Editorial 23.09.24
“No More Austerity!” – Monday’s newspaper front pages are heavily dominated by the chancellor’s party conference speech later today. Rachel Reeves will lay out the plans to get Britain’s economy back on track with a speech that is set to offer a positive version of the future after dire warnings about the economy since they came to power.
The Labour Party conference is taking place in Liverpool and marks the first annual conference in government for 15 years.
Beyond politics, there is continued coverage of the allegations about former Harrods owner Mohammed Al-Fayed.
Man City’s thrilling 2-2 draw against Arsenal on Sunday makes several of the front pages – the story dominates the back pages and other sports papers.
Chancellor’s party conference speech
‘Positivity after dire warnings at Labour Party conference,’ says the Times.
The Times says the chancellor will use her speech to praise the country’s “immense potential” and “offer a more positive version of the future” after a series of dire warnings about the state of the economy since the won power in July.
‘Chancellor warned to keep spending under control,’ reports the i.
The i newspaper leads with a warning to the chancellor to keep public spending under control to avoid returning to austerity. Labour’s West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin told the paper “We’ve been here before, we’ve seen this movie.”
‘Reeves will try to lift the gloom off the new government,’ says The Independent.
The Independent claims Reeves’ speech will try to lift the ‘gloom’ that’s been over the Labour Party since they came to power.
‘Reeves to investigate £600m worth of Covid contracts,’ leads The Guardian.
The Guardian leads on the chancellor’s plans to launch an investigation into £600m worth of Covid contracts awarded under the previous government. The paper says Reeves will refer more than half the contracts for material goods such as masks to a newly-appointed Covid corruption commissioner.
‘Reeves will argue tough decisions lead to growth,’ warns the Telegraph which fears tax rises.
The Daily Telegraph says Chancellor Reeves will use her conference speech to argue that “tough decisions” will lead to economic growth, which “will further raise fears of a raft of tax rises” in the upcoming Budget, the paper writes.
The Mirror reports on ‘plans to crackdown on tax dodgers.’
The Mirror reports on another one of the chancellor’s plans, as she is set to reveal a crackdown on tax dodgers. The paper says the plan to close the gap between how much tax is owed and how much is collected – it says the £39.8 billion shortfall will be recovered with the help of a newly set up task force.
‘Union members will try to force U-turn on scrapping winter fuel payments,’ says the Express.
The Daily Express continues its coverage of Labour’s plans to scrap the winter fuel payments. The paper says retired members of Unite will try to force a U-turn on the decision to scrap the payments by protesting at the second day of Labour’s conference in Liverpool.
‘Reeves will deny fresh austerity and set out ambitious and positive plan,’ says the FT.
The FT notes that Reeves’ speech will deny the rumours of fresh austerity and instead, her speech will set out an ambitious plan for Britain.
‘Rayner seemed close to tears during her speech,’ is the Metro’s assessment of Day 1 of the Labour Party conference.
The Metro offers its analysis of the first day of the Labour Party Conference saying that Deputy PM Angela Rayner “seemed close to tears” during her speech that came as she and other Labour members have been involved in several sleaze scandals.
‘Rayner hired her own vanity photographer,’ is the Mail’s political offering this morning.
The Mail also leads on Rayner saying the deputy prime minister has hired a “vanity photographer” on a £68,000 salary. It claims that it’s standard practice for a government to hire a photographer but Rayner is the first deputy PM to get her own.
Al-Fayed ‘sex trafficking’ claim
‘Al-Fayed’s crimes covered up by his associates,’ says The Times.
The Times says the former Harrods owner Mohammed Al-Fayed was at the centre of an “extreme sex trafficking” operation and it was covered up by his associates, according to the victims’ lawyers.
The Daily Express asks: Why was monster Al Fayed not prosecuted?
Man City and Arsenal in title thriller
‘A title thriller,’ the newspapers react to Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the weekend’s Premier League action.
The Sun calls the match “angry clash”, whilst the Telegraph says “City furious at Arsenal’s dark arts.” The i newspaper calls it a ‘title thriller.’
The Mirror and The Times praise John Stones – who scored a last-minute goal to rescue a point for City.