26/02/2016 The Papers

Plenty more football, as well as rugby and cricket and all the latest

surrounding the boxing bout between Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg.

Hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be

With me are Martin Lipton, the Deputy Head of Sport Content

at The Sun, and the writer and broadcaster Louise Scodie.

The Times says Boris Johnson has backed away from the suggestion that

a vote to leave the EU would force Brussels to give Britain a better

The Telegraph says the Mayor of London has appealed to Cabinet

ministers backing the campaign to stay in the European Union to think

again. The Independent focuses on George Osborne's warning made to the

BBC that he may have to impose deeper cuts in public spending. The

Guardian leads on allegations of abuse and bullying attitude for S

run prison. There is a new biography of Tony Blair and the Government

policy on immigration. In the Daily Express, the migrant crisis in

Europe could destroy the EU, it is feared. Let's begin with a story on

the Independent. We heard George Osborne speaking in China about

this. George Osborne prepares new cuts as economic gloom deepens. Next

month's budget to feature fresh austerity. Tax revenues expected to

fall short of predictions. Bad news coming all the way from China.

Certainly. Presented rather like an anvil landing on our heads. What an

ominous story! No one is looking forward to more austerity. That much

is clear. The way the story is presented leaves you in no doubt

that the tone here is very much critical of Osborne's decision.

Calling it a fateful decision makes you think we are just headed for

more and more trouble. This will be absolutely no good. I am not sure

anyone will welcome the posterity measures. Certainly in the

Independent, all of the stories detailing the austerities will be

negative. I wonder how surprised people will feel that there will be

more cuts. Five Apeople were prepared to accept hard economic

pain for a short-term. People were prepared to accept. This was on the

basis that things are moving in the correct direction. Now we are facing

more of the same and cuts upon cuts upon cuts, effectively. I am not

entirely sure there will be the same response to rip them may have been

between 2010 and 2015. It will be a big issue for the Government to try

to sell more of the same. Does it not matter whether cuts fall? Of

course it does. If people perceive the cuts are inflicting damage upon

their lives and pain to them, often you can see in the initial stages

people do not think it will affect them, it will affect someone else

will do if the scope becomes wider and wider and wider, they may well

indeed be as inevitable and necessary as the Government says the

people will ask, why am I suffering? Then it becomes a bigger issue. That

is often the way. That is assuming that people do not have empathy. I

would argue with that. The cuts have been deeply unpopular from the start

and there has been a degree of worry for other people who have been

affected by this. There have been protests. Many saw them as a

necessary evil. People believed that austerity was a needless policy in

the first place. One wonders whether the former camp might shrink and the

latter camp might grow. Letter stick with the independent and look at the

main picture story here. -- let us stick. The gathering in Zurich. We

have been trying to find them. They cannot believe it is not Sepp

Blatter. Fifa picks new head for football's family. The new president

has been voted in in the end. Only two ballots. This man, Johnny baby,

as his name possibly translates. Gianni in panty no, tell us about

him. He has been very senior -- Infantino. He only stayed because

the fella who were supposed to stand, Michel Platini was forced out

of favour because ?1.3 million payment that had not been declared

between Sepp Blatter and himself ten years earlier. Uefa, European Fogel,

decided it needed someone to try and run on behalf of them, not really

respecting to win. Lo and behold Gianni Infantino is Fifa president.

He is a lawyer, an accountant, a bright spark. He speaks so many

languages. He is a genuine polyglot. He answered questions in about seven

different languages. Sepp Blatter could also speak lots of different

averages. Being multitalented in languages does not make you the best

man to lead in world football. That art is -- there are issues with him

but he seems the least worst alternative. There are suggestions

it is not a new era for Fifa, it is rearranging the deck chairs. He

stood out. He seemed to be the most genuine and heartfelt. I love the

fact he addressed the people working for him in his acceptance speech.

That gave a nice humane touch to proceedings. I am not the biggest

football fan in the world. What I care for is open and transparent

leadership. The priority in my mind is the fans. You want a leader who

will lead an organisation who will do right by the fans. There are so

many people spending money on football tickets and football

paraphernalia every week. I would want the organisation organises the

will to be one that does so in a culture of honesty. You may look

cynical. If you honestly think anyone in football cares about the

fans, sadly that is not the case. Football is a multi-billion pound

business. Fifa is designed to keep the gravy train on its tracks. Sadly

that is true. It is about guidance and leadership and everything else.

People at the meeting are worried about themselves first and foremost.

What Fifa needs is a complete overhaul and should be run by a

separate set of people A few stories about Boris Johnson a membership of

the European Union. Maher changes mind too worn out vote will be

final. He seemed to suggest the other day that an out vote might

encourage partners in the European Union to offer a better deal. Now he

appears to be saying, no means no. It makes me feel very cheerful. The

main stand out for me is that we have had months of this. This will

make me very happy indeed. At least we know where he stands. We know

where he stands today. It is good to have clarity. This comes on the same

day that Michael Howard has said, actually, no can mean maybe. If we

vote to leave, that would force the EU to renegotiate is the point that

Johnson was saying on Monday and he has now reneges from. It does seem

there was no certainty in their voices. They are moving from pillar

to post. It is an issue for them. If this exit campaign will be

successful, and believe campaign will win, they lead people who have

some resonance with the public. They have proved they can win for the

Tories in London, a Labour stronghold. Michael Gove, again, a

bright man, who has come out as a leading light from the people who

have expertise. They need to be consistent and able to show they are

in control of this argument. At the moment there seems to be an

inconsistency in that argument. The Daily Telegraph has said that Boris

is urging allies in the Cabinet, the Prime Minister's allies in joining

him. It was about the power play between Boris and Cameron. Think

about staying in or out, it is about establishing the facts. If we had a

leader who was laying it on the line and telling us straight, there would

be less confusion. It is interesting. Theresa May was looked

upon as a potential person who would vote for out until she decided to be

in. That has caused problems for the pro-exit lobby, certainly. Brussels

has decided not to stop us having powerful kettles. Maybe just to be a

bit nice to us at the moment. They flip the switch on cattle herds. The

suggestion that you would not be able to have a super charged kettle

or toaster. -- kettle. This cannot be argued against the can it? The UK

Independence Party person says, he is blaming Brussels for taking four

attempts to make his toast fit to spread marmalade. You are in charge

of your marmalade! Turn up the dial. This man believes he can have hard

and soft do like he can have hard and soft water. In the Times, the

date of the trip down memory lane. -- offers a trip. I cannot take

painkillers without a fuss. Out of the three of us I am the least

likely to remember the 60s. I was four when they finished. Just saying

it how it is. This was a fun and fabulous exhibition with a few

things to raise a few eyebrows. Displays are likely to feature in

our power nudity, as opposed to usual nudity. It promises to be the

most controversial in the Victoria and Albert history. You are a cynic!

You are just an out and out cynic. I am very disappointed. We will be

back with another look at the front pages at 11:30 p.m.. Coming up, it

is time for the sport.