Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
PM promises to clear backlog of asylum claims
Some of the front pages lead with Rishi Sunak’s promise to clear the backlog of asylum claims, including the Times, which said the PM had “staked his political future” on resolving the issue.
The PM speaks to the Mail in which he describes the current system as “not fair” and “not right” and promises to cut what he calls the “appalling” costs of housing migrants in hotels while they wait for their cases to be assessed.
The prime minister takes to the Telegraph to write a piece saying migrants who get to the UK by “cheating” will be barred from claiming asylum.
Winter of strikes
The upcoming winter strikes also make the front splashes with the Times leading with a warning from nursing leaders that the strikes could put patients’ lives at risk because of what they say is the failure of unions to protect key services from disruption.
Urgent cancer operations could be cancelled, according to the Telegraph. But the paper reports the RCN has dismissed the concerns as a “politically-motivated smear from a government failing patients.”
For the Mirror’s lead – the paper says the RCN has called on the public to show their support ahead of the walkout. The union says they are fighting to protect the NHS for all.
The Guardian’s “special report” is five pages long and focuses on the pressures facing a busy London hospital. The paper reports on “swamped” emergency departments, “crammed” wards and “burnt-out” GPs – the paper says the NHS is at “breaking point.”
“You’ve Lost It, Lynch,” reports the Sun’s headline. The paper claims the RMT union leader Mick Lynch saw support for the strikes by rail workers “running out of steam” on Tuesday. The paper claims Lynch was “losing public sympathy” for the walkouts as he “piles on the misery” with weeks of action. The Sun’s leader column argues the union members know they should accept the offer made by Network Rail as “much of Britain has grimly swallowed far worse.”
Prince and Princess of Wales
A few of the papers feature the Prince and Princess of Wales’ new Christmas card featuring children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The Express says the picture showed the happier side of royal life, a dig at the upcoming release of part 2 of Harry and Meghan’s Netflix show. The Mail reports a new poll shows Harry is the most unpopular Royal – good news for Andrew!
