INFORMING BRITAIN PRESS PREVIEW (TUESDAY'S PAPERS): TUESDAY 17 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 Tuesday 17 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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Morning Star: "PM SLAMMED FOR IGNORING LABOUR TOGETHER NOW"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Berny Torre

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was slammed today for failing to sack a minister at the centre of the Labour Together spy scandal.

FULL REPORT: MorningStarOnline.co.uk/article/starmer-slammed-over-failure-sack-minister-centre-labour-together-spy-scandal

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The Yorkshire Post: "UK HASTENS DEFENCE SPENDING RISE"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Kit Sandeman

Defence spending targets will be increased and brought forward, it is understood, to help combat the increasing threat from Russia in an era of decreasing global stability.

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​Glasgow Times: "RAPIST FOLLOWED WOMAN HOME FROM CITY CENTRE"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Dave Finlay

Mohand Mageed, a refugee from Syria raped a young woman in Glasgow after spotting the stranger as she walked home through the City Centre streets at night.

FULL REPORT: GlasgowTimes.co.uk/news/25859687.woman-raped-man-followed-walked-home-glasgow

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Manchester Evening News: "'I BELIEVED MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER'"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Amy Walker 

An alleged murderer has told a court he bought a 'Call Of Duty' style hunting knife to protect himself from 'being hunted'.
Abbas Hussain is accused of murdering Mohammed Isa Afzal during an incident.

FULL REPORT: ManchesterEveningNews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/murder-accused-bought-call-duty-33436406

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The Scotsman: "SNP POLICIES OF FREE TUITION AND BENEFITS 'AT RISK' AS FUNDING FALLS"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: David Bol

The next Scottish Government may be forced to cut free university tuition and more generous benefits without more tax hikes as the country loses funding advantage relative to England, a think tank has warned.

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Daily Star: "DUVALL DIES AT 95"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Ed Gleave

Legendary actor Robert Duvall has died at the age of 95.
The Oscar-winner was best known for his roles in iconic films such as The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. 

FULL REPORT: DailyStar.co.uk/showbiz/breaking-legendary-actor-robert-duvall-36732004

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​Edinburgh Evening News: "KATHY PICKS UP DODDIE BATTON"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Stuart Reid
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Kathy Weir, the wife of late rugby legend and Motor Neurone Disease campaigner Doddie Weir, will take on a 750 mile cycling challenge to raise money for the charity he founded.

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The Independent: "ANOTHER STARMER U-TURN AS LOCAL POLL DELAYS ABANDONED"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Millie Cooke

Sir Keir Starmer has abandoned plans to postpone elections across 30 councils this May after being warned it would be illegal, in yet another humiliating U-turn for the Government.

FULL REPORT: INDEPENDENT.CO.UK/news/uk/politics/local-elections-may-starmer-labour-reform-b2921327.html

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Daily Mirror: "SAVE OUR NEXT GENERATION"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Sophie Huskisson 

Ellen Roome welcomed a change in the law on Social Media giants – but urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to act now to protect children online.

FULL REPORT: MIRROR.CO.UK/news/politics/bereaved-mum-makes-urgent-plea-36731827

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The Guardian: "ANGER AS PM ABANDONS PLANS TO DELAY MAY ELECTIONS"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Kiran Stacey

Keir Starmer has been forced to abandon plans to delay Local Elections with less than three months' notice in another policy U-Turn that has prompted anger among his own MPs and scorn from opposition leaders.

FULL REPORT: TheGuardian.com/society/2026/feb/16/government-cancels-plan-to-delay-local-council-elections-in-england

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Financial Times: "STARMER ABANDONS DELAY OF 30 ELECTIONS AFTER REFORM LEGAL CHALLENGE"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Mari Novik / Jim Pickard / Jennifer Williams

The Government has abandoned plans to delay Local Elections for 30 councils in Britain on 7 May after receiving advice that the move could be against the law, in the latest setback for Sir Keir Starmer.

FULL REPORT: FT.COM/content/fb82b59a-7ebb-40f2-ac88-da9dfd31dbbe

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​Scottish Daily Mail: "A SURRENDER TO CRIMINALS"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Graham Grant

Police in Britain have 'written off' more than 22,000 crimes including cases of shoplifting, theft and vandalism.

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Daily Express: "PM 'SECRETLY PLOTTING TO LOCK' US BACK INTO EU"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Katie Harris

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of "secretly plotting to lock" Britain to the European Union as part of his Brexit reset.

FULL REPORT: EXPRESS.CO.UK/news/politics/2171681

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The Times: "STARMER'S PLAN TO DELAY ELECTIONS ABANDONED"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Max Kendix / Oliver Wright

Sir Keir Starmer has abandoned plans to delay Local Elections for 4.5 million voters.

FULL REPORT: TheTimes.com/uk/politics/article/local-elections-ministers-drop-plans-cancel-vc03tqnp3

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Daily Mail: "STARMER FORCED TO FACE WRATH OF VOTERS"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Martin Beckford / Sophie Church

Keir Starmer faced new humiliation after he was forcded by Nigel Farage to abandon controversial plans to cancel Local Elections.

FULL REPORT: DailyMail.co.uk/news/article-15565061

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