'Burnham faces perilous race' and 'WHO declares Ebola emergency'
The race to potentially challenge Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for Labour leadership dominates Monday's papers. The Guardian leads with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham's allies saying he faces a "perilous" road ahead to winning the Makerfield by-election. While the paper says Burnham will likely be confirmed as Labour's candidate for the north-west constituency, he faces an "uphill battle" to beat Reform UK, with polls suggesting Burnham is only marginally ahead.
The Times follows with more comments from Burnham's allies who have accused former Health Secretary Wes Streeting of "sabotage" by reopening Labour's Brexit battles and playing into the hands of Reform UK. It quotes one cabinet minister who says Streeting and Burnham's battle as frontrunners to challenge the PM was making Sir Keir look like an "island of stability and sanity".
"Backlash over Brexit betrayal" is the headline on the Daily Mail as it reports that Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has hit back at calls by Streeting and Burnham to rejoin the EU, saying the move would be a "disaster". The paper also features Lord Michael Gove - one of the architects of Brexit - warning that rejoining the bloc would be a "betrayal".
As a result of the backlash, the Daily Telegraph says Burnham is now distancing himself from calls to rejoin the EU, with a spokesman for the Greater Manchester mayor insisting he would be campaigning on local issues and would not be standing on a "national manifesto".
"Burnham plays down rejoining EU" echoes the Financial Times, quoting Burnham saying he was "not advocating" for the move, but there was a "case" for rejoining the bloc in the long run. Elsewhere, the paper reports on the World Health Organization declaring the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a public health emergency of international concern.
Meanwhile, the i Paper says the PM spent his weekend "considering his future" amid the mounting pressure of a potential leadership challenge. Sir Keir and his aids have been in discussions about whether he can revive the government or should announce a timeline for his resignation, the paper reports.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is backing the PM's chances as a possible leadership battle rumbles on, saying Sir Keir has "shown before that he's up for a fight", the Metro reports. Nandy added that there has been no official challenge to the PM's position, describing the ongoing speculation as "froth and nonsense".
The Independent also highlights the culture secretary's support for the PM. The paper quotes Nandy describing Wes Streeting's call for the UK to rejoin the EU as "odd", adding the policy was like saying "life was fine in 2015, we just need to go back there."
The Daily Express focuses on remarks by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who warned that Burnham will "betray Brexit voters as he positions himself for power". Farage added that voters "deserve honesty" from Burnham as the pair head into the closely contested Makerfield by-election.
The Daily Star turns its attention to a different issue, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in football. The paper says Burnham is pledging to ban the system because it's "killing spontaneity" in the sport. The paper speculates: "That's sure to get voters onside... or maybe not!"
The Daily Mirror's front page spotlights the case of Ben Needham, who was 21 months old when he disappeared on the Greek island of Kos in 1991. The paper says his mother Kerry Needham has been told by UK police that they will no longer continue their inquiries into the case and all future investigations will be undertaken by Greek authorities.
Finally, the Sun looks ahead to the World Cup, saying that England's football stars will be provided with "bespoke mattress toppers and pillows" to guarantee quality sleep as they chase their World Cup dreams.