Day: 8 March 2024

The back page of the i newspaper features an image of Darwin Nunez after scoring twice in Liverpool’s 5-1 thrashing of Sparta Prague. 

The chancellor’s “squeeze” on local councils leads the Financial Times, as the paper reports Jeremy Hunt has “wound down” a scheme providing millions of pounds for social housing.

Wednesday’s budget will be one of the last set pieces the Tories have to win back the British public ahead of the general election. Yet Hunt’s approach shows the difficult balance he must strike between the desires of the electorate, the fiscal realities and the backbenchers nervously looking at their own majorities

For a second year running, The Independent has compiled a list of the 50 most influential women from a variety of worlds spanning the arts, politics, business, sports, television, media, and activism

The Guardian also leads with this story. It says the port is due to be built “in the next few weeks” by engineers who “will not need to step ashore in Gaza”.

The Metro says “Runaway aristocrat” Constance Marten has denied causing the death of her newborn baby by gross negligence, claiming she “did nothing but show her love” while giving evidence in court.

The Mirror highlights millions of pensioners are the “biggest losers” following the budget due to stealth taxes estimated at £8bn. In what it calls a “Tory Budget bombshell”, millions of pensioners will now face a hit on their incomes as a result of “Conservative stealth taxes”.

The Express leads on Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch saying Brexit has “reignited” the UK’s trade standing in global markets, to the tune of “hundreds of billions of pounds”.

The Sun says Red Bull F1 team chief Christian Horner – who was cleared of misconduct by Red Bull last week – has broken his silence over the scandal. Horner “heaped praise” on his wife, and former Spice Girl, Geri, for all her support.

Friday’s front pages continue their coverage of the fallout from the Spring Budget, which Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced earlier in the week. Several papers highlight fears over how the tax cuts will be paid for with one publication suggesting it could blow a £40bn hole in finances. Another paper questions why neither of the main two parties are willing to explain spending cuts before the upcoming 2024 election.