Polling on next month's referendums, Garda investigations into arson attacks, and a double murder charge in Co Kerry are among the stories on the national front pages to end the working week.
The Irish Times' top story is on polling figures, reporting 'majority say they will vote yes' in the two referendums being held at the start of next month, 'but margin may narrow ahead of March poll'.
The Irish Examiner leads with: 'Gardaí probe arson links to far right' following a number of recent fires at premises linked to the housing of international protection applicants.
Meanwhile, The Echo carries quotes from the family of Kieran Quilligan, whose remains were found in Co Cork last week, saying they have taken comfort in 'finally being able to mourn him with dignity'.
The Irish Independent reads: 'Switch to electric vehicles helps field surge in car loans', while the Irish Daily Mail reports a Jesuit protest 'had child access despite abuse allegation'.
Finally, the Irish Daily Mirror and Irish Daily Star both lead with Philip Griffin's appearance in court on Thursday, after he was charged with the murders of a father and young daughter in Tralee almost 12 years ago.
In Britain, UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s green spending U-turn features among a variety of stories on the front pages of Friday’s newspapers.
Sir Keir’s decision to change his £28 billion a year green spending plan to just £4.7 billion leads the Financial Times and The Guardian, while the Daily Mail labelled him “Sir U-turn”.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Friday 9 February https://t.co/G3AQcKVVb2 pic.twitter.com/VuxqV7312O
— Financial Times (@FT) February 8, 2024
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Friday’s GUARDIAN: “Fury as Starmer stages U-turn on £28bn green investment pledge” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/S24mqysAUQ
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 8, 2024
Friday’s Daily MAIL: “Can You Ever Believe A Word Sir U-Turn Says?”#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/E36ybftxfq
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 8, 2024
The Times says the Opposition leader has angered the left of the party with his “green reversal”.
Friday’s TIMES: “Starmer angers left with Labour’s green reversal” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/1yfEl7MtsV
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 8, 2024
The Daily Express says Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to “call out” Labour leader Sir Keir’s “dirty tricks”.
Friday’s Daily EXPRESS: “Unleashed! PM Vows To Call Out Starmer’s ‘Dirty Tricks’ “. #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/UiAPOcMwQ8
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 8, 2024
The Daily Mirror says there was a rise in the number of children having teeth pulled out in hospital with 48,000 procedures taking place last year.
Friday's front page: Nation in decay https://t.co/Iik2M9S0d2#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Oi5s49fWsc
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) February 8, 2024
The Independent relays words from the leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt who told Mr Sunak to “reflect” on his joke about transgender people.
The Daily Telegraph leads with US federal prosecutors sharing fears US President Joe Biden cannot remember when he was vice president or when his son died.
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'Biden 'can't remember when he was vice president''#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/LChSQC7vsA— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) February 8, 2024
The i looks at the Horizon Post Office scandal, reporting the second scandal could be linked to “wrongful prosecutions”.
Friday’s i - “Post Office admits second IT scandal may be linked to wrongful prosecutions” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/bb2bJogKTA
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 8, 2024
The Metro focuses on a conspiracy theorist whose claim the Manchester Arena bombing was fake was thrown out by a judge who labelled it “absurd”.
Tomorrow's Paper Today 📰
‘’ABSURD’ ARENA BOMB DENIER’
🔴Judge ridicules ‘troll’ for fake atrocity claim
💰 Win £1000 every Monday - pick up a paper to find out how#TomorrowsPaperToday pic.twitter.com/cW1v37s2y3— Metro (@MetroUK) February 8, 2024
The Sun runs with a story on plans for a “blue card” in football, which would send players to a “sin bin” for a 10-minute period.
On tomorrow's front page: Huge football rule change set to be introduced with BLUE CARD and players dumped in 10-minute sin bin https://t.co/n2bRs3caic pic.twitter.com/ZCaOBqU6Fu
— The Sun (@TheSun) February 8, 2024
And the Daily Star says BBC DJ Paul Gambaccini is at “war with frisky foxes”.
Friday's front page - 'PAUL GAMBACCINI'https://t.co/ZADlrCauuK pic.twitter.com/DcOGpyVGP0
— Daily Star (@dailystar) February 8, 2024
