Author: WTX News

Financial Times – Bailey seeks to take heat out of market expectation for further rate increases Summary of the front page The Financial Times reports that Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has signalled markets are wrong to assume the bank will raise interest rates further. The paper quotes him saying he would “caution against suggesting either that we are done with increasing bank rate, or that we will inevitably need to do more”. The paper says the comments are part of an effort to convince investors that Britain’s economic outlook is not the same as those of the US and…

An inspection detected legionella bacteria at 3,700 times the permitted level.

Daily Mirror – The tragic betrayal Summary of the front page The tragic betrayal – that’s the headline on the front of the Daily Mirror, which concentrates on reaction to leaked messages from Matt Hancock during the early months of the COVID pandemic. The front page also reports on the PPE scandal – saying Baroness Mone is holidaying in her new villa. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous Next

The Daily Telegraph – Hancock’s rearguard action to shut down schools Summary of the front page The Daily Telegraph leads with another story based on the texts, this time concerning the closure of schools during the pandemic. The paper says that, as health secretary, Hancock discussed mounting a “rearguard action” after losing a cabinet tussle with then-education secretary Gavin Williamson about whether schools should reopen after the Christmas break in January 2021. The front page also features an article from Gavin Williamson – who reflects on whether he should have resigned when his ‘plea to put pupils first was ignored’. Today’s…

The i – UK chickens may get jabs to stop bird flu Summary of the front page The i newspaper says UK chickens may get jabs to stop bird flu spreading in humans, adding that there have been 330 avian flu outbreaks since October 2021. The front page reports on other Tory-related stories including the fall of Boris Johnson. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous Next

Education Secretary said schools shut during Covid because teachers ‘hate work’ The Metro says Former education secretary Sir Gavin Williamson said some schools wanted to close during the Covid pandemic so staff would have an ‘excuse’ not to work, according to the latest tranche of Matt Hancock’s leaked messages. The ministers swapped WhatsApp messages in May 2020 as ministers and teachers planned for lessons to begin returning as normal after the first national lockdown. Messages published by the Daily Telegraph show Sir Gavin asked Mr Hancock for help securing PPE for schools, adding: ‘Some will just want to say they…

Teachers furious at Matt Hancock’s leaked WhatsApp messages calling unions ‘absolute arses’ The i says Teachers and teaching unions are furious at Matt Hancock and Sir Gavin Williamson after leaked WhatsApp messages revealed they called them a “bunch of absolute arses” and accused them of looking for an “excuse” not to work during the Covid pandemic. The comments were made public in the latest set of leaked WhatsApp messages from Mr Hancock published by The Telegraph. The National Education Union’s joint general secretary, Dr Mary Bousted, tweeted: “Why am I utterly unsurprised to now have it absolutely confirmed that Gavin…

‘Massive betrayal’: Matt Hancock hits out at Isabel Oakeshott in first statement since WhatsApp leak The Independent says Matt Hancock has broken his silence after Whatsapp messages were leaked to the Daily Telegraph by journalist Isabel Oakeshott. Ms Oakeshott is the journalist behind the leak of more than 100,000 of Mr Hancock’s Whatsapp messages. She today claimed the former health secretary sent her ‘menacing message‘ after they were published. The TalkTV presenter, who was given the WhatsApp exchanges by Mr Hancock while they were collaborating on a book about the pandemic, claimed that the former health secretary sent her the…

LIVE – Matt Hancock says leaking of WhatsApp messages a ‘massive betrayal’ as he apologises to colleagues The Guardian says This morning Matt Hancock has for the first time responded directly to the story. Yesterday his spokesperson issued a statement on his behalf, but this morning Hancock has put out a statement in his own name. He accuses Isabel Oakeshott, the journalist who gave the material to the Telegraph, of a “massive betrayal” and says he is “sorry” for the impact this has had on his colleagues (whose messages to Hancock are now also in the public domain). He also…

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk Thursday’s front pages feature a variety of stories. The most popular story this morning is Matt Hancock’s leaked WhatsApp messages – with the Telegraph leaking more today. The news of the arrest of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, following the remains of a baby being found in the woods is also reported on. For the tabloids, news Harry and Meghan have been asked to give up their UK-based home makes some of the front pages. Matt Hancock’s leaked messages  The Daily Telegraph’s headline for the second day focuses on leaked WhatsApp messages related to…

Constance Marten arrest: A baby’s remains found in woods Police searching for the missing child of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have found the remains of a baby in an area of woodland near Brighton. The couple had disappeared, along with their baby, in early January and were arrested earlier this week on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. The discovery came as hundreds of officers and volunteers were scouring a 90-square-mile area. The search involved sniffer dogs, helicopters, drones and thermal cameras and continued for 55 days before ending in tragedy. Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford from the Metropolitan Police confirmed…

Greece train crash: Angry protests erupt after disaster Protests have swept Greece following the deadly train collision that claimed the lives of 43 people. Many protesters feel the accident was always likely to happen due to the neglect of Greece’s railway system.  Rioters clashed with police outside the headquarters of Hellenic Train, the company responsible for maintaining the railways. Protests were also held in Thessaloniki and Larissa, near where the disaster occurred. The government has announced that an independent investigation will be conducted to ensure justice is served and a three-day national mourning period has been declared.  The passenger train’s…

And Sir David Attenborough of course.

India PM Modi urges G20 foreign ministers to overcome differences During a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a focus on the needs of developing countries, urging the group to address the challenges faced by the Global South. While India’s G20 presidency seeks to raise issues affecting developing countries, the Ukraine conflict continues to divide the group, as demonstrated by the failure of finance ministers to reach a consensus on a closing statement last week. Prime Minister Modi stressed the importance of sustainable development goals and voiced concerns over the unsustainable debt,…

Aboriginal spears stolen by Captain James Cook to be returned to Australia Aboriginal spears taken by British explorer James Cook and his landing party upon their arrival in Australia in 1770 will soon be returned to a  local Aboriginal community. These four spears are believed to be the only remaining items out of many that were collected by the first colonialists, and they are currently being held at Cambridge University in the UK. After a 20-year campaign by Indigenous people, Cambridge’s Trinity College has agreed to return the spears. Captain Cook first landed in Australia on a beach at Botany…

The Thursday letters page has an explanation for the lack of hype in recent game reveals, as another reader hopes for more Ridge Racer.

Lee Anderson also claims it is a ‘myth’ that people on Universal Credit are in poverty.

Finland edged closer to joining NATO Wednesday after its parliament approved its accession and Hungary’s ruling party said it would support the bid being ratified.

Covid inquiry chair refutes journalist’s fear of ‘colossal whitewash’ The Guardian says The Covid-19 public inquiry’s chair has insisted the investigation will not be a “whitewash”, after a journalist claimed that concern over the inquiry’s integrity prompted her to publish private messages shared with her by Matt Hancock. Isabel Oakeshott leaked 100,000 WhatsApp messages involving the former health secretary from the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, which are claimed to show he dismissed expert advice to test anyone entering a care home for coronavirus. The massages were shared with her by Hancock while the pair were working on his memoir,…

Matt Hancock ‘rejected expert advice on Covid testing for care homes’ The Metro says Matt Hancock rejected advice to test all residents going into English care homes for coronavirus at the start of the pandemic, a leaked trove of more than 100,000 WhatsApps allegedly shows. Chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty told the former health secretary there should be testing for ‘all going into care homes’, according to an investigation by the Daily Telegraph. But the leaked messages suggest he rejected the guidance, telling an aide the move just ‘muddies the waters’, and introduced mandatory testing for those coming…

Matt Hancock scandal: the leaked texts throw Westminster into chaos and country feels betrayal The former health secretary Matt Hancock rejected scientific advice to test for Covid all residents going into English care homes, according to the Daily Telegraph. The paper has in its possession a leaked trove of over 100,000 WhatsApp messages and the first claims from the paper, titled ‘The Lockdown Files’ is putting Matt Hancock under scrutiny for his actions during the peak of the pandemic as UK health secretary. Among the allegations is the claim that he disregarded advice from England’s top medical officer, Professor Sir…

Drag shows are under threat from Tennessee lawmakers who want to introduce a ban on ‘adult cabaret performance on public property’.

The Daily Telegraph – The lockdown files Summary of the front page The Daily Telegraph has an analysis of 100,000 leaked texts, which it alleges shows that Matt Hancock rejected expert advice on care home testing when he was health secretary during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. A spokesperson for Mr Hancock has called the report an “outrageous” and “distorted” account of the pandemic, spun to fit what they call an “anti-lockdown agenda”. The paper also features commentary from Isabel Oakeshott – the journalist who leaked the messages. She obtained them while helping Mr Hancock write his book, Pandemic…

Financial Times – Jaguar owner Tata demands £500m of aid to build battery plant in UK Summary of the front page The Financial Times reports Jaguar Land Rover owner Tata is demanding more than £500m from the government to build a battery factory in the UK. The paper says the firm is trying to decide whether to build the facility in Spain or south-west England, and that its decision could be “pivotal” for the future of the UK car industry. The front page features a picture of a London home that is set to become the UK’s most expensive home…

Metro – ‘Killed by their neglect’ Summary of the front page The Metro leads with the latest on Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, who are now being questioned by police on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with their missing baby. The front page features a large image of the Princess of Wales. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous Next