INFORMING BRITAIN PRESS PREVIEW (THURSDAY'S PAPERS): THURSDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2026 | TOMORROW'S PAPERS TODAY AT INFORMING BRITAIN

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Welcome to your official rundown of headlines on a selection of Newspapers' Front Pages for Thursday 26 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: "SPEAKER TIPPED OFF POLICE MANDELSON WAS A FLIGHT RISK"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Millie Cooke

Metropolitan Police have apologised to Sir Lindsay Hoyle after officers told Peter Mandelson's lawyers he tipped them off about claims the disgraced former peer planned to flee to the British Virgin Islands, prompting his arrest.

FULL REPORT: INDEPENDENT.CO.UK/news/uk/politics/peter-mandelson-arrest-lindsay-hoyle-b2927268.html

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​Messenger Newspapers: "HIGH COURT SIDES WITH COUNCIL OVER DISPUTE"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Kent Lawlor

The High Court has sided with Trafford Council in a dispute over planning permission for a 19,000 Square Metre industrial scheme in Carrington.

FULL REPORT: MessengerNewspapers.co.uk/news/25877937.high-court-sides-council-19-000sqm-carrington-scheme

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Metro (South Edition): "HIGH ROLLERS"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Ed Chatterton / Carly Odell

A huge Cannabis Farm has been busted by Northamptonshire Police - hidden in plain sight inside Aspers Casino on Commercial Street in Northampton.

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Glasgow Times: "DRUG TRAFFICKER HAD £1M OF 'MIXER'"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Dave Finlay

Police Scotland have seized heroin worth more than £1 million on the streets at an industrial yard during an operation against a Glasgow-based serious crime gang with international links.

FULL REPORT: GlasgowTimes.co.uk/news/scottish-news/25887326.drug-trafficker-henry-mcaulay-court-1m-glasgow-seizure

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​Daily Express: "JUST SAY NON! DON'T REWARD FRENCH FOR BOATS FAILURE"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Michael Knowles 

Britain's Government ministers have been told that France must get no more of United Kingdom taxpayers' money until Government Of France stop the boats crossing the English Channel.

FULL REPORT: EXPRESS.CO.UK/news/politics/2175602

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The Yorkshire Post: "CRIMINALS BURYING FARMLAND WITH WASTE"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Ralph Blackburn

Fields belonging to farmers, and country lanes, are being buried under piles of waste.
New figures show Fly-Tipping incidents in Yorkshire reached the highest level since comparable records began.

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Daily Mirror: "DON'T LET HATE WIN"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Lizzy Buchan

Keir Starmer has called on voters to "strike a blow against hate" by backing The Labour Party in today's crucial By-Election.

FULL REPORT: MIRROR.CO.UK/news/politics/keir-starmer-by-election-fight-36781401

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Edinburgh Evening News: "PHONE BAN SEES MORE RESPONSES THAN TRAMS"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Ian Swanson

Edinburgh Council's consultation on banning Mobile Phones in schools has produced more responses than the recent consultation on Edinburgh's proposed North-South tramline.

FULL REPORT: EdinburghNews.Scotsman.com/news/consultation-on-edinburgh-schools-mobile-phone-ban-sees-more-responses-than-tram-consultation-5611941

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The Guardian: "DAMNING REPORT EXPOSES SCANDAL OF NHS MATERNITY UNIT 'COVER-UPS'"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Denis Campbell

Medical Facilities that cause harm and injury to women and babies during childbirth often resort to a "cover-up" of their mistakes by falsifying Medical Records. 

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​Lancashire Telegraph: "ISSA BROTHERS AND M&S EYE NEW FOOD HALL"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Bill Jacobs

The Issa Brothers' property arm and Marks & Spencer have unveiled plans for a new Food Hall in the Colne area of Lancashire.
The 2,300 Square Metre out-of-town store, with 1,672 Square Metres of trading space, would be built.

FULL REPORT: LancashireTelegraph.co.uk/news/25885384.issa-bros-colne-m65-site-earmarked-new-m-s-food-hall

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​The Daily Telegraph: "DOUBLING CASH FOR NHS 'HAD NO IMPACT'"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Laura Donnelly

According to Lord James Bethell, a former Health Minister for The Conservative Party under Boris Johnson, spending by The NHS has doubled in 17 years with "no impact" on the nation's health.

FULL REPORT: TELEGRAPH.CO.UK/news/2026/02/25/lord-bethell-nhs-waste-disaster-warning

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Metro (North Edition): "HUNTED AND EXECUTED"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Nick Forbes

David Campbell, a former gamekeeper who 'hunted down' former colleague Brian Low on an E-Bike and murdered him with a shotgun, has been jailed for a minimum of 19 years.
The murder took place near Aberfeldy in Perthshire.

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Bury Times: "BOROUGH IN 'GOOD HEALTH' FALL SHOCK"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Ruby Watson

Boys and girls born in Bury, Greater Manchester can expect to live fewer years of healthy lives than elsewhere in Britain as figures show a decline in good health across the borough.

FULL REPORT: BuryTimes.co.uk/news/25878126.many-years-good-health-bury-residents-can-expect

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Morning Star: "LABOUR BRACES FOR BRUISING AT THE BALLOT BOX"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Andrew Murray

Sir Keir Starmer's future is once more on a knife-edge as voters in Manchester go to the Ballot Box in a By-Election that seems too close to call.

FULL REPORT: MorningStarOnline.co.uk/article/starmer-future-knife-edge-greens-labour-and-reform-neck-and-neck-gorton-and-denton

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The Oldham Times: "PREDATOR JAILED FOR TARGETING CHILDREN"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Kent Lawlor

Ryan Greenhow, who threatened children into sending Indecent Images has been jailed for more than seven years. 
Ryan Greenhow targeted victims between the ages of 12 and 15, across multiple Social Media platforms.

FULL REPORT: TheOldhamTimes.co.uk/news/25882765.oldham-man-jailed-child-sex-offences-social-media

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Daily Star: "GORILLAS GET ON MY WICKS"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Bekka Barnard

Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wicks has revealed his greatest fear, that gorillas could takeover the world. 

FULL REPORT: DailyStar.co.uk/showbiz/pete-wicks-terrified-gorillas-take-36777817

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​The Bolton News: "£13M TO HELP KEEP CHILDREN CLOSER TO HOME"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Joe Harrigan

Multi-million pound plans to build a new Sixth Form School will save the Council in Bolton around £6.4 million a year.

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Scottish Daily Mail: "GUILTY OF A BRAZEN AND BRUTAL EXECUTION"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Dan Barker / Grant McCabe

A retired gamekeeper who hunted a former colleague 'like quarry' before blasting him with a shotgun in the Aberfeldy area of Perthshire has been found guilty of murder.

FULL REPORT: DailyMail.co.uk/news/article-15591829

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​The Times: "EPSTEIN 'USED UK AS A HUB TO TRAFFIC SCORES OF WOMEN'"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Emma Yeomans 

Records appear to show that Jeffrey Epstein was trafficking women through British airports as late as 2019, only a month before his arrest.

FULL REPORT: TheTimes.com/uk/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-trafficking-uk-airports-dwc6f2hg8

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​The Scotsman: "POLICE APOLOGY FOR FAILINGS AS SHOTGUN KILLER FOUND GUILTY"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Martyn McLaughlin 

Police Scotland have apologised to the family of a murdered man for initally treating his death as "non-suspicious", despite the fact he had sustained dozens of injuries from shotgun pellets.

FULL REPORT: SCOTSMAN.COM/news/police-apologise-to-family-over-gamekeeper-murder-case-and-accept-response-fell-short-5611983

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Daily Mail: "IS PRINCE OF DARKNESS UP TO HIS OLD TRICKS?"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Rebecca Camber 

Scotland Yard made an extraordinary apology to House Of Commons Speaker yesterday as a row broke out over Peter Mandelson's arrest.

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