Today’s news summary – Paper Talk 

Wednesday’s front pages report on government plans to bring in anti-strike legislation, with left and right-wing papers split in their reaction. The NHS is another popular story for today’s papers, as the PM is urged to do a deal and reports on excessive deaths during Christmas 2022. 

Excess deaths as NHS buckles 

“1,000 excess deaths each week as the NHS buckles,” writes the Times. The headline references the “compelling” evidence the crisis in the NHS is contributing to rising mortality rates. The paper concludes there were 1,600 more deaths than usual during Christmas week – with long waits for ambulances, cold weather and rising flu infections. 

The online Independent’s front page headline claims 50,000 record number of patients are forced to wait 12 hours in A&E each week, according to leaked data the paper has seen. The paper quotes sources across the country warning that hospitals are having to “squeeze” some patients into spaces outside normal wards with no direct oxygen lines, while others wait for hours in ambulances.

The Daily Express urges the PM to do a deal to stop strikes. “Clock is ticking Rishi… do a deal for Britain.” The paper quotes the head of the Royal College of Nursing calling on the PM to “get a grip” on the nurses’ pay dispute. 

Anti-strike laws introduced

Some of the front pages report on new legislation that would require some staff in England, Wales and Scotland to work during strikes. 

The Daily Mail blames Labour for vowing to block the bill. The paper claims the party is putting lives at risk. The Times suggests the proposed law is right in principle “even if it comes too late for the present wave of strikes”.

But left-wing Mirror says the law is a “monstrous attack on rights in a supposed democracy”.