A range of stories lead Friday’s front pages. The Daily Telegraph’s reports Britain’s biggest bank Lloyds has “pledged solidarity” with transgender staff following the Supreme Court ruling a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law. To the side of the lead story is a photo of Harry Potter author JK Rowling who enjoys a cocktail and cigar on a yacht following the judgement. “Everything is OK for JK”, is the sub-headline.
For the Daily Mail it also splashes on the photo of Rowling “toasting” the Supreme Court’s decision. The Mail says the ruling has put Labour in “turmoil” as it says the “party faces pressure to rip up gender laws”. It reports that Health Minister Karin Smyth was unable to answer directly when quizzed on Thursday as to whether trans people should be treated on the same hospital wards as women.
The Times leads with comments made by Baroness Falkner, chair of the UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission, to the BBC. She said trans people should be pushing for a “third space” such as neutral toilets and changing rooms following the Supreme Court’s ruling. The King and Queen Camilla catch the eye as the main image following their appearance at Durham Cathedral to mark Maundy Thursday.
In other news, the Guardian marks Donald Trump hosting the Italian prime minister at the White House on Thursday. The paper says Giorgia Meloni has put herself forward as an intermediary between Washington and Europe amid concern about the effect of Trump’s trade policies. The Guardian’s lead centres on a story that ministers are scrambling to avoid a Labour backbench rebellion on disability benefit cuts.
The Sun writes “no-fly throne” with a picture of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and King Charles against the backdrop of a drone. The story claims a drone no-fly-zone has been imposed over the King’s Sandringham home by worried security services.
According to the front of Friday’s i Paper, British negotiators are coming under “huge pressure” to weaken food and animal welfare standards in order to agree an “imminent” trade deal with the US. Farmers in the states are keen to sell their beef, pork and chicken in the UK.
Widow Louise Shackleton shares “heart-wrenching” details with the Daily Mirror of her last moments with her husband Anthony before his assisted suicide at Dignitas in Switzerland because she wants to help change the law in the UK.
For the Daily Express, it splashes on reports from experts in Glasgow that a new “revolutionary” weight loss drug could be a “cheap” and “convenient way” to fight type 2 diabetes. It says the drug could help patients “lose pounds without injections”.
Finally, the Daily Star features an image of England cricket legend Freddie Flintoff who talks about his “life after horror crash”. The paper also leads with the latest on the Birmingham bin strikes with its headline “not now seagulls”.
The fall-out from the Supreme Court’s ruling on the legal definition of a woman is the focus of a few of Friday’s papers.
The Daily Mail is reporting that the equalities watchdog has been inundated with calls from organisations seeking clarity on how to enforce the decision.
The Daily Telegraph says Britain’s largest bank, Lloyds group, has vowed “solidarity” with trans workers and told staff that it remains “committed to inclusivity”.
Details about a new, daily, weight loss pill also feature on a number of the front pages including the Times which reports that trial results have found that the drug – which is called Orforglipron – controlled type 2 diabetes and helped patients to shed pounds.
The Daily Express headline declares that the drug will be “revolutionary”.
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The Guardian reports that ministers are “scrambling” to avoid a rebellion this summer when MPs vote on controversial cuts to disability benefit payments.
It says Labour backbenchers may be offered the opportunity to “abstain” to avoid embarrassing the government, which is due to hold a vote in June.
A potential trade deal with the US is the lead for the i Paper.
It reports that the UK is under huge pressure to cut food standards to win a trade deal with America – and prevent the next round of Donald’s Trump tariffs hitting Britain.
The paper says that the government has repeatedly ruled out allowing “chlorinated chicken” or “hormone treated beef” from the US onto the UK’s supermarket shelves.
But it quotes Tom Bradshaw – president of the National Farmers Union – as saying that “there are serious concerns” about the pressure being applied to British negotiators to weaken its standards as a “concession for lower tariffs”.
The Sun reports that a no-fly-zone has been imposed over the King’s home at Sandringham, after several drones were spotted above the estate ahead of the Ukrainian President’s visit last month.
The paper says the ban will be in place for a year. “No-fly throne” is the headline.
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