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Newspaper headlines: Tory MPs retaliate in 'blackmail storm'

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that Tory MPs who've accused government whips of "blackmailing" them are considering whether to publish texts and a recording of a "heated conversation" to back up their claims.

One MP who wants Boris Johnson to go that he'd like "the chief whip's head on a spike".

The backbenchers' assertions about the threats are strongly disputed in the Telegraph by a source involved in the whipping operation, who calls for a "shred of evidence".

declares that the prime minister's position is "precarious".

Its political editor suggests that Mr Johnson was never loved by his party but, while he was a winner, that didn't matter. Now polls suggest a fall in his popularity the Conservatives may demand a new leader.

But a cabinet minister that Mr Johnson is increasingly confident that he would win in a vote of no confidence and calls the whipping row a "sideshow".

Image source, PA Media
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Boris Johnson is facing down an attempt from some Tory MPs to oust him as leader

"the plot to unseat" him is "deflating faster than a punctured balloon".

head teachers as "defying" Mr Johnson by insisting children still wear masks in class, despite a change in the guidance.

this has "angered parents". The paper also reports that unions representing civil servants are at war with the prime minister over his call for Whitehall workers to return to work.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror questions the decision to relax the Covid rules, calling it "too much too soon," while Mr Johnson of not following the science.

According the Chancellor Rishi Sunak, is considering offering millions of people on low incomes £500 to help them pay their rising energy bills.

the grants to the direct payments made by Donald Trump during the Covid crisis.

Image source, Getty Images
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The situation in Ukraine also features in several of Friday's papers

On its front page, US allegations that Moscow's intelligence services are recruiting Ukrainian officials to take over the government in Kyiv and co-operate with an occupying Russian force.

The claims, the paper suggests, indicate that Russia is preparing for a full-scale invasion.

according to defence sources, Britain is considering sending hundreds more troops to Ukraine's Nato neighbours to act as a "deterrent",

an SAS unit is on standby to rescue any UK officials in Ukraine, if Russia does carry out an attack.

The Guardian's columnist British involvement in Ukraine, insisting the UK has no business there and would only push up gas prices and or even trigger a bigger conflict.

And finally, fur is flying because of a decision by the authorities in Hong Kong to cull more than 1,000 hamsters under its Covid restrictions.

Volunteers have been rescuing the pets, signing petitions and even hiring private jets that cost more than $25,000 each (£18,395) to fly owners and their rodents out of the city.