and journalist and broadcaster caroline frost. we all said hello to both and just a moment. the front page of the financial times focuses on the french election. following the first round of voting, emmanuel macron and marine le pen will face each other in the second and final stage later this month. the guardian writes that france faces a brutal two week battle over the country's future after macron came out on top today. but the times reports that the election is "wide open" after polls suggested president macron is on course to win only by the slimmest of margins — 2%. back in the uk, the daily telegraph leads on the news that the chancellor has asked the prime minister for an independent review into his financial affairs following public questions over his transparency. the mirror writes that the queen said coronavirus left her exhausted in a candid chat with nhs

staff and patients. and the metro says her majestry spoke about having covid in february and hailed britain's dunkirk spirit in the pandemic so, let's begin. hello, both. let's kick off, caroline, with the front page of the guardian if we can. we are going to do the french elections because it is a huge story on lots of the front pages. the guardian headline is macron and le pen face off in fight for france's future. what are the guardian ryding en?— for france's future. what are the guardian ryding en? after weeks of battlin: , guardian ryding en? after weeks of battlinu, it guardian ryding en? after weeks of battling. it has _ guardian ryding en? after weeks of battling, it has come _ guardian ryding en? after weeks of battling, it has come down - guardian ryding en? after weeks of battling, it has come down to - guardian ryding en? after weeks of battling, it has come down to two i battling, it has come down to two very colourful, extremely different personalities, contrasting ideologies. and it is all to play for because it is very, very close. i was just reading that the abstention vote was also a record high. it seems that not everybody did turn out for this, but the ones who did have gone to either extreme

ends of the political spectrum and they have ended up with a real choice, a proper political choice, what a luxury. with these two, with much ground to cover because they're both constraints and gaping holes that they will seek to redress and treat the voters to thinking that they will have the solutions in the fortnight which will determine their fate. we fortnight which will determine their fate. ~ , . , fortnight which will determine their fate. , ., , , ., �*, ., fate. we shall see. george, let's go to the front — fate. we shall see. george, let's go to the front page — fate. we shall see. george, let's go to the front page of— fate. we shall see. george, let's go to the front page of the _ fate. we shall see. george, let's go to the front page of the times, - fate. we shall see. george, let's go i to the front page of the times, same story, different photo. the headline is french election in balance after narrow macron when. == is french election in balance after narrow macron when.— is french election in balance after narrow macron when. -- win. emmanuel macron's lead — narrow macron when. -- win. emmanuel macron's lead in — narrow macron when. -- win. emmanuel macron's lead in the _ narrow macron when. -- win. emmanuel macron's lead in the first _ narrow macron when. -- win. emmanuel macron's lead in the first round - narrow macron when. -- win. emmanuel macron's lead in the first round is - macron's lead in the first round is actually— macron's lead in the first round is actually larger than it was in 2017, but for— actually larger than it was in 2017, but for the — actually larger than it was in 2017, but for the second round, some polls are showing — but for the second round, some polls are showing out to be as close as 51 macron _ are showing out to be as close as 51 macron and — are showing out to be as close as 51 macron and 49 le pen. that would be far tighter— macron and 49 le pen. that would be far tighter than we saw in 2017 went

macron_ far tighter than we saw in 2017 went macron166% of the vote. of course, having _ macron166% of the vote. of course, having le _ macron166% of the vote. of course, having le pen in the final round is nothing _ having le pen in the final round is nothing new, we have been here before, — nothing new, we have been here before, and her father obviously has also made _ before, and her father obviously has also made the final round before, but a _ also made the final round before, but a le _ also made the final round before, but a le pen victory would send shoch— but a le pen victory would send shock waves through europe. i think principally _ shock waves through europe. i think principally because after the war in ukraine _ principally because after the war in ukraine. until russia invaded ukraine, _ ukraine. until russia invaded ukraine, marine le pen had plans to feature _ ukraine, marine le pen had plans to feature photographs of her shaking hands _ feature photographs of her shaking hands with vladimir putin on her election— hands with vladimir putin on her election leaflet, so she was actually _ election leaflet, so she was actually planning to promote her association with putin. and where she elected, she would remove france from nato's _ she elected, she would remove france from nato's military command. putin would _ from nato's military command. putin would say— from nato's military command. putin would say that as hugely advantageous. obviously france along with the _ advantageous. obviously france along with the uk is one of europe's military— with the uk is one of europe's military superpowers. but what this also shows — military superpowers. but what this also shows is the strong discontent within— also shows is the strong discontent within france over macron's presidency. he has been a divisive

president — presidency. he has been a divisive president. he has been criticised from _ president. he has been criticised from both— president. he has been criticised from both the left and the far right for being _ from both the left and the far right for being too favourable to the wealthy — for being too favourable to the wealthy are not doing enough to promote — wealthy are not doing enough to promote social solidarity, particularly now we are facing a cost _ particularly now we are facing a cost of — particularly now we are facing a cost of living crisis in the uk and across— cost of living crisis in the uk and across europe. we cost of living crisis in the uk and across europe.— cost of living crisis in the uk and across europe. we should mention, caroline, across europe. we should mention, caroline. the _ across europe. we should mention, caroline, the logistics _ across europe. we should mention, caroline, the logistics of _ across europe. we should mention, caroline, the logistics of this. - across europe. we should mention, caroline, the logistics of this. the l caroline, the logistics of this. the election system, as it were. there is a first round, which we have had this weekend, where everyone votes with their heart for the first round, and in the second round, a couple of weeks later, a run—off between two candidates and everyone votes with their head for the second time. the received wisdom is that given there is a far right candidate, everyone else will rally around and reluctantly vote for macron to keep marine le pen out. is that going to happen this time? well, it does come down to all of those votes that went to the third placed, the socialist, but he has

not endorsed emmanuel macron, yes come short of that, he has rallied his troops and said do not vote for marine le pen, and everyone cheered. so whether that then translates into the ballot box in a fortnight, we will have to see. but it would seem that that would happen, that perhaps this does focus the mind, particularly with this evolving story in ukraine. i think marine le pen does have the work to do to persuade voters that she is not in putin's pocket in any way, that that is a positive thing she has that arm out to russia. however, emmanuel macron has an equal amount of work to do to persuade voters that he does actually care about the cost of living and other domestic problems on the home front. they have each got to put a of ground in the next to fill in those spaces that they are overlooking leading up to this point. that they are overlooking leading up to this point-— to this point. indeed. george, one ofthe to this point. indeed. george, one of the fascinating _ to this point. indeed. george, one of the fascinating things _ to this point. indeed. george, one of the fascinating things about - to this point. indeed. george, one of the fascinating things about the j of the fascinating things about the results is the utter collapse of the

traditional mainstream parties. yes. so, the socialist _ traditional mainstream parties. yes. so, the socialist party _ traditional mainstream parties. yes. so, the socialist party candidate polled _ so, the socialist party candidate polled just 2%, and the traditional centre—right polled just 5%. in uk terms. _ centre—right polled just 5%. in uk terms. it— centre—right polled just 5%. in uk terms. it is— centre—right polled just 5%. in uk terms, it is as if there was a general— terms, it is as if there was a general election and the conservatives when 5%, labour wins 2%. conservatives when 5%, labour wins 2%~ what _ conservatives when 5%, labour wins 2%. what this election confirms is the realignment resort in 2017, with macron— the realignment resort in 2017, with macron winning big the far right in second _ macron winning big the far right in second place, and jean—luc melenchon, the radical left candidate, pulling ahead of the socialist, — candidate, pulling ahead of the socialist, that realignment is now entrenched. we are in a different political— entrenched. we are in a different political world. the question also remains. — political world. the question also remains, what will remain of the centrist — remains, what will remain of the centrist movement that emmanuel macron— centrist movement that emmanuel macron has led by the next election's he has barred, under the constitution, for standing for another—

constitution, for standing for another term. constitution, for standing for anotherterm. so constitution, for standing for another term. so where that photos is a key— another term. so where that photos is a key question. we another term. so where that photos is a key question.— is a key question. we have a couple of weeks of — is a key question. we have a couple of weeks of fierce _ is a key question. we have a couple of weeks of fierce campaigning - is a key question. we have a couple of weeks of fierce campaigning in i of weeks of fierce campaigning in fresno and we will be keeping right across that, of course. let's come back to the uk. a bit of uk politics. the chancellor on the front page of the daily telegraph. the headline is rishi sunakfaces inquiry —— that inquiry into his financial interest. the photo is not related to that story. caroline tell us what has happened. we know that the beleaguered chancellor has had attacks and what some people are calling smears, some people are calling veryjustifiable investigations into the financial affairs of him and his wife, and various non—dom status, green card holding, questions from the opposition about potential tax havens. we should stress, though, that he, rishi sunak, has

proactively... when the size faces inquiry, this is something he has requested. he wants to put his financial affairs into the hands of the independent inquiry, the already well known to the media large kite, whose job it will be to check all of these affairs and that they are in order. i would thoroughly expect them to be legally in order. you do not have expensive lawyers working that hard for you without being legally watertight. i think the broader question will be how this place. it is all about the optics and whether, as an electorate with local elections coming up, like the idea of a chancellor so rich that he can afford these expensive lawyers, plus he holds the levers, the instruments by which we all determine what tax we pay. so that that man should be in a position where he gets to press the levers on his own wife's non—dom status, that is another question. but in terms of this, this isjust ticking is another question. but in terms of this, this is just ticking the

is another question. but in terms of this, this isjust ticking the boxes that everything is legally in order. i suppose he wants to just hope that thatis i suppose he wants to just hope that that is one step towards this being a very old headline.— a very old headline. well, the headhne a very old headline. well, the headline in _ a very old headline. well, the headline in the _ a very old headline. well, the headline in the i _ a very old headline. well, the headline in the i is _ a very old headline. well, the headline in the i is soon - a very old headline. well, the headline in the i is soon act'sl headline in the i is soon act's hopes of becoming prime minister evaporate. what do you make of this? it is a very interesting question. certainly— it is a very interesting question. certainly it _ it is a very interesting question. certainly it is hard to see how rishi — certainly it is hard to see how rishi sunak's fortunes recover at the moment. but it is worth remembering, it was not long ago that people were saying boris johnson — that people were saying boris johnson was doomed, that he was soon iioii'i johnson was doomed, that he was soon going to _ johnson was doomed, that he was soon going to he _ johnson was doomed, that he was soon going to be replaced by rishi sunak or someone else. in this era of frenetic— or someone else. in this era of frenetic politics, fortunes can change — frenetic politics, fortunes can change very quickly. the question remains. — change very quickly. the question remains, though, as to whether rishi sunak— remains, though, as to whether rishi sunak himself still believes he can become _ sunak himself still believes he can become prime minister. there are now rumours _ become prime minister. there are now rumours that _ become prime minister. there are now rumours that he will stand down at the next _ rumours that he will stand down at the next election, or perhaps even

earlier, _ the next election, or perhaps even earlier, to — the next election, or perhaps even earlier, to pursue business career in siiicon— earlier, to pursue business career in silicon valley. he is alleged to have _ in silicon valley. he is alleged to have referred to california as his home _ have referred to california as his home during a recent trip there. that— home during a recent trip there. that is— home during a recent trip there. that is one _ home during a recent trip there. that is one explanation for why he kept hold — that is one explanation for why he kept hold of a us green card, entitling _ kept hold of a us green card, entitling him to permanent residency, for so long. and he is clearly— residency, for so long. and he is clearly a — residency, for so long. and he is clearly a very ambitious person, he is incredibly— clearly a very ambitious person, he is incredibly wealthy, he has had a successful— is incredibly wealthy, he has had a successful career in business in the past. you sense that unless he is confident— past. you sense that unless he is confident he can make it to the top of british— confident he can make it to the top of british politics by becoming conservative leader and prime minister. _ conservative leader and prime minister, he may walk away because life minister, he may walk away because iife in— minister, he may walk away because life in a _ minister, he may walk away because life in a second rank cabinet position— life in a second rank cabinet position or on the backbenches is not glamorous or enticing enough for him. . . not glamorous or enticing enough for him. ., , ., , , ., him. that is an interesting personal take. what about _ him. that is an interesting personal take. what about the _ him. that is an interesting personal take. what about the wider - take. what about the wider implications for the party? i take. what about the wider implications for the party? i think it is very damaging _ implications for the party? i think it is very damaging because - implications for the party? i think it is very damaging because until| it is very damaging because until recently— it is very damaging because until recently rishi sunak's popularity

was helping to offset the unpopularity of boris johnson. and the chancellor had worked very hard to associate himself personally with measures _ to associate himself personally with measures such as the furlough scheme, — measures such as the furlough scheme, eat out to help out and so on. scheme, eat out to help out and so on but— scheme, eat out to help out and so on but the — scheme, eat out to help out and so on. but the flip of that is that you are then — on. but the flip of that is that you are then personally associated with less popular measures, cutting universai— less popular measures, cutting universal credit, limiting... failing _ universal credit, limiting... failing to— universal credit, limiting... failing to limit the huge rise, £700 rise we _ failing to limit the huge rise, £700 rise we have seen in the energy price _ rise we have seen in the energy price cap — rise we have seen in the energy price cap. so, what we are seeing is that during — price cap. so, what we are seeing is that during the covid era, rishi sunak's— that during the covid era, rishi sunak's popularity was tied to the fact that — sunak's popularity was tied to the fact that he was spending large amounts — fact that he was spending large amounts of money on the public. now he is having _ amounts of money on the public. now he is having to take some of that money— he is having to take some of that money away in the form of taxation, we are _ money away in the form of taxation, we are seeing concurrent in his fortunes — we are seeing concurrent in his fortunes. that is damaging for the government because the cost of living crisis is only going to intensifv _ living crisis is only going to intensify. if you have got an unpopular chancellor, the people are more _ unpopular chancellor, the people are more likely— unpopular chancellor, the people are more likely to blame the government than they— more likely to blame the government than they are to see it simply as a

resuit— than they are to see it simply as a result of— than they are to see it simply as a result of global factors such as inflation — result of global factors such as inflation and the war in ukraine. caroline, — inflation and the war in ukraine. caroline, briefly on this before we move on, iain duncan smith quoted in the front page of the telegraph referring to the decision to have an inquiry into the leak. iain duncan smith saying in his view that is a mistake because itjust keeps the story running. is that part of the problem? i think so. also it looks as though he is really trying to sniff out the messenger. and that is the problem. that is not the problem. it is unfortunate, it might be a problem for him, but for the wider electorate, who years meant to represent, in which he was seen to do so well during those lockdown months, it will look as though he is running to teacher. i think the bigger problem as it is not even his fault. perhaps he isjust too rich to be a chancellor with all of these huge financial problems that every single individual in this country is

facing right now. the timing is absolutely terrible. and he would say probably no coincidence. nevertheless it is terrible. i do not think sniffing out the rat is really the highest... it might be his highest priority, but not anybody else's. lets move on to the metro. the queen is the picture at the bottom. the headline, queen — my covid site. this is the queen talking about her experience — this is the queen talking about her experience of the virus, which she contracted — experience of the virus, which she contracted in february. it is the first— contracted in february. it is the first time — contracted in february. it is the first time she has spoken in detail about— first time she has spoken in detail about her— first time she has spoken in detail about her experience. this was as she opened — about her experience. this was as she opened virtually a new queen elizaheth— she opened virtually a new queen elizabeth ward at the royal london hospital _ elizabeth ward at the royal london hospital. and i think to thoughts. obviously. — hospital. and i think to thoughts. obviously, a lot of people in the country— obviously, a lot of people in the country will be able to empathise with her— country will be able to empathise with her experience, having had covid _ with her experience, having had covid themselves, increasingly perhaps— covid themselves, increasingly

perhaps more than once. but it is also significant that here is the queen, — also significant that here is the queen, she is 95, and although she has access— queen, she is 95, and although she has access to the best medical care available _ has access to the best medical care available as head of state, it is a sign _ available as head of state, it is a sign that— available as head of state, it is a sign that she has recovered from covid _ sign that she has recovered from covid now — sign that she has recovered from covid now. the fact she has been able _ covid now. the fact she has been able to— covid now. the fact she has been able to recover is a tribute to the improved — able to recover is a tribute to the improved treatment we have for coronavirus, not least the vaccines. ithink— coronavirus, not least the vaccines. i think had — coronavirus, not least the vaccines. i think had the queen contracted covid _ i think had the queen contracted covid before we had the vaccines and when _ covid before we had the vaccines and when treatment was still in its infancy, — when treatment was still in its infancy, it _ when treatment was still in its infancy, it may have been a tougher fight _ infancy, it may have been a tougher fight but— infancy, it may have been a tougher fight. but that the queen and others around _ fight. but that the queen and others around her_ fight. but that the queen and others around her age fight. but that the queen and others around herage are fight. but that the queen and others around her age are able to recover from _ around her age are able to recover from covid — around her age are able to recover from covid now is a tribute to medical— from covid now is a tribute to medical science.— from covid now is a tribute to medical science. caroline, 'ust in the last so i medical science. caroline, 'ust in the last 30 seconds, * medical science. caroline, 'ust in the last 30 seconds, the h medical science. caroline, just in the last 30 seconds, the story i medical science. caroline, just in j the last 30 seconds, the story on medical science. caroline, just in l the last 30 seconds, the story on a couple of the front pages, on most of them, testament to how interested

we are. i of them, testament to how interested we are. ., ,., of them, testament to how interested we are. ., ~ , of them, testament to how interested weare. ., ~ , we are. i also think this comes after - no _ we are. i also think this comes after - no change _ we are. i also think this comes after - no change there, - we had the duke and duchess rather challenging trip to the caribbean. the ongoing shenanigans of the duke of york. this is a reminder that the queen's status remains unquestioned on the eve of herjubilee, it is a reminder that she is very human and has, like so many others, taken on covid. we are quite blessed to have her with us. we covid. we are quite blessed to have her with us-— her with us. we will leave it there. thank you — her with us. we will leave it there. thank you very _ her with us. we will leave it there. thank you very much _ her with us. we will leave it there. thank you very much for _ her with us. we will leave it there. thank you very much for coming i her with us. we will leave it there. | thank you very much for coming on and talking us through the papers this evening. that's it for the papers tonight, thanks forjoining us. goodnight.