Editorial 02 July 2024.
It will come as no surprise that Tuesday’s front pages continue with their coverage of the upcoming UK general election. UK voters head to the polls on Thursday to elect a new party into power, with all opinion polls heavily suggesting a Labour government will be ushered into No 10.
With only a few days left the papers are firmly in their camps with who they are backing – and their front pages reflect that. The liberal left-leaning papers lead on Labour’s promises of a brighter future, whilst the traditional Conservative-supporting right-leaning newspapers warn their readers not to abandon the Tories and go to Reform UK. The papers say a vote for Reform will keep Labour in power for many years. The right-wing papers have accepted this general election loss and instead have focused on making sure the Conservatives remain the official opposition.
Elsewhere, US politics also finds space on the front page after the US Supreme Court ruled that former presidents are entitled to some degree of immunity from criminal prosecution.
The UK back pages report on England at the Euros, Wimbledon and Portugal’s win last night.
‘‘A big Labour majority will be best for Britain’
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by the Times ahead of the election. He tells the paper that a large majority for his party would be better for the country because it would mean “we can roll up our sleeves and get on with the change we need.” The paper says the comment is a “direct riposte to Tory claims that a Labour landslide would give his party unchecked power”.
The Guardian reports on an interview with shadow energy secretary, Ed Miliband, in which he tells the paper that Labour will take the global lead on efforts to tackle climate change. He says Sunak’s decision to delay some of the government’s net zero pledges as a “historic mistake” and says the UK was “off track” on the issue.
The i newspaper – which had earlier announced it won’t back either party for this election – says Labour is now “facing up to the prospect of a far-right neighbour in France”. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally is set to make massive gains in the second part of the country’s parliamentary election on Sunday. The paper says Starmer is “pragmatic” about working with the party and is already holding talks on focusing on how to tackle illegal migration.
Former prime minister Gordon Brown writes in the Daily Mirror urging the readers to vote for Labour – he says a vote for Labour will help stop children having to grow up in poverty. “The sorrows of these desolate children will remain a scar on our conscience unless something is done,” he says.
‘Backing Reform could bring about loss of hundreds of Tory MPs’
The right-leaning newspapers have a different angle.
The Daily Express carries an article by Kemi Badenoch in which she tells the readers that former Tory voters considering switching to Reform could bring about the loss of hundreds of Tory MPs in return for just “a few inexperienced Reform candidates.” She says that “now is a time for serious politics” and that “all our lives depend on it”.
The Telegraph says Post Office Minister Kevin Hollinrake has criticised the Royal Mail for failing to deliver postal votes in time for the election. The paper says voters in more than 90 constituencies have raised concerns about their ballots failing to arrive. Hollinrake says the delays have been caused by “a resourcing issue” and that “time is completely of the essence now”.
The Mail says a senior official has warned the UK’s armed forces are not ready for “conflict of any scale.” The paper says his comments are “devastating” and will push defence “back into the political spotlight just days before the election”.
‘Trump granted immunity’
Away from the general election, domestic stories and international politics are reported on.
The FT leads on the ruling from the US Supreme Court that Donald Trump has broad immunity from criminal prosecution for his actions as president. It comes as Trump faces multiple legal battles including one over his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. The paper says the ruling will reduce the likelihood of a verdict in the case until about November’s election and that, if elected, Trump could instruct the Department of Justice to drop the case altogether. Democrats have slammed the ruling saying the US president is now equivalent to a king and democracy is under attack.
The Metro leads on the death of a British combat medic and charity founder. He died on Thursday whilst working as a medic in eastern Ukraine.
The Sun and the Daily Star lead on Jude Bellingham. The English footballer was seen making a gesture after scoring a late goal during England’s match with Slovakia. The Daily Star calls Uefa “fun-sponge footie chiefs” whilst The Sun proclaims: “What a load of Bells!”