'War to end in weeks' and '50% of public cut their spending'
Many of Saturday's papers lead with the Middle East conflict one month since Israel and the US attacked. The Guardian leads with their latest plans for the conflict. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he expects the war to end in "weeks, not months", the paper writes, while Israel threatens to "'escalate and expand' its attack". The paper also splashes its own investigation into a top model industry executive who allegedly "introduced models to 'dear friend' Jeffrey Epstein". A spokesperson for the executive tells the paper she "never put a model in harm's way by sending them to inappropriate go-sees or meetings".BBC
"Spiralling cost of Trump's war" is the Independent's headline, writing: "As Iran marks four weeks of the conflict by declaring the Strait of Hormuz is closed... the world looks on in horror as the war takes its toll." Various figures are splashed across the front page signifying different costs relating to the conflict, including £15bn "wiped off UK economic growth" and 4,587 "killed across all countries so far".
"Iran war shock hits investors' portfolios hard" is the Financial Times' headline in its weekend edition. "Stocks and bonds plunge in March", the paper writes, marking the "biggest combined sell-off since 2022".
The i Weekend says the UK is already in "war economy" mindset reporting "half of voters are tightening their belts in response to the Iran war", spending less on eating out, fuel, big purchases and home energy.
"PM stands firm over Iran war despite more White House pressure," the Daily Mirror writes, quoting Sir Keir Starmer who says "he will not buckle under pressure to join Donald Trumps' war".
The Daily Mail leads with comments from Asda chairman Allan Leighton, who accuses ministers of having "zero credibility" in response to their "claims of profiteering at the petrol pump". "Prices top £1.50 a litre" at the pump, the paper adds, hitting "their highest level in nearly two years".
The Metropolitan Police has "reopened the investigation into the reported theft of Morgan McSweeney's phone", the Daily Telegraph reports. The former Downing Street chief-of-staff says his phone was stolen on a Westminster Street in October last year. The paper says "police fear any relevant CCTV material will have now been deleted". The inquiry comes "after the Government agreed to release messages and emails relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador".
"Golf icon's second rollover crash," reads the Daily Star's headline.
The Daily Express leads with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's calls for a man to be deported "immediately" after he "laughed as he raped a girl of 12". It follows a 15-year jail sentence for the Afghan national, as Farage says taxpayers should "not spend a penny" on his time behind bars.