What the papers say – April 24

Most of the nation’s papers are led by former top Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings’s furious outburst against the Prime Minister.

The Daily Telegraph, The Times and the i weekend report Mr Cummings has “declared war” with the PM as he accused Mr Johnson of seeking to halt the investigation into the leak of plans for a second lockdown after he was warned a close friend of his fiancee Carrie Symonds could be implicated.

The Guardian says the “unprecedented attack” came after No 10 sources claimed Mr Cummings leaked private text messages between Mr Johnson and billionaire James Dyson, while the Daily Star takes a typical sideways view of the saga.

The Daily Mail and FT Weekend report Mr Cummings also used his lengthy blog post to claim Mr Johnson had attempted an “unethical, foolish, possibly illegal” plan to get Tory donors to fund the lavish refurbishment of his official Downing Street flat.

Elsewhere, the Daily Express leads with scientists raising the possibility face masks could be ditched by summer as a result of the nation’s successful vaccination programme.

Ryan Giggs could face up to five years in jail after being charged with assaulting two women and coercive control, according to The Sun.

And the Daily Mirror says Manchester United owner Avram Glazer is “unrepentant” over his role in the European Super League fiasco.