The Papers: 'Income tax will go up' and 'Chill Bill'

The Times leads with the latest on the forthcoming Budget, noting that Chancellor Rachel Reeves "has informed the Office of Budget Responsibility that a rise in personal taxation is one of the 'major measures' on tax and spending she is preparing to announce". The paper writes this move is the "clearest signal yet that the chancellor is preparing to break Labour's manifesto pledge not to increase income tax rates". Ahead of the 2024 election, Labour vowed not to increase taxes on national insurance, income tax and VAT.

"Labour splits at the top" over Reeves's mooted budget tax rises, reports the Metro newspaper. The paper writes the newly elected deputy leader of the Labour Party. Lucy Powell, "warns the PM [Sir Keir Starmer] and Chancellor that breaching the party manifesto pledge on taxes would damage 'trust in politics'".

The Guardian also leads with Powell's "challenge to Reeves" to not follow through with tax increases. It also features a tribute of Pauline Collins, who died aged 85, known as the Oscar-nominated star of the 1990 film Shirley Valentine.

Interest rates "kept on hold at 4% in knife-edge BoE [Bank of England] decision" is the top story in the Financial Times. Policymakers voted 5-4 in favour of leaving rates unchanged, after "cutting rates five times since 2024". It reports BoE governor Andrew Bailey, who voted to keep rates on hold, "could change his stance in favour of a rate cut as soon as December".

"Grinning Billy Smith laughed as he gave himself up at the jail that mistakenly freed him," headlines the Metro newspaper, leading on the latest development on the two men mistakenly released from Wandsworth prison earlier this week. It writes Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy "was asked five times in the Commons whether more asylum seekers had been freed in error". He has since promised the "strongest checks ever" to prevent further errors.

The Daily Mirror leads with the US Democrats' formal request for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor to appear before a congressional committee to give evidence about his connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "More pressure for ex-prince on day he officially lost his title," is the paper's take.

"Andrew is summoned to US Congress" also tops the Sun, quoting the Democrats' letter suggesting the former prince could hold "valuable information" on Epstein.

MP and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson is calling for BBC Director General Tim Davie to "'explain or resign' over the bias scandal engulfing the broadcaster", the Daily Telegraph reports in its lead. Earlier this week, the paper "disclosed that a Panorama documentary had spliced together different parts of a speech by Mr Trump and made it seem as though he had told supporters to go to the Capitol and 'fight like hell' on the day of the 2021 riot", quoting a leaked complaint. In response, the BBC has said it does not comment on leaks and that it considers feedback carefully. The Telegraph contrasts the Panorama response with the BBC's decision yesterday to uphold 20 complaints relating to "Martine Croxall, the BBC newsreader who rolled her eyes while changing the phrase 'pregnant people' to 'pregnant women'", saying she "broke impartiality rules".

The Daily Mail also leads with accusations of "double standards" levelled at the BBC over its impartiality, including from Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. The Celebrity Traitors finale is also splashed on the front page, revealing comedian Alan Carr as the winner – describing his gameplay as "ruthless".

"Carr Smash" reads the Daily Star's headline, referring to Alan Carr being declared the victor of the Celebrity Traitors. Fans are questioning "how on Earth could the Faithfuls miss that? They're 100% numpties", in reference to non-traitors playing in the popular show.

"Nigel Farage ramps up calls for parliamentary probe into grooming scandal," is the headline of the Daily Express. It reports on Farage's remarks, saying "grooming gang survivors fear the government's national inquiry is 'less about the truth and more about a cover-up".