Editorial 25.11.24
Monday’s front pages lead with several domestic and international stories.
Ongoing backlash over the October Budget dominates a handful of front pages with several reporting on the ‘tax raid’ whilst others preview a speech by the chancellor in which she will say she had no choice other than raising taxes.
Several papers look ahead to Friday’s assisted dying vote in the Commons. The Cabinet appears to be split over the vote – but many of the papers are not.
Images of Storm Bert feature on many front pages as streets flood in the UK and at least five people died.
The weekend’s Premier League action dominates the back pages.
‘Budget tax raid warning’
‘Budget tax raid puts us off hiring new employees,’ warns business leaders in The Times.
The Times reports that business leaders are warning the rise in employer’s national insurance – or ‘tax raid’ as the paper puts it – will put them off hiring new employees. The paper says a survey of employers suggests half of the UK’s firms are looking to reduce their headcount since the £25 billion tax rise was announced.
‘Chancellor to tell businesses she had no choice but to raise taxes,’ says The Guardian.
The Guardian features a preview of an upcoming speech by the chancellor to “rebuke critics of her tax-raising budget” on Monday. The paper says Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to address “disgruntled business leaders” and tell them that no one has suggested an alternative course of action for the government.
‘PM pledges to cut welfare bill by £3bn says zero tolerance for benefit cheats,’ reports The Independent.
The Independent highlights the prime minister’s pledge to cut the welfare bill by £3bn saying there will be ‘zero tolerance’ for benefit cheats. The paper notes that his approach to the issue is causing tensions within his party as MPs accuse him of peddling troupes about people on benefits.
‘GMB union leader embroiled in allegations of harassing and bullying women,’ highlights the Mail.
The Daily Mail reports on an exclusive on Gary Smith – who endorsed Starmer’s 2020 bid for Labour leader. The paper says Smith, head of the GMB union has become “embroiled in allegations of harassing and bullying women”.
‘Assisted dying bill vote Friday’
‘Cabinet split over assisted dying bill.’ claims The i.
The i newspaper says the cabinet is spilt over Friday’s vote on assisted dying. The paper says 14 cabinet ministers back the bill, with eight opposed – including health secretary Wes Streeting. The paper also notes the prime minister is taking a closer look at the bill after initially backing the policy.
‘Most of the country supports the right to choose,’ says the Express.
The Daily Express – a longtime supporter of assisted dying – gives its entire front page to the cause. Dame Esther continues to plea to the government to pass the bill and a recent poll shows 68% of the public back the decision to let people choose to end their own lives. It adds that at least four recent polls have suggested “overwhelming support for the right to choose” among the public.
‘Non-crime hate incidents review’
‘Calls for review into how forces handle non-crime hate incidents,’ says the Telegraph.
Daily Telegraph leads with calls by a former Met boss for a review into how forces respond to non-crime hate incidents. Lord Hogan-Howe was responding to a conservative think tank report which urged ministers to stop police recording these incidents to save officers time.
‘Stop the epidemic of violence against women and girls,’ campaigns Metro.
The Metro leads on its campaign to stop the “epidemic” of violence against women and girls. The paper reports that every 11 minutes on average a woman or girl is killed in their own homes globally, as well as highlighting there has been a 37% increase in crimes committed against them in the UK between 2018 and 2023.
‘Madness of plastic surgery industry,’ reports the Mirror which speaks to a woman after a botched surgery.
The Daily Mirror continues its coverage of “botched” surgeries abroad. The paper speaks to a woman who almost died after a Brazilian butt lift. She describes the plastic surgery industry as “madness”.
‘Bobby Moore’s missing England World Cup shirt found in Wales,’ claims The Sun.
The Sun leads on football hero Bobby Moore’s missing 1966 World Cup shirt, saying it has been traced to Wales. The World Cup-winning shirt is worth more than one million points and it’s believed “Britain’s biggest collector of memorabilia” has it in his hands.