Cloudy and windy in northern Scotland today with spells of rain. A mixture of sunny spells and showers elsewhere, which could be heavy at times, particularly in the south where thunderstorms are possible. Feeling warm in a sunnier spell. Tonight
Editorial 07.10.24
Monday’s front pages are dominated by two stories.
Tributes are paid to mark the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, in which 1,189 people were killed, including 815 civilians and 251 people taken hostage.
But many of the newspapers are leading on domestic politics, as chief of staff Sue Gray has quit her role – and will take up a new role in Starmer’s government. It comes following sleaze scandals following the new government – and conversations around Sue Gray’s pay.
The FT says PM Keir Starmer has conducted a “shake-up” of his “misfiring” team after Sue Gray quit her role as his chief of staff – just three months into her role. The paper says her departure came as the PM attempted to “restore order” following weeks of internal criticism and a “power struggle.”
The i says Gray’s replacement – Morgan McSweeney – has been ushered in as the prime minister tries to “quell accusations” that his government is “stalling.” The paper says Gray left her role following a “toxic” battle with McSweeney. But a senior cabinet minister is quoted by the paper saying there was “no misogyny” involved.
The Daily Telegraph suggests Gray was “ousted”. The paper says PM Starmer moved Gray to the role of envoy to the regions and nations, where she will not report directly to him – and she’ll take a pay cut – a move that is “pretty extraordinary,” according to a former Tory adviser. The paper labels it as the PM wielding the knife.
The Times also says Gray was “ousted” with an ally of hers saying she was the victim of a “coup” orchestrated by her replacement Morgan McSweeney’s supporters.
The Metro says Gray’s “sudden exit” has generated “accusations of chaos and crisis” within Sir Keir’s administration.
The Sue Gray “farce” shows the prime minister’s “fatal lack of judgement,” Kemi Badenoch told the Daily Mail. Badenoch is in the race to become the next Tory leader.
The Sun says her stepping down was the “Taming of the Sue”.
The Daily Mirror’s editorial reports that with a “fresh start” the new government has a chance to “restore trust” and “deliver on its promises.”
The Daily Express quotes a senior unnamed Tory speaking to the paper saying Gray has fled a “sinking ship”. The prime minister has been “plunged into a crisis”, the paper says, attributing Ms Gray’s departure to a “power battle”.
Away from reactions to the Sue Gray news, other domestic politics make the front page.
Another Tory leadership hopeful, James Cleverly, has seen an upswing in support according to a recent highlight.
The i points to polling conducted on its behalf by BMG research which suggests he’s the preferred candidate among both Tory voters and the wider public.
The Express points to a survey of hundreds of grassroots Tory members, conducted by the website Conservative Home – which claims Cleverly is now their second choice, behind Badenoch.
The Daily Mirror leads on the 7 October attack anniversary. The paper features Mandy Damari’s plea for the safe return of her daughter Emily, 28, who is the last hostage British still being held by Hamas. “We cannot let another day pass,” the paper says.
The Guardian says a year on, Israel “remembers its victims” and intensifies air strikes. The paper says the war Israel “launched in response” to Hamas has escalated on two fronts with a strike on Iran likely. Israel is today on “high alert” today to guard against potential attacks timed to coincide with the anniversary.
The Daily Telegraph features an image of Emily Damari, 28, who was kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October last year and is still being detained.
Emily is also pictured at the top of the Daily Express as her mother pleads for her release.
The Times features an image of a crying woman at a memorial on the site of the Supernova Festival where Hamas killed hundreds of civilians and took hostages on 7 October 2023.
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Although the government is telling everyone the economy is on the mend, the reality is the economy is still on the verge of a double dip recession.
The inflation figures don’t show the real picture. Yes, inflation has stopped rising as much as it did, but the metrics they share is a decline rate not a drop. To understand this imagine the economy as a plane, it would still be falling, just not as fast as it was before, but it’s still on its way down.
The reason for that is FTSE companies from insurance to netflix subscriptions has increased its price, in some cases without any real justification, yet wages for the average joe have not increased.
The interest rates are still higher than they should be, and they will have you believe you that it is inversely linked to inflation. But the government could have maintained a price freeze for everyday services. But boosting profits for corporates is costing the average taxpayer more.
It is true, big companies have a stranglehold around the government policies; not just with lobby groups, but as we saw with Liz Truss, by having the power to tank the stock market. This power comes from the amount of American companies that have taken over British companies; because they don’t really care about the Brits, they are just focussed on their bottom line.
With Christmas around the corner, they will need to be some changes, and the government will have to bring that ‘feel good factor’ back in the market to boost spending and confidence, in order to avoid this being labelled as the ‘winter of discontent 2′.
No winter fuel payments, fuel bills rising by £150 per household (today), higher credit cards payments and mortgages equals parents with no money for presents. This will make this winter, not only, one of the coldest but also a thrifty one.
Earlier this morning Israel launched its invasion of Lebanon, despite the calls and protests from world leaders. Netanyahu is determined to push forward his agenda for creating a greater Israel and gain more land.
Despite the conflicts with Starmer on the issue, this provides a political opportunity that politicians will exploit. First and foremost it will take the limelight away from domestic policies. So politicians will use every soundbite to talk about the issue.
Additionally, politicians will use this opportunity to drive home the cuts at home. Although they are determined not to use words like ‘austerity’ – Labour will be making big spending cuts starting with winter fuel payments.
On the surface this may seem like a natural appointment, but once you dig deeper you see the problem. Labour has appointed oil baron Rachel Kyte as the lead UK’s return to high-level environmental diplomacy.
Until this year, she worked with Hedge fund (which has £1.2 Billion) invested in oil and fossil fuels and arms. And there’s more her company, through their foundation paid a £4 Million donation to the Labour party just before the election.
Furthermore Starmer has been accused to Rosie Duffield, MP for Canterbury, said she claimed Starmer had “a woman problem”, claiming that Downing Street was run by a male clique. “It’s clear the lads are in charge,”.
Copyright WTX News 2023
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