INFORMING BRITAIN PRESS PREVIEW (THURSDAY'S PAPERS): THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2026 | TOMORROW'S PAPERS TODAY AT INFORMING BRITAIN

Welcome to your official rundown of headlines on a selection of Newspapers' Front Pages for Thursday 12 February 2026.
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Browse through #IBPapers on ​𝕏, and #IBPapers on BlueSky, to keep up with the latest from Informing Britain Papers on Social Media.
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This is a selection of newspaper publications from United Kingdom, and around the world.

All papers are from within United Kingdom, unless otherwise stated.
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If the leading story is available, links will be provided.
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​This page will be updated as the headlines come in.

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The Independent: "FURIOUS WOMEN MPS TURN ON STARMER OVER 'BOYS CLUB' SCANDALS"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Kate Devlin / Millie Cooke

Senior female Members Of Parliament in Westminster have called on Sir Keir Starmer a appoint a woman to a top role to end the 10 Downing Street "boys club" culture exposed by the Matthew Doyle and Peter Mandelson scandals.

FULL REPORT: INDEPENDENT.CO.UK/news/uk/politics/keir-starmer-matthew-doyle-lords-sean-morton-b2918190.html

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The Bolton News: "GRAFFITI DAUBED ON FENCE NEAR PRIMARY SCHOOL"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Zach Harrison

Shock has been voiced after anti-Muslim graffiti was daubed on a fence near a Primary School.
The graffiti was drawn down a ginnel which runs between Chorley New Road and Mansell Way in Horwich.

FULL REPORT: TheBoltonNews.co.uk/news/25838671.anti-muslim-graffiti-daubed-fence-near-horwich-primary

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Daily Express: "UK 'COLONISED BY MIGRANTS' CLAIMS UNITED CHIEF"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Michael Knowles 

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire part-owner of Manchester United, called for politicians to "show some courage" by slashing migration and benefits.

FULL REPORT: EXPRESS.CO.UK/news/politics/2169824

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Metro (North Edition): "I ACTED ALONE"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Craig Meighan 

Anas Sarwar has denied he was part of a plot to oust the Prime Minister but insisted he 'stands by' his call for Sir Keir Starmer to resign.

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The Guardian: "SELECT FEMALE DEPUTY TO END 'BOYS CLUB' IN NO 10, PM TOLD"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Alexandra Topping

Female Labour MPs have demanded that Keir Starmer appoint a senior woman as his de facto deputy to oversee a “complete culture change” in Downing Street after a series of scandals that they say have exposed a No 10 "boys’ club".

FULL REPORT: TheGuardian.com/politics/2026/feb/11/furious-female-labour-mps-urge-starmer-to-make-a-woman-his-de-facto-deputy

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The Yorkshire Post: "FAMILIES' FURY OVER MATERNITY INQUIRY"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Ralph Blackburn

Senior midwife Donna Ockenden "made it clear on multiple occasions" to Wes Streeting that she is ready to chair the Inquiry into the Leeds Maternity Scandal, with the bereaved families saying they have lost faith in the Health Secretary.

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Morning Star: "NO RESPITE FOR SCANDAL-HIT PM"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Andrew Murray

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has conceded he has lost control of his Government as he became embroiled in a fresh scandal over turning a blind eye to friends of paedophiles.

FULL REPORT: MorningStarOnline.co.uk/article/starmer-losing-grip-new-scandal-breaks

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​Bury Times: "FAMILY'S £103,000 BUILDING NIGHTMARE"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Lisa Valentine

Holly Wright & Jamie Wright and their family, who live in Whitefield, have lost more than £100,000 after a builder failed to deliver on their home renovation project.

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Glasgow Times: "'WE NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION'"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Nicole Mitchell

City Centre of Glasgow residents say they have been left "disappointed" that despite meetings, no plans regarding a potential football title party celebrations have been communicated to them.

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Daily Star: "MAN U JIM 'RACISM' STORM"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Tom Hutchison

Manchester United's mega-rich co-owner and Ineos boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been slammed for saying Britain is "colonised by immigrants" – with furious Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer demanding an apology.

FULL REPORT: DailyStar.co.uk/news/man-united-owner-lets-rip-36707908

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Melton Times: "'SO PROUD OF AMELIA'"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Nick Rennie

There will be a mixture of pride, excitement and nerves for the family of Melton Mowbray’s Amelia Coltman when she competes in the Winter Olympics for the first time.

FULL REPORT: MeltonTimes.co.uk/news/people/pride-and-excitement-as-coltman-family-prepares-to-cheer-on-meltons-olympian-5510113

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The Times: "PM KNEW HIS PEERAGE PICK HAD BACKED SEX OFFENDER"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Geraldine Scott / Steven Swinford

Keir Starmer nominated a former adviser for a peerage despite being told that he had provided a paedophile councillor with "support" because he "believed in his innocence".

FULL REPORT: TheTimes.com/uk/politics/article/keir-starmer-appointing-lord-doyle-k0lp5lkvj

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​Edinburgh Evening News: "FEAR AND ALARM AT ROAD CLOSURE"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Kevin Quinn 

Residents in Edinburgh have called for an end to a "ridiculous" three-year-long road closure after they said it was causing "fear and alarm" in the local area.

FULL REPORT: EdinburghNews.Scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-residents-demand-end-to-three-year-road-closure-which-is-causing-fear-and-alarm-5509095

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Messenger Newspapers: "DORA THE DOG SNIFFS OUT ILLEGAL CIGARETTE STASH"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Gavin Engelbrecht

Trafford Council has shut down a Sale convenience store after a sniffer dog uncovered illegal cigarettes in a "secret" ceiling stash.
A trained detection dog found the concealed compartment at 7 Day Stop on Washway Road, during a raid led by the authority's officers.

FULL REPORT: MessengerNewspapers.co.uk/news/25838029.sale-convenience-shop-selling-illegal-vapes-shut

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The Scotsman: "CLAIM LACK OF CHECKS LEAVES SCOTS BENEFITS OPEN TO ABUSE"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Catriona Stewart

Scotland's benefits system has been left "open to abuse", opposition MSPs have claimed, as it emerged only a fraction of disability claims are being independently assessed.

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Daily Mirror: "SHAMEFUL"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Jeremy Armstrong / Sophie Huskisson

Keir Starmer has slammed Sir Jim Ratcliffe after he claimed the UK has been "colonised by immigrants".

FULL REPORT: MIRROR.CO.UK/news/politics/sir-jim-ratcliffe-branded-shameful-36708160

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The Times Scotland: "PM KNEW HIS PEERAGE PICK HAD BACKED SEX OFFENDER"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Geraldine Scott / Steven Swinford

Keir Starmer nominated a former adviser for a peerage despite being told that he had provided a paedophile councillor with "support" because he "believed in his innocence".

FULL REPORT: TheTimes.com/uk/politics/article/keir-starmer-appointing-lord-doyle-k0lp5lkvj

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The Oldham Times: "OLDHAM 'NO LONGER THE POOR RELATIVE'"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Sofia Fedeczko

Oldham is "no longer the poor relative of Greater Manchester", Council leader Arooj Shah told a room of business leaders and developers on the morning of Tuesday 10 February 2026.

FULL REPORT: TheOldhamTimes.co.uk/news/25843047.oldham-no-longer-poor-relative-greater-manchester

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Scottish Daily Mail: "LABOUR WOMEN'S FURY OVER SECOND PAEDOPHILE CRISIS"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Jason Groves / Claire Ellicott

Keir Starmer was accused of packing his Government with 'paedophile apologists' as he struggled to defend a second controversial appointment.

FULL REPORT: DailyMail.co.uk/news/article-15549639

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Lancashire Telegraph: "RIVALS CLASHED IN 'EXPLOSIVE' CAR PARK BRAWL"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Jack Stott

Three men who were involved in "extreme and explosive violence" at a Car Park in a Blackburn Town Centre have been jailed.

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Daily Mail: "LABOUR WOMEN'S FURY OVER SECON PAEDOPHILE CRISIS"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Jason Groves / Claire Ellicott

Keir Starmer was accused of packing his Government with 'paedophile apologists' as he struggled to defend a second controversial appointment.

FULL REPORT: DailyMail.co.uk/news/article-15549639

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