Editorial 19.12.24
‘French mass rape trial sentencing’ & ‘Labour crashing the economy’
Almost all of Friday’s front pages lead with French rape victim Gisèle Pelicot after her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for drugging and raping her – and inviting 50 other men to rape her whilst she was unconscious, over ten years.
All the men were convicted on at least one charge.
Gisèle Pelicot’s case has garnered global attention, notably because she waived the right to anonymity and, along with the fact her ex-husband filmed the attacks over the decade, there was so much evidence to present publicly – something not common with rape cases.
Following the sentencing, Pelicot stood outside the court and told the public she did not regret going public with the case and told sex abuse survivors that they “share the same fight”.
Away from Pelicot, there is coverage of the UK economy as the papers react after the Bank of England’s downgrading of the economy’s growth outlook.
Lord Mandelson is expected to be named as the UK’s next ambassador to the US, whilst online many news sites report on a looming US government shutdown.
‘French mass rape trial – 51 men convicted and sentenced’
‘I have no regrets going public,’ quotes the Metro.
Metro’s headline leads on Gisèle Pelicot’s comment ‘I have no regrets’. The paper says she made it clear she did not regret her decision to waive anonymity in order to speak out about the rape and sexual abuse she underwent for years while drugged at the hands of her husband and 50 other men.
‘Brave message of hope after horror,’ says the Express.
The Daily Express describes Pelicot’s “brave message of hope after horror,” after she told other sex abuse survivors that they “share the same fight” and she was thinking of the unrecognised victims, whose stories often remain in the shadows”.
‘Worl’s bravest woman,’ the Daily Mirror.
The Daily Mirror calls her the “world’s bravest woman”. It looks at the identities of some of the men who have also been found guilty of raping her, who greatly vary in age and come from a range of backgrounds.
‘Given women around the world a strong voice,’ quotes The Guardian.
The Guardian details the international response to the case following the verdict handed down on Thursday. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said she had given “women around the world a strong voice”.
The paper interviews a former French minister for family and women’s rights who had questioned why the other 50 men had been given such light sentences.
‘Resolut,’ is the FT’s description of Pelicot.
The FT features an image of Pelicot along with the word “resolute” to describe her.
‘Heroine to every victim of male abuse,’ notes the Mail.
The Daily Mail calls her “the elegant French woman with a core of steel who has become a heroine to every victim of male abuse”.
‘Labour crashing the economy’
‘Reeves is crushing business,’ says the Mail.
The Daily Mail leads with the Bank of England’s downgrading of the UK’s economic growth outlook for the last three months of this year to zero is further evidence that the changes made to National Insurance by Chancellor Rachel Reeves are “crushing business”.
‘BoE unable to say when the next interest rate cuts would come,’ The Times says.
The Times also leads with the UK economy. Andrew Bailey, head of the Bank of England, says that “with the heightened uncertainty in the economy”, the bank was unable to say when the next interest rate cuts would come. The paper says the growth forecasts are a “blow to Labour”.
‘Lord Mandelson to be next UK-US ambassador’
‘Mandelson chosen for expertise in international trade and networking ability,’ says The Times.
The Times says Mandelson has been chosen as Britain’s next ambassador to the US because Starmer believes he has the expertise in international trade and networking ability to bolster British interests during a delicate period for relations with the US under Donald Trump.
‘Mandelson appointment could backfire,’ says the Telegraph.
The Daily Telegraph says Mandelson will have a direct line to the PM and will be able to speak to him frankly about the challenges presented by the Trump administration. The paper goes on to warn the appointment could backfire if some of Trump’s allies – who are critical of the EU – alight on Mandelson’s previous role as the bloc’s trade commissioner.
‘Zelensky says European backing not enough if US withdraws aid,’ notes the FT.
The FT’s lead article reports Ukraine’s President has warned that European backing won’t be enough if the US withdraws its aid.