Newspaper headlines: Labour 'war', Tory 'scandal', 'Sir Andy' and Tyson Fury

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Division in the Labour Party ranks over whether to back the prime minister's plans to extend bombing of Islamic State (IS) extremists to Syria makes front-page news again.

But there is no clear consensus among the press as to opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn's plans.

According to the Daily Telegraph, he's "on the verge of demanding that his MPs oppose military action", while the Daily Mirror says he's "poised to let pro-war Labour MPs vote for strikes".

However, if the Times is correct then he is "yet to decide whether to impose collective discipline", with a large proportion of Labour MPs believed to support David Cameron's stance.

One thing most papers agree on is the position of Len McCluskey, who runs the Unite union that is Labour's biggest financial backer. The Sun sums up his warning to those who might consider defying their leader as: "Back Jezza or quit."

There's no agreement between the papers on what Mr Corbyn should do. The Mirror argues in favour of allowing everyone a free vote, saying: "Tories must not vote for war simply because the Conservative machine whips them into supporting Mr Cameron. And Labour rebels must not vote for war just to spite Mr Corbyn."

Image source, Getty Images

However, the Times points out that he is renowned "as a man of principle" and for a "pacifist opposition to military intervention".

It suggests this would not sit easily with taking the "easy decision" to offer MPs a free vote.

"Mr Corbyn has convictions and he should show the courage of them," it says.

Whatever the decision, says Sun columnist Trevor Kavanagh: "No peaceful settlement now seems possible between mainstream party MPs and the leader they never wanted."

Times cartoonist Morten Morland makes clear his prediction for the result if there is an internal clash. He pictures a feeble-looking Mr Corbyn trying to crack a whip at his shadow cabinet, only for it to wrap noose-like around his neck.

However, the Guardian's Patrick Wintour says it appears as if "the tide in the parliamentary party is swinging, if anything, towards opposition to war" after Mr Corbyn expressed doubts over the military reliability and ideological beliefs of 70,000 moderate troops Downing Street hopes will reclaim territory held by IS.

"The shifting mood in the [Parliamentary Labour Party] may explain Corbyn's decision not yet to concede a free vote," he adds.

Eye-catching headlines

  • "From WAG to witches" - Melanie Walcott, the wife of Arsenal footballer Theo, has landed a part as an extra in the Harry Potter prequel Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, says the Mirror
  • "Panto stars save woman in river (oh yes they did)" - the Telegraph describes how stars of a Jack and the Beanstalk production rescued an elderly woman from a river after her screams interrupted rehearsals
  • "Bird that wants to be a Hound Dog" - the Daily Mail publishes a picture of a guineafowl with an "Elvis-like quiff"
  • "War and timepiece" - a Rolex watch which belonged to one of the prisoners of war who inspired the film The Great Escape is expected to raise £50,000 at auction, says the Sun

Sporting heavyweights

British sporting achievement is celebrated, with new world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury and Andy Murray - who clinched the Davis Cup for the nation - pictured on front and back pages.

"Finally!" declares the Guardian about the ending of Britain's 79-year wait for tennis's team trophy.

It runs through a list of the "top five biggest sporting droughts", including waits of more than four decades for England to win world cups at football and cricket, and 164 years without glory in sailing's America's Cup.

Murray, it points out, has ended the other two - naming the 77-year wait for a British man to win Wimbledon alongside the Davis Cup success.

"I play my best tennis when I play for my country," the star is quoted as saying by the Telegraph, which recalls his success in London's 2012 Olympics.

The Daily Express gives a nod to Murray's Scottish roots, quoting First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's suggestion that today's St Andrew's Day should be renamed "St Andy's Day" in honour of the world number two's achievements.

The Sun has another honour in mind: "A knighthood for tennis superstar Andy Murray is a must now," it declares.

Boxer Tyson Fury, who claimed a surprise victory over Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday night, is profiled by the Daily Mirror.

"He was born three months early weighing 1lb and doctors feared he was too weak to survive," writes Rachael Bletchley.

But, she says, his father saw in him a fighting spirit and named him after Mike Tyson, a predecessor as champion.

The Daily Mail digs into the family background of Fury, a traveller distantly related to Irish bare-knuckle champion Bartley Gorman.

"His father has just completed five years of an 11-year prison term for gouging out a man's eye in a brawl and had to be granted special dispensation to witness his son's title fight," writes Beth Hale.

The Daily Star says that - despite garnering an expected £10m windfall as a result of becoming champion - Fury was "heading back to his caravan" in Lancashire where he spends much of his time with his brothers.

What the commentators say

Media caption,

Kate Devlin, political correspondent for Glasgow's Herald, joins Metro deputy editor Joel Taylor to review the papers for the BBC News Channel.

Under pressure

There is no sign of pressure relenting on the Conservatives over questions about how much senior figures knew of bullying claims against a man chosen to lead an election roadshow campaign.

After Sunday's papers reported the resignation from government of former party co-chairman Grant Shapps, the dailies continue to speculate about the future of the man he shared the job with, Lord Feldman.

The peer insists he knew nothing about claims of bullying and harassment until a month before the apparent suicide of young activist Elliott Johnson, which forced the issue into the open, explains the Mail.

But its leader column asks: "As the man in charge of the party's discipline, why wasn't he informed of such serious allegations?"

Image source, PA
Image caption,
Lord Feldman was Conservative co-chairman with Grant Shapps but senior to him, writes Paul Goodman

Paul Goodman, who edits the ConservativeHome website, writes in the Telegraph that the scandal showed the party had no effective mechanism to deal with complaints and that the buck should not stop with Mr Shapps, given that Lord Feldman was senior to him.

Goodman explains how Mark Clarke - who denies all claims of wrongdoing - was appointed to head the roadshow, despite having been dogged by complaints of bad publicity and rudeness.

"The party didn't have enough members... in the marginal seats that were necessary to win," he writes.

"When Mr Clarke turned up... claiming that he could deliver a mass of young activists to help canvass these seats, he was greeted like the prodigal son."

The Financial Times says the youth wing that Mr Clarke used to chair, Conservative Future, had been a "bold attempt to remake the Conservative Party's image" but has suffered from a lack of oversight of its "exuberant young members".

It adds: "What looked like a disciplined youth movement - credited for its role in the election victory this spring as part of the party's 'ground troops' strategy - has disintegrated into a public liability."

Mr Cameron has announced an internal review, but the Independent complains it is not sufficient: "He must push for an unambiguously independent inquiry, led by someone with no connection to the party, which is precisely what Mr Johnson's father has demanded."

The Sun agrees, saying: "The truth of this nasty affair MUST be made public. If politicians want us to trust that they will do the right thing, rather than protect themselves and their secrets, they must prove it."

And the Mirror shares its stance, saying: "The inquiry must decide what others knew and did or didn't do, including Mr Cameron's pal and party chairman Lord Feldman."

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