Sunday Papers – Travel chaos new normal after Brexit & Sunak’s hardline immigration plans
Sunday’s papers feature a variety of stories, including the ongoing Tory leadership race, the NHS crisis and the current travel chaos being some of the top stories on the front pages.
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The Sunday Times – ‘It’s no longer feasible to be a full-time GP’
The Sunday Times leads with news of a working hours crisis for GPs. The paper says nearly a fifth of GPS work an average of only 26 hours a week as half of all patients struggle to get through to their family doctor, according to data. The paper says many GPs now do other work including research and private work, as a senior GP says the job is “no longer doable full-time.”
The front page also features an image of Rishi Sunak’s wife – who was seen taking a selfie with a statue of Margret Thatcher in Lincolnshire, where Rishi was campaigning to be prime minister. Sunak pledged to fix the “broken” immigration system – and presented himself as the ‘heir to Thatcher’.
The Sunday Telegraph – Sunak: I would cap number of refugees
Rishi Sunak promises to introduce a cap on the number of refugees accepted each year in the UK, The Sunday Telegraph says. The paper says it’s an attempt to “woo” the right of the party.
Elsewhere, the paper carries a picture of Boris Johnson throwing a mock grenade, with the wry caption “parting gesture.” The third lead story on the front page reports households may be asked to turn down thermostats and switch off lights under government plans to avoid winter blackouts.
Sunday Mirror – NHS staff sell days off to pay bills
NHS workers are selling their holiday entitlements to pay the bills, the Sunday Mirror says. The paper says NHS workers that are struggling with the cost of living are having to sell their holiday days just to make ends meet. It says others, like 37-year-old Pauline Brady, are working extra days to get by.
In a snap poll of 1,000 staff, 150 said they had sold holiday days – accepting payment instead of the time off – while 700 said they had worked extra shifts to get by.
Sunday People – Army ‘too small to fight Russia’
Britain’s army is too small to fight Russia – that’s on the front of the Sunday People. The paper quotes a former defence chief who issues the warning. The paper features an image of Boris Johnson on a trip to an army base – the headline says the PM is ‘playing soldier’.
The front page also features an image and story on supermodel Kate Moss – who opened up about her early years in the fashion industry and retold a story of a creep photographer who tried to convince her to let him photograph her topless when she was just 15.
The Observer – Travel chaos new normal after Brexit, British tourists
The Observer warns that travel chaos is the “new normal” after Brexit. The paper says the long summer queues of holidaymakers at the border risk becoming “the new normal” after Brexit. The paper highlights what it calls the “travel chaos” at Dover, with new rules requiring all passports to be checked.
The paper features an image of Liz Truss on a recent meet and greet in Kent. Whilst running a story that Thatcher ministers turn to Truss over tax cut plans.
Sunday Express – PM: We did take back control
Boris Johnson has declared victory in his “mission to take back control of Britain’s laws and borders”, the Sunday Express reports. The paper devotes its front page to the prime minister and his legacy, according to Boris Johnson. “We did take back control!” the headline quotes him saying, as he expands on his three years at No 10, post-Brexit.
Rishi Sunaks ‘10-point plan’ to tackle immigration and a Kate Moss exclusive also feature on the front splash.
Daily Star Sunday – Britain is hottest since stone age: Yabba dabba phew!
The Daily Star Sunday says Britain is the hottest it has been since the Stone Age. The paper says ‘clever boffins’ says this summer will be the hottest in the UK for 125,000 years- when Elephants roamed Britain and ‘the flintstones lived in Bedrock.’
The front page also features several entertainment exclusives, including an Eastenders wedding and a chat with Miss England.
The Independent – Anger at Sunak’s hardline plan for immigration
The Independent takes Rishi Sunak to task, calling his plans “hardline”.It says they’ve sparked outrage in the aid community, with Oxfam branding them “cruel”. The charity’s head of government relations, Sam Nadel, tells the Independent: “If anything, this shows that the heat of campaigning leads to bad policy.”
Scottish Mail on Sunday – Refugee face grim ordeal on SNP ship
The Scottish Mail on Sunday leads on what it claims to be the “ugly truth” about a ship to house Ukrainian refugees, which is moored outside Edinburgh.
The paper says an investigation it’s carried out reveals that hundreds of Ukrainians would face “grim and unsuitable” conditions onboard MS Victoria. It says a similar scheme already running in Estonia has families living in cramped and windowless cabins.
Mail on Sunday – Truss: I’d sent more migrants to Africa
Liz Truss tells the Mail on Sunday that she’d send more migrants to Rwanda. The foreign secretary insists that the “Rwanda policy is the right policy” – and that she’s “determined to see it through to full implementation”.
Ms Truss goes on to tell the Mail that she wants to end what she calls the “appalling people trafficking we’re seeing”.
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This week’s biggest stories.
Thousands ordered to flee California amid wildfire
Thousands ordered to flee California wildfire near Yosemite Park prompting evacuation orders for thousands of people.
A fast-moving brush fire near Yosemite National Park exploded in size Saturday into one of California’s largest wildfires of the year, shutting off power to more than 2,000 homes and businesses.
“Explosive fire behaviour is challenging firefighters,” Cal Fire said in a statement Saturday that described the Oak Fire’s activity as “extreme with frequent runs, spot fires and group torching.”
The Oak Fire started Friday afternoon southwest of the park near the town of Midpines in Mariposa County and by Saturday had grown to nearly 15 square miles (38 square kilometres), according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Heathrow strikes called off after British Airways workers accept pay deal
Heathrow strikes called off – Hundreds of British Airways workers have voted to accept a new pay deal and call off strike action. The move means the risk of thousands of travellers’ summer getaway plans being thrown into chaos by strike action has been reduced.
In a statement, the GMB union said 75% of its members supported the new deal pay deal.
Aviation workers were set to walk out after a 10% pay cut imposed during the pandemic was not reinstated, GMB said.
Italy to hold September election after PM Draghi resigns
Italy’s president has announced the country will hold early elections in September following Mario Draghi’s resignation as prime minister from the country.
The snap election will take place on 25 September.
On Thursday President Sergio Mattarella signed a decree to dissolve parliament. He said: “The period we are going through does not allow for any pause in the [government] action which is needed to counter the economic and social crisis and rising inflation.”
Draghi resigned on Thursday after he attempted to save the coalition government, which failed when three key parties decided not to back the PM in a confidence vote.
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