policy and international relations.
Why it matters
These developments highlight significant shifts in UK fiscal policy and geopolitical positioning, impacting both domestic stability and international alliances.
Image caption, Several of Saturday's papers focus on the UK's defence spending. The Financial Times says Chancellor John Healey "will shelve his own target of spending 3% of Britain's GDP on defence by 2030" in his first Budget in October.
Image caption, Healey has been called a "hypocrite" by critics in reaction to his plans to scale back his target, the Daily Mail reports. Healey resigned as defence secretary in June in protest at then-Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's spending plans.
Image caption, In a move to apply pressure on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to increase defence spending, the US has threatened to oppose British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, the Daily Telegraph reports. According to the paper, the proposal is "among measures being drawn up" by Pentagon officials as an incentive to reach "Nato's 5% spending pledge".
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