Editorial 27 March 2024.

Many of Wednesday’s front pages feature images of the twisted wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The Baltimore Bridge collapsed after a ship lost power and stuck it. The dramatic images are prominently featured on most papers, with many noting a mayday alert likely saved the lives of many people.

For many of the right-leaning newspapers, their leads focus on the man who attacked a woman and her children with an alkali substance and how he was granted asylum in the UK, with several papers pointing to the Church and the role it’s playing in undermining the asylum system. The Clapham attacker had converted to Christianity and a Church official supported his asylum claim – despite him failing a basic Christianity test.

Away from the two big stories, most left-leaning newspapers feature UK domestic news – including UK politics.

For the tabloids, Alan Titchmarch’s blue jeans and other celebrity and royal gossip are featured.

Clapham chemical attack suspect ‘fiasco’

The Daily Mail calls it a “fiasco” saying Abdul Shokoor Ezedi won his appeal to stay in the UK despite the immigration judge conceding he had repeatedly “not been honest”. The paper says he failed a test on Christianity even though he claimed to be a convert. But despite concerns, a judge allowed his asylum on appeal saying on balance his religious conversion was genuine.

The Telegraph suggests Churches are undermining the asylum system. The paper says evidence given by a Church minister was “crucial” in persuading the judge to allow Ezedi to remain in the country.

The Daily Express says “the consequences of this bureaucratic bungling are as tragic as they are shameful”.The paper headline notes he was given asylum despite failing a Christianity test. 

Baltimore Bridge collapses after ship collision

Almost all the front pages feature images of the wreckage. 

The Metro gives full front page coverage to the tragedy saying a ship managed to issue a mayday signal just before it struck, saving dozens of lives. “It’s heartbreaking,” it quotes Maryland’s governor Wes Moore as saying.

The Telegraph, the Times, the i and the Express also report on the Mayday call. 

The Sun says it was “gone in three seconds” after being struck by the ship, which the paper says suffered a “catastrophic engine failure.” 

Baltimore Bridge video

BREAKING: Ship collides with Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse pic.twitter.com/OcOrSjOCRn

— BNO News (@BNONews) March 26, 2024

The Guardian features a close-up of the ship’s bow which was sliced open by the falling bridge. The paper says the ship was also involved in a collision in Belgium in 2016. 

The Times says that an inspection of the ship at the time found it had “hull damage impairing its seaworthiness”.

State pension age rise to 68

Away from the two main stories this morning, there is a splatter of other leads on the papers. 

The i newspaper leads on reports that the state pension age may rise to 68 sooner than expected because Rishi Sunak is committed to the triple lock. The paper says the prime minister may have to speed up the increase in the retirement age to pay for his pledge if the Conservatives win the next general election.

The Guardian reports that the CBI has used gagging clauses to prevent staff from talking about their experiences of sexual misconduct and bullying at the business organisation. Sources tell the paper that up to 10 non-disclosure agreements have been signed in the past year accompanied by substantial financial settlements.

Alan Titchmarsh jeans in North Korea TV blur

A couple of the tabloids feature Alan Titchmarsh’s appearance on North Korean state TV, in which his blue jeans were blurred out. 

The Mirror says his jeans were “too much of flower power for the totalitarian regime” because Kim Jong-un considers denim a symbol of Western imperialism.

The Daily Star says if Kim really wants to target someone for crimes against denim, it suggests Jeremy Clarkson.