Tuesday’s tabloids continue coverage of the Gregg Wallace scandal – reporting that he has since apologised for his comments that his accusers are just “middle-class women of a certain age”. Several papers report MPs want a cultural change at the BBC, noting this is another in a string of allegations made against a BBC presenter, whilst other headlines reflect news that the BBC will continue to air his show MasterChef, despite the growing list of accusations.
The prime minister’s foreign policy speech at the Lord Mayor’s banquet on Monday has provoked contrasting reactions from the press.
International news also finds a place on the UK front pages this morning.
Donald Trump has threatened to release and pardon January 6 rioters, in response to Joe Biden issuing a ‘full and unconditional’ pardon to his son Hunter Biden.
There are fears that the French government is about to collapse after the French prime minister pushed through his ‘austerity’ budget.
‘BBC refuses to pull hit show in wake of accusations,’ The Guardian says.
The Guardian reports that the BBC refuses to pull the hit show MasterChef despite the accusations facing the host Gregg Wallace. In its editorial, the paper says “By drawing attention to the troubling behaviour of a male celebrity, Kirsty Wark recalls the spirit of #MeToo.”
‘Melanie Sykes says Gregg Wallace was the reason she quit her TV career,’ says the Mail.
The Daily Mail says BBC bosses are refusing to take ‘misogynist’ Gregg Wallace off the air. The paper says Melanie Sykes has revealed that spending time with Gregg Wallace on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021 was the reason she walked away from her television career.
‘MPs want a cultural change at the BBC,’ says The Sun.
The Sun says BBC bosses have “defied MPs by airing an episode of MasterChef” featuring Wallace on Monday as well as declining to pull Christmas episodes. The paper says MPs want the programme taken off TV and reports “senior politicians” describe the broadcaster as needing “wholesale cultural change.”
‘Wallace apologises for middle-class women of a certain age comments,’ reports the Mirror.
The Daily Mirror highlights Wallace’s apology in its headline and reports the TV presenter issued his apology after he branded his accusers “middle-class women of a certain age.”
‘No 10 accused Wallace of misogyny as pressure mounts on BBC,’ The Independent says.
The Independent says “Wallace forced to eat humble pie – so will BBC cancel hit show?” – the paper notes he apologies for his attack on ‘middle-class women of a certain age’ after No 10 accused him of misogyny. The paper says there is pressure on the BBC to stop broadcasting the show “to avoid triggering those who called out his inappropriate behaviour.”
‘Wallace under siege as co-stars fail to show him support,’ reports the Express.
The Daily Express has a different take. The paper describes him as being “under siege.” The paper notes Wallace “unfollowed his MasterChef co-star John Torode and his wife Lisa Faulkner on Instagram after they failed to show public support for the BBC star.”
‘PM won’t choose between EU and US’
‘PM will invest more deeply in links with Washington,’ says The Times.
The Times leads on the prime minister’s comments about the UK’s relationship with the US ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House. The paper says the PM will invest “more deeply than ever” in links with Washington. In his foreign policy speech on Monday, the prime minister also warned Russia poses a “near and present danger” to allies in the West, the paper adds.
‘PM won’t choose between EU and US,’ reports the Telegraph.
The Daily Telegraph also reports on the prime minister’s speech. The paper focuses on PM Starmer’s pledge not to side with Trump over the EU. The paper says the PM told the audience it was “plain wrong” to suggest his presence in the White House would mean the UK had to get closer to the US than Europe.
‘Rutte warns Trump that the US face dire threat from China if Ukraine pushed to sign peace deal,’ reports the FT.
The FT reports that Nato’s new chief has warned the incoming US president that the US faces a “dire threat from China, Iran and North Korea should Ukraine be pushed to sign a favourable peace deal with Russia. In an interview with the paper, Mark Rutte says has “made a pitch to the president-elect to stick with Nato” and keep supporting Kyiv.
‘French government on brink of collapse’
‘Barnier told MP they face a moment of truth,’ claims The Independent.
The Independent says the French government is on the brink of collapse as PM Barnier pushes through an austerity budget. Michel Barnier told MPs they must face a ‘moment of truth’ after both the left and the far right lodge motions to bring down the government.
‘Barnier faces no-confidence vote,’ says the Telegraph.
The Daily Telegraph also notes the French government is on the verge of collapse. The paper says PM Michel Barnier has pushed through his austerity measures using his presidential decree, prompting opposition parties to file motions of no-confidence.
‘France latest European government to stand on brink of collapse,’ says the FT.
The FT says the French premier has defended his budget at the National Assembly in Paris after his administration “became the latest European government to stand on the brink of collapse.”
Four Palestinian people were just transported to Gaza’s European Hospital in Khan Younis after being injured by the israelis in a missile strike in Rafah
Migrants don’t drain billions from the public purse — tax dodgers do.
They don’t drive down wages or exploit workers — greedy bosses do.
And they don’t starve schools or hospitals of funding — political choices do.
Labour won’t defeat the far-right by parroting their myths.
The main opposition Democratic Party called on Yoon to resign or face impeachment over the declaration of martial law. “Even if martial law is lifted, he cannot escape charges of
Ukraine pushes for NATO membership Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now proposed allowing those parts of Ukraine that are free to join the alliance. Russian-occupied areas in Eastern Ukraine as
South Korea’s won cut losses against the U.S. dollar after President Yoon Suk Yeol said he would lift the country’s first martial law order in more than four decades. The
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the ruling SWAPO party won Namibia’s presidential elections outright in the first round with 57% of the vote, results published by the electoral commission on Tuesday showed.
President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers on Tuesday formally urged a New York state judge to drop the criminal case where he was convicted on 34 counts related to hush money paid
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Tuesday, December 3, said it was possible his government could survive a no-confidence vote in parliament, evoking a possible “reflex of responsibility” from MPs.
Frank Deux
China retaliates against latest US chip restrictions
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Europe’s carmakers used to rule the world. Now they are fighting battles on every front.
Budget could wipe out 125,000 jobs in family businesses
The government’s move to limit inheritance tax relief for family-owned businesses could cost Britain roughly 125,000 jobs and significantly reduce economic activity, new research has found.
The change unveiled in Labour’s first Budget could reduce the value of goods and services produced across the UK economy by £9.4bn and incur a £1.3bn net loss for the Treasury between 2026/27 and 2029/30, according to a study by CBI Economics.
The latter figure contrasts with a £1.4bn gain in revenues estimated by the Office for Budget Responsibility over the same period from the change to business property relief (BPR).
BPR allows assets of privately-held firms and shares in companies listed on London’s junior stock market AIM to be passed on free from inheritance tax.
The barrage of takeover bids for firms listed on the London Stock Exchange this year has jumped to £52bn in value, fuelling fears over the health of the City’s equity markets.
A total of 45 London-listed firms have been approached, agreed to, or completed acquisitions since January, according to data provided to City AM by investment bank Peel Hunt.
Charles Hall, head of research at Peel Hunt, said the level of takeover activity among FTSE 350 businesses was “unprecedented”, with 21 bids this year.
The biggest deal is the planned £5.7bn merger of UK cardboard box giant DS Smith and US rival International Paper, followed by investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown’s £5.4bn sale to a group of private equity buyers.
Bank of England warns on threat of global trade barriers
Rising global trade barriers threaten to drag on global economic growth and unsettle the stability of the UK’s financial system, the Bank of England has warned today.
In its half-yearly financial stability report, the central bank said the financial system could be hit by disruption to cross-border capital flows and a reduced ability to diversify risk.
While Threadneedle Street did not refer directly to the threat of US tariffs, fears over the direction of American trade policy have grown since Donald Trump won the Presidency earlier this month.
On the campaign trail, the president-elect threatened flat tariffs of 20 per cent on all imports and 60 per cent on those from China.
Labour urged to scrap ‘vindictive’ farm tax as Tories set to force vote
Labour MPs are being urged to back scrapping the “vindictive” changes to inheritance tax (IHT) on farms, as the Conservative Party prepares to bring a vote on the issue.
Tory MPs are set to use their opposition day debate on Wednesday, December 4, to insist Parliament hold a vote on Labour’s controversial move for farmers to pay more IHT on land.
In Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first Budget, she announced plans for changes to agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR), which the Tories say could see farming families face tax bills of up to millions of pounds.
Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said: “Labour’s vindictive family farm tax threatens to destroy British farming as we know it.”
Very sad to hear that Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia, the same condition Bruce Willis suffers from. Appeared on her show many times over the years and she’s a fabulous character & superb broadcaster. Wish her and her family all the best.
Palestinians are human beings who deserve to live in freedom and joy.
That is why hundreds of thousands of us have exercised our right to protest.
We will be here as long as it takes until there is an immediate ceasefire, an end to the occupation, and a just & lasting peace.
Keir Starmer and his allies, clutching a can of petrol in one hand and a box of matches in the other, tutting loudly at the flames. Starmer has no effin clue
