What the papers say: Friday's front pages

Budget plans and leaks amid Ireland's cost-of-living crisis make the front pages this Friday.

The Irish Times reports Taoiseach Micheál Martin is coming under pressure from Government TDs to increase welfare payments by up to €20 as a key meeting on the cost-of-living crisis takes place today.

Increases of at least €10 to the weekly old age pension and other primary welfare benefits are to feature in the next budget, senior Government sources have revealed to the Irish Examiner.

The Irish Independent reports households could see electricity bills reduced by another €200 next year under plans being discussed by the Government ahead of the Budget.

A hike of €23 to the pension will be needed in this year's Budget to keep pace with record inflation, the Coalition has been warned according to the Irish Daily Mail.

The Echo declares "no-go beach zones", reporting that two children ended up in Cork University Hospital with cut feet after broken glass was left on a Cork beach.

In Northern Ireland, the Belfast Telegraph reports Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill will today become the first of the party’s leadership to lay a wreath in Belfast in memory of the people who died at the Somme.

In Britain, Chris Pincher’s resignation as government deputy chief whip, the UK’s 50th Pride, and the murder of Logan Mwangi are featured on the front pages on the first day of July.

The Sun, the Daily Mail, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph all lead on Mr Pincher’s apology and resignation over “drunken ‘gropes'”.

On tomorrow's front page: Tory whip RESIGNS after ‘groping 2 men’ and claims he ‘drank too much’https://t.co/ytfA8NHKxP pic.twitter.com/vhpwyQMn5b

— The Sun (@TheSun) June 30, 2022
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Friday’s Daily MAIL: “Top Tory Resigns ‘After Groping Two Men’ “ #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/b6x04qp4wv

— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) June 30, 2022

Guardian front page, Friday 1 July 2022: Tory deputy chief whip resigns amid sexual misconduct claims pic.twitter.com/dNi6XA6Otw

— The Guardian (@guardian) June 30, 2022

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:

'Tory whip quits over drunken groping'#TomorrowsPapersToday

Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4O6L2Y pic.twitter.com/mVB2XXsDxi

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) June 30, 2022

Boris Johnson’s commitment to boost defence spending by tens of billions is front page of The Independent.

Our front page tomorrow #TomorrowsPapersToday @Independent pic.twitter.com/CvA56UwQWU

— Alastair Jamieson (@alastairjam) June 30, 2022

The Times says Number 10 is planning a VAT cut to help curb inflation.

Friday’s TIMES: “No 10 plans VAT cut to ease pain of rising prices” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/xAn4e4QgMT

— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) June 30, 2022

The i splashes an exclusive from former British prime minister Theresa May on the 50th anniversary of the UK’s first Pride march. Mrs May says the government should reverse its decision not to protect transgender people under a proposed conversion therapy ban.

I am so PROUD to share the front page of Friday’s @theipaper.

On the 50th anniversary of Britain’s first pride march, every living UK Prime Minister has written about their support for LGBT rights. Including Theresa May, who urges the govt to ban all conversion therapy. pic.twitter.com/QGqNGRk5WN

— Benjamin Butterworth (@benjaminbutter) June 30, 2022

The two-year jail sentence given to former Scottish MP Natalie McGarry for embezzlement is front page of Metro.

Tomorrow's Paper Today 📰

EX-MP JAILED FOR TWO YRS

🔴 McGarry embezzled £25k from SNP and Pro-Indy group while she was treasurer #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/jqPHraa6qd

— Metro (@MetroUK) June 30, 2022

The Daily Express and the Daily Mirror lead on the sentencing of the murderers of Logan Mwangi.

Front page: How could this tragic little boy be failed so badly? #TomorrowsPaperToday

Full story here: https://t.co/aIXU5Od8vW pic.twitter.com/sZnaFIAeDB

— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) June 30, 2022

Friday's front page: Innocent lost in house of evil.https://t.co/G4iYRRDLFU #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/iomooCzCqC

— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) June 30, 2022

The Financial Times reports the UK’s trade performance has fallen to its worst level since 1955.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Friday 1 July https://t.co/Z9hHP6b25I pic.twitter.com/ti1JOc2iTZ

— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) June 30, 2022

And the Daily Star splashes on Bernie Ecclestone’s “bizarre defence of bellends”.