Britain's newspaper front pages are dominated by the fallout from a joint investigation by the Guardian and ITV News into allegations of sexual misconduct against television personality David Walliams. Several women have accused Walliams of inappropriate behaviour and abusing his position, allegations he denies. In response, ministers have warned the entertainment industry that it must implement stronger safeguards for women and children or face a government crackdown.
Industry Under Pressure
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is scheduled to meet with industry leaders next week to discuss the matter, according to the Guardian. The Times reports that female comedians, including Lucy Beaumont, have condemned the use of non-disclosure agreements to protect famous men. Beaumont revealed she had provided information to journalists investigating the claims against Walliams. Meanwhile, the Metro reports that a second celebrity has obtained a legal order to prevent allegations of sexual misconduct from being published. Journalist Justine Smith said the star is facing claims from "multiple, multiple victims".
The Sun, citing sources, claims Walliams "window shopped" teenage girls on Britain's Got Talent, inviting them to his dressing room after giving them free tickets. Walliams has told ITV News and the Guardian that he is "not a sexual predator" and has not "broken the law".
Cameron's EU Warning
Former Prime Minister David Cameron has cautioned against reopening the debate on EU membership. In an interview with Bloomberg, he urged Andy Burnham not to "trigger another decade-long debate about whether we should be in or out". The Daily Mail headline reads: "Even Cameron tells PM: Don't rejoin the EU". The warning comes as the prime minister prepares to attend a gathering of European leaders in Dublin on Thursday, which the paper describes as an attempt to "sell his Brexit betrayal". The Telegraph also carries quotes from Cameron's interview under the headline "Cameron warns Burnham not to rejoin the UK".
SAS Concerns and Economic Fears
The Telegraph's main story focuses on Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers who are reportedly reluctant to carry out missions where they may have to "shoot people" due to fears of being accused of war crimes. A source said SAS forces feel "permanently and constantly scrutinised, without reprieve" amid an ongoing Afghanistan inquiry into the elite unit.
The Independent leads with a warning from a former aide to Andy Burnham, who has said Britain is facing an economic "heart attack". Former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane wrote a piece for the paper criticising what he called "negligent" fiscal policy, comparing Burnham to a "reckless" doctor who should be "struck off".
US Politics and Royal Health
The Financial Times reports that Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin is "poised to lead" US congressional investigations into President Donald Trump. Raskin has vowed to expose an "avalanche of corruption" but said his "overriding priority" will be to restore the "rule of law and constitutional government".
The Princess of Wales features on the front of the Daily Express with the quote: "Sanctuary in nature helped me to recover". The Duchess of Cornwall has spoken about how the "great outdoors" helped her through "good and bad days" as she recovered from cancer.
NHS Corridor Care and Reality TV
The Mirror highlights the issue of "corridor care" in NHS hospitals with the headline "Not even a bed for an OAP with cancer". It reports that a woman battling cancer, Pam Smith, was forced to await treatment in a "storeroom for 48 hours". The Daily Star reports that Wayne Rooney plans to get through I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! by sleeping, after being announced as a cast member in the next series.
