The Telegraph Frontpage for 2023 Monday 30

By Danny Boyle After the Prime Minister sacked Tory chairman Nadhim Zahawi, his allies claim that Rishi Sunak rushed to remove him for political expediency. Our team in Westminster cover the fallout.

PM ‘sacked Nadhim Zahawi without a fair hearing’

For weeks, he insisted that he had done nothing wrong. Yesterday, Nadhim Zahawi was sacked by Rishi Sunak, with allies claiming that he had not been given a fair hearing over allegations that he had misled officials about his tax affairs. The Prime Minister announced the Tory party chairman’s dismissal, citing the findings of a report by Sir Laurie Magnus, his ethics adviser, that Mr Zahawi had committed seven breaches of the ministerial code. But the former minister’s allies suggest the report was rushed out for political expediency and say he was only given one 30-minute meeting to defend himself. Deputy political editor Daniel Martin reports on the make-or-break hearing. Mr Zahawi’s dismissal comes at a time when Mr Sunak is struggling to keep party unity, with multiple splits. Harry de Quetteville has the full story on the downfall of the ultimate Westminster fixer, doomed by his own success.

Johnson says Putin threatened to kill him ‘with missile’ Boris Johnson has said Vladimir Putin threatened to kill him with a missile, with the Russian president adding that it “would only take a minute”. Following his visit to Kyiv in February last year, Mr Johnson said the pair had a “very long, most extraordinary call”. After Britain’s then prime minister described the likely sanctions response to a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Putin said: “Boris, I don’t want to hurt you, but with a missile, it would only take a minute.” The revelations come in a new three-part documentary series. Associate editor Dominic Nicholls says the programmes chart how the West struggled for more than a decade to deal with Putin as he grew in power on the world stage. Meanwhile, military officials within the Pentagon are calling for the US to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to help defend against Russian missile and drone attacks, it has been reported. Kyiv hopes to secure Western fighter jets after hearing it will be sent tanks. While the debate over whether to send the aircraft will be even more contentious and may take weeks or months, Jessica Abrahams reports that support is growing. It came as Pierre de Gaulle, the grandson of France’s wartime leader and former president, blamed the US for the war in Ukraine.

‘I give up!’ Motherhood makes Kondo fold on tidying For years she was seen as the queen of clean, inspiring millions around the world to declutter their houses and their lives. But following the birth of her third child, it appears that even Marie Kondo has her limits. The Japanese tidying guru says her home is now “messy” and that she has “kind of given up” on tidying, with three children to look after. Maighna Nanu reports on how her skills met their match in toddlers.

Also in the news this Monday Royals | An American lawyer who was accused of sexual abuse by the woman who sued Prince Andrew has urged the Duke to challenge the legal settlement with her. Alan Dershowitz was accused of sexual assault by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, but she dropped the claim saying she may have made a mistake in identifying him. Mr Dershowitz said the Duke should try to overturn the settlement, reported to be around £9.7million.

Race row | Outrage at theatres’ black-only audience policy Esther Rantzen | ‘Optimistic’ star reveals cancer diagnosis NHS | Health service ordered to reveal true A&E waiting times Christian term names | Lent and Easter cancelled by university Transgender prisoners | Sturgeon makes U-turn on jail rules

Around the world: Trump tries to bulldoze race

Donald Trump kicked off his 2024 presidential campaign with a blistering attack on Florida governor Ron DeSantis, his main rival for the Republican nomination. The former president warned that Mr DeSantis risked ending his political career if he had the temerity to stand against him. David Millward reports how his attack on Mr DeSantis is a taste of what lies in store for any Republicans who seek the nomination.

Donald Trump addresses a rally at the South Carolina State House in Columbia. Credit: Getty

Comment and analysis

Nick Timothy | Here’s how to cut crime: lock up violent offenders Tim Stanley | Rishi Sunak failed the Nadhim Zahawi test Bryony Gordon | Is everyone on psychedelics except me? Telegraph View | Tories must demonstrate effective governance Reader letters | How Tories can move on from the Zahawi debacle

Here is a selection of articles we think you’ll be interested in today.

Boris Johnson says Vladimir Putin threatened to kill him ‘with a missile’ Marie Kondo: After child number three, I’ve given up on tidying Russell T Davies lambasts diversity fixation of ‘rubbish’ new TV writers Dame Esther Rantzen reveals she has lung cancer ‘which has now spread’ Lent and Easter cancelled by university in drive to remove Christian term names

Nadhim Zahawi sacked – ‘Rishi looks weak’ despite sacking chairman, says former minister How Nadhim Zahawi had just half an hour to save his job at make-or-break meeting Mark Drakeford’s wife Clare dies suddenly Nadhim Zahawi sacked by Rishi Sunak without a fair hearing, say allies Nicola Sturgeon approves another trans prisoner’s move to women’s prison

The Last of Us, episode 3 review: Nick Offerman elevates zombie drama to Sopranos status Happy Valley, episode 5, review: the showdown between Catherine and Tommy can’t come soon enough How Television’s ‘flop’ Marquee Moon became the most influential album in alternative rock Why was 1948 the greatest ever year for British cinema? Jeremy Clarkson: King of Controversy, review: even Meghan Markle won’t kill this career