Editorial 05.11.24
Tuesday’s front pages report on both domestic and international politics, while a handful of tabloids lead with showbiz news.
The US presidential election is unsurprisingly the lead for many front pages this morning as millions of Americans will head to the polls to cast their vote for either Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump.
Some of the newspapers lead on politics a little closer to home as PM Keir Starmer announced student loans in England are set to rise, despite promising to abolish tuition fees. The papers describe it as an astonishing “u-turn.”
The newly elected leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has started to appoint her shadow cabinet. The news of the appointments finds space on the front of several newspapers.
‘US election day – America votes in new president’
‘Tighest results expected since 2000,’ says The Guardian.
The Guardian says the US “faces its moment of reckoning”. The paper suggests the results may be the tightest result since 2000 and calls it an election like none before with a choice between a “black woman and a former president branded a fascist by his own former officials”.
‘American deeply divided,’ suggests the i newspaper.
The i newspaper suggests Americans are “deeply divided” after a “toxic campaign and attempted assassinations.”
‘Farage calls on Trump to accept the result even if he loses,’ leads the Telegraph.
The Daily Telegraph reports Reform leader Nigel Farage has called on Donald Trump to accept the results of the US election if he loses decisively to Harris. The paper notes “Washington is braced for unrest”.
‘Polls show dead heat,’ according to the FT.
The polls show a ‘dead heat’ between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, according to the Financial Times. The newspaper features both candidates on the final day of campaigning.
‘Labour u-turn on tuition fees’
‘Boost for cash-strapped unis,’ is the FT’s take on the news.
The Financial Times says the tuition boost for England’s England’s “cash-strapped universities”.
‘What a U-turn,’ says the Mail which is unimpressed with the government’s plans.
The Daily Mail slams the move by the government which will allow universities in England to raise tuition fees for the first time in eight years.
‘Cap of fees left many unis teetering on edge,’ reports The Times which backs the government move.
The Times backs the move with an opinion article arguing that the cap on fees has left many universities teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. It thinks raising them amounts to a “confrontation with reality.”
‘PM promised to abolish tuition fees altogether,’ notes the Metro.
The Metro says the PM made a “180-degree uni U-turn”. The paper highlights the prime minister’s promise to abolish tuition fees but now he’s putting fees up 3.11%. Starmer had expressed a desire to scrap fees altogether during his campaign to become the Labour party leader but last year he said Labour was “likely to move on” from the pledge.
‘Labour are clowns just like their Tory predecessor,’ says the Daily Star.
The Daily Star says the u-turn shows the new government is as “tin-eared” as its Tory predecessor. The paper’s headline reads: “Return of the clowns.”
‘Labour should U-turn on its spitful farm tax,’ reports the Daily Express.
The Daily Express calls for the government to make a U-turn on what it calls a ‘spiteful farm tax’. There has been an outcry from many farmers following changes to inheritance tax for farms announced in the Budget.
