Sunday newspaper round-up: Election, Tory Cabinet, Labour crisis, Ted Baker, M&C Saatchi, British Steel

Boris Johnson is plotting a dramatic overhaul of Whitehall after his landslide election victory, in a drive to demonstrate that the Government “works for the people”. Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson’s chief aide, is to spearhead plans for radical reforms to the civil service, including a review of the processes for hiring and firing officials, to ensure Whitehall delivers the Prime Minister’s agenda. - Sunday Telegraph

Nicola Sturgeon has insisted that Scotland cannot be “imprisoned in the UK against its will” and warned that Boris Johnson’s continued refusal to grant her the powers to hold a second referendum can only increase support for Scottish independence. Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, the SNP leader and Scotland’s first minister said: “It really is such a subversion of democracy that you’re talking to the leader of the party that overwhelmingly won the election [in Scotland], and I’m under pressure to say what I’m doing because the mandate that I won is not going to be honoured by the party that got roundly defeated in Scotland. - Observer

Emily Thornberry angrily denied accusations she branded northern Brexit voters 'stupid' today as Labour tore itself to pieces over the election disaster. As the battle for the soul of the party turned nasty, Mrs Thornberry is understood to be consulting lawyers after ex-minister Caroline Flint claimed she made the dismissive jibe to a colleague. - Mail on Sunday

Jeremy Corbyn will remain in post for at least the next two months, John McDonnell has said as he tried to frame the race to succeed him as Labour leader. The shadow chancellor said that he accepted responsibility for the “disaster” that was the party’s worst performance since 1935 – but then blamed a media he said had “demonised” Corbyn. - The Sunday Times

The Conservatives targeted voters in the country's most marginal seats with tailored Facebook and Instagram advertisements featuring warnings about how a Labour government would increase the cost of petrol and hike inheritance tax. A Telegraph audit of the Tories' digital offensive reveals a highly targeted operation aimed at key seats the party was attending to defend, and those it hoped to gain from Labour. - Sunday Telegraph

Michael Gove has categorically promised the UK will have a trade deal with the EU by the end of next year, despite deep reservations in Brussels about whether this is possible. The senior cabinet minister became the first in Boris Johnson’s cabinet to repeat that pledge after the election, saying transitional arrangements would definitely stop at the end of December 2020. - Observer

Boris Johnson is considering a move to decriminalise non-payment of the BBC licence fee in a move likely to further worsen relations between Number 10 and the broadcaster. The Prime Minister hinted during the general election campaign that he wanted to scrap the licence fee as he questioned its long term viability. - Mail on Sunday

The accounting regulator is planning a sweeping change to the rules governing company boards after the string of scandals at Carillion, Patisserie Valerie, M&C Saatchi and Ted Baker. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is developing a British version of Sarbanes-Oxley, the American law passed in 2002 after the collapses of WorldCom and Enron. - The Sunday Times

On Thursday morning, a sleepy airfield in Gloucestershire will get a vision of the future of flight when Rolls-Royce reveals the aircraft it hopes will claim a new record for the historic company. Instead of burning aviation fuel to take to the skies, the aircraft – known as Accel – will harness electrons. It has been created with what Rolls claims is the most powerful battery ever put in an aircraft and the aim of smashing the existing 213mph speed record for an aircraft powered by electricity. Rolls will target a top speed of 300mph. - Sunday Telegraph

Ted Baker has been a jack-the-lad character in the City for the past 30 years. The story goes that “Ted”, the presumed alter ego of company founder Ray Kelvin, got the idea for a global brand “while fishing” in 1987. And he never looked back. But now Ted is in trouble. Kelvin is gone – forced out after being accused of presiding over a regime of “forced hugs” and harassment, which he denies – and last week the chairman and chief executive quit too after a dramatic plunge in profits. Now a City investor whose nickname is “the Rottweiler” is on Ted’s case. - Observer

Move over cute cats, video gamers and make-up experts: the next (and unlikely) stars of YouTube could be property landlords. While investing in property might not be as hot a subject as the latest Fortnite hacks or how to clean your house, there is a growing audience of people who want to watch videos about buy-to-let mortgages, how to vet a lettings agent, landlord taxes and bridging finance. - Mail on Sunday

The board of advertising agency M&C Saatchi has been accused of backtracking on a promise to hold an independent investigation into its accounting crisis. Four directors, including co-founder Lord (Maurice) Saatchi, triggered turmoil last week when they quit in a row over responsibility for the scandal. In a blistering letter, the three non-executives claimed they had not been allowed to fulfil their roles properly. - The Sunday Times

The Chinese rescue of British Steel is threatened with collapse, casting Boris Johnson into an immediate crisis in the industrial heartlands that delivered his decisive election victory. Talks with the potential buyer Jingye are this weekend at risk as a deadline to finalise terms ­approaches, according to Whitehall sources. - Sunday Telegraph

Passengers have been urged to check their train times ahead of a major timetable change on Sunday, which will see more faster services on various routes around the country. Rail companies have promised to prioritise reliability and punctuality in the changeover, aiming to reassure passengers after the botched introduction of a new schedule in May 2018 caused mass disruption. - Observer

House prices will rise 2 per cent next year as confidence returns to the market, economists predict. Howard Archer, chief UK economist at accounting giant EY, said the Tories' thumping win last week would boost house price growth from its current level of about 1 percent a year. He said record low interest rates would also help homebuyers although experts now think there is less chance of a rate cut by the Bank of England. - Mail on Sunday