Farage 'hostile takeover' and TV presenter search

Labour pledges 80 new rape courts to tackle backlog crisis, reads the Observer
There are a range of general election policy pledges across the front pages of Sunday's papers. The Observer goes with a Labour promise to "establish 80 new rape courts" in England and Wales as part of wide-ranging plans "to tackle violence against women and girls". The policy is expected to be unveiled in the party's manifesto next week. [BBC]
Farage: We're now 'real' opposition
Starmer's net zero plans 'risk blackouts' reads the Sunday Telegraph
The Sunday Telegraph leads on criticism of Labour's net-zero plans by Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho. [BBC]
Starmer's triple lock' pledge on not hiking tax, reads the Sunday Times
The Sunday Times reports that the Labour manifesto will codify its pledge "not to put up income tax, national insurance or VAT". The party has previously said it will not raise those taxes if it wins the general election. The Sunday Time has its own exclusive story on the front, looking at British "cash mules" bringing money into Dubai. [BBC]
Divers hunt for missing Dr Mosley in cave called 'the abyss' reads the Sunday Times
The Mail on Sunday leads on the search for missing TV presenter Michael Mosley, who writes a column for the paper. It reports rescuers are focusing on "a dangerous cave complex known as the Abyss". [BBC]
TV Doc Wife: We will not lose hope, reads the Sunday People
The Sunday People also focuses on Michael Mosley - leading on his wife Clare saying their family would "not lose hope". [BBC]
Kate: I Hope to be back soon, reads the Sunday Mirror
The Sunday Mirror leads on the Princess of Wales, who has said she hopes to return to public duties "very soon". [BBC]
I called my son Lucifer but our lad's not a little devil, reads the Daily Star
And the Daily Star leads on a story about a woman who has named one of her children Lucifer. [BBC]

A picture of one of the freed Israeli hostages embracing her father after 8 months in captivity, features on many of the front pages.

The Sunday Times calls the image "a photograph that restored hope to a nation". It says the Israeli rescue operation has given an "increasingly isolated and despairing nation... its greatest morale boost in months". She's free! declares the Mail on Sunday.

The inside of the Sunday Mirror carries pictures of all four of the hostages who were rescued, with the headline "free at last".

Rishi Sunak has told the Sun on Sunday that his plan to change the benefits system will save £12bn a year. He says failing to deal with the challenges facing it will lead to "a huge waste in human potential, an increased benefits bill and higher taxes".

The Sunday Telegraph picks up on a different Tory election pledge. It says the party would ensure climate targets take into account the cost to households.

Energy Secretary Clare Coutinho tells the paper that Labour's plan to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030 would "risk blackouts". The paper does not carry a response from Labour.

The Observer has more detail about Labour's plan to open "80 new rape courts" in England and Wales. It says the party would use them to fast track cases to tackle the backlog. The paper says Labour would also introduce "specialist rape units in every police force".

"Farage: We're now 'real' opposition" is the headline in the Sunday Express. In a scathing interview, the Reform UK leader says the Tories cannot be the opposition if Labour wins the election because they "spend their whole life arguing with each other". He also calls the party "snobby".

The Mail on Sunday leads with an update on the search for Michael Mosley. It says divers have been hunting for the missing TV health expert in a "dangerous cave complex known as the Abyss". The paper says there are fears he could be trapped in the cave's "endless" underwater tunnel system.

"Our pain" says the front page of the Sun - alongside a picture of Dr Mosley with his arm round his wife, Clare. The Express has pictures of rescue teams and volunteers scouring the cliffs for the broadcaster with the headline: "Desperate family join search for TV doctor in scorching 40 Celsius heat".

Several of the papers marvel at Taylor Swift's performance - and costume changes - in Edinburgh. "The Swifties' squeals can be heard in the Outer Hebrides" says the Mail. There's yet more praise in the Times. The paper's reporter says "She made my daughter so happy she cried - now I'm a Swiftie for life".

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