Easter honours list suprise spark backlash and questions on summer election – Paper Talk 

Editorial 29 March 2024. 

Several of Friday’s front pages lead on the mess of Thames Water – Britain’s largest water provider. Lawmakers across the political spectrum have criticised the company’s bosses for the financial mess it is in amid talks that the company could be nationalised.

Several papers lead on UK political news, with PM Rishi Sunak and Labour’s Angela Rayner both reportedly ‘coming under fire’ recently, Sunak for honouring a top Tory donor and Rayner for her controversial property dealings. There’s also a look ahead to the upcoming general election. 

Elsewhere, several of the tabloids lead on celebrity news including that of the death of once-TV star George Gilbey who fell to his death in a warehouse. His colleague is being held for manslaughter over allegations that he was not wearing a harness on the roof of the warehouse. 

Several newspaper front pages give their verdict on Beyonce’s new album – Cowboy Carter. 

---

‘Thames Water debt crisis’ 

The Thames Water debt crisis makes several front pages with both left and right-leaning newspapers covering the story.

The i newspaper says Thames Water customers could see their bills rise by 40% by 2030, the company’s bosses have warned, because of its high levels of debt. The paper reports the firm’s financial issues have raised the possibility of the government taking it into public ownership at a cost of the taxpayer in the billions. 

The Times says Thames Water investors have refused to put an extra £500m to fund investment, leaving it in desperate need of cash. The paper notes that figures from across the political spectrum have criticised the company’s bosses. 

The Daily Express also leads on Thames Water. The paper’s front page quotes Communities Secretary Michael Gove who said Thames Water’s leadership is a “disgrace.” He also said the company’s leaders must “carry the can” for the financial mess rather than seek a public bailout. 

The Guardian’s front page says the company appears to be ‘on the road to nationalisation’ after investors refused to pump more money into it. It says if the company doesn’t secure funding it could be plunged into a government-handled administration that would see it temporarily renationalised. 

Angela Rayner tax issue

Angela Rayner council house sale is the lead for several newspapers, with a clear division in how its covered by the right and left leaning newspapers.

The Daily Mail reports “Rayner on the ropes” saying Labour is now under pressure to set out the truth on what tax advice Angela Rayner received about the sale of her council house a decade ago. She denies underpaying tax on a property she sold before becoming an MP.

The Times says Rayner is under “renewed pressure” after Stockport Council said it would review suggestions she had committed electoral or tax fraud. The paper explains that Tory party deputy chair James Daly wrote to Stockport Council asking it to investigate whether Rayner had been misleading about her living arrangements. The council has told the paper it’s “reviewing the questions put to us”. Rayner has insisted she has done nothing wrong.

The Independent takes a more left-leaning approach to the story, saying Rayer has challenged Tory critics over her tax affairs: ‘If you show me yours, I’ll show you mine.’ The paper says Rayner has thrown down the gauntlet to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, challenging him and two of his Conservative colleagues to publish their tax records if they want hers.

General election 2024 – summer election hint?

The Telegraph says the PM’s unusual decision to issue an Easter honours list. The paper says the includes major Conservative Party donor Mohamed Mansour – who gave the party £5m. Four other Tory MPs and film director Christopher Nolan are amongst some of the others on the list. 

The surprise honours list will fuel speculation about a possible summer election. The move will be seen as an attempt to shore up support before a general election that could be held in June or July. 

Cyber-security experts tell the Times they have serious concerns about a multi-million-pound deal for a Chinese company to supply a supercomputer to a government research agency. The Science and Technologies Facilities Council will, the paper says, install a £30m machine at its site in Hartree in Cheshire. The news of the deal comes just days after the UK government blamed Beijing for a malicious attack on the Electoral Commission. A government spokesman tells the paper that the super-computer was procured following a robust process.

The Guardian leads on the ICJ ordering Israel to allow unimpeded food deliveries into Gaza amid a looming famine. The paper says the ruling is a “significant” legal rebuke to Israel’s claim that it is not blocking aid – but it notes that Israel has said it needs to inspect every shipment to make sure nothing can benefit Hamas. 

The Mirror leads on a campaign by the mother of one of the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing. The paper says a government report will call for venues to be made safer against possible terror attacks. The report is expected to propose plans which include venue staff having counter-terror training and bosses carrying out stringent risk analysis.