Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
The chancellor’s Spring Statement features on all of Thursday’s front pages.
The Financial Times says Sunak banked most of a £50bn windfall in public finances for a pre-election tax cut. The paper adds that he offered some relief for households facing crippling costs of living.
The front page of the Daily Express is more critical, saying the “forgotten millions” have been left “without a helping hand” from the chancellor. The Daily Mirror goes even further – “Thanks for nothing”, describing the statement as “Sunak’s sickener” – and says there was nothing in it to help energy bills or to wase the fall in living standards.
The Daily Mail’s front page is a little gentler with Rishi Sunak – suggesting he should “now slash taxes even further.” Whilst the Sun’s coverage “Rishi tax gain but still pain” is a small section of the front splash – the paper’s main story is on Russia bidding to host the 2028 Euros.
The Daily Telegraph, the Times and the Metro all lead with the fall in living standards. The Metro says the reality behind the mini-budget is “No heat to eat”, whilst the Times and Telegraph’s front pages report it is the biggest fall in living standards since the 1950s.
The i’s entire front page features a striking graphic showing rising inflation. “Biggest hit to living standards since age of rationing” is its headline.
The Guardian and the Daily Star are the most critical of the chancellor’s spring budget. The Guardian says Sunak is squeezing the poorest as cost of living surges. The paper says Sunak has been condemned for his tax package which fails to help the most vulnerable and instead targets better-off workers.
Whilst the Daily Star describes the chancellor as “a rich, insincere, smiling politician with nice teeth” and saying that “we’ll be worse off than the 1950s… but all be bloody well thankful!”