In the headlines
Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov has refused to rule out the use of nuclear weapons, saying Russia would consider launching them if it faces an “existential threat”. Peskov also acknowledged that Moscow has not achieved any of its strategic objectives in Ukraine. Ukrainian troops are reportedly reclaiming key territory taken by the Russians, but they’re “running out of weapons”, says The Times. Tory MPs were still lobbying Chancellor Rishi Sunak this morning to scrap his planned national insurance hike in today’s mini-Budget. The Treasury has an unexpected “£50bn to play with”, says the Daily Mail, thanks to surging revenues from VAT, stamp duty and inheritance tax. The UK is enjoying its hottest spring since Dickens’s day 180 years ago, says the Daily Star. “Please sir, can we have some more?”