Editorial 17.09.24
Huw Edwards sentencing dominates Tuesday’s newspapers. The front pages react to the former BBC presenter being handed a suspended sentence, meaning he won’t spend a minute in jail. Edwards was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years after he admitted charges of making indecent images of children.
Unsurprisingly, the papers react with anger as more details of his crimes emerge. Some of the papers ponder whether Edwards was given a lenient sentence due to his fame.
Elsewhere, there’s a dash of US political news on several papers as America continues to deal with the aftermath of a second assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump.
Victoria Starmer, the prime minister’s wife, is splashed on several front pages amid the ongoing backlash over “wardrobe-gate”. The Prime Minister and his wife, Victoria, are embroiled in a row after he allegedly broke rules by failing to declare donations on time.
‘Huw Edwards avoids jail’
‘Disgraced, reviled… but not a day in jail,’ writes the Mail.
The Daily Mail’s topline focuses on Edwards telling a paedophile that a folder of child abuse images was “amazing”.
‘Edwards breathed sigh of relief,’ the Metro says.
The Metro leads entirely on the story. The paper features the custody shot of the former presenter and notes he “breathed a sigh of relief” after being “spared jail”.
‘Edward’s reputation in tatters,’ says the i.
The i newspaper says Edwards, 63, will be on the sex offenders’ register for seven years. The paper quotes Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring as saying Edward’s “long-earned reputation is in tatters” during sentencing.
‘Grovelling apology to his family and victims,’ Express writes.
The Express writes Edwards issued an apology to his family and victims of child abuse as part of his court case. The paper says there is “fury” over how soft his sentence is.
‘Sickening revelations,’ says The Sun.
The Sun says many people will be questioning the sentence and asking how the former presenter has been able to avoid prison considering what the paper calls the “sickening” revelations in court.
‘Appalling,’ says the Mirror, who says Edwards betrayed the public.
The Daily Mirror splashes on Edward’s custody shot with the headline “appalling”. It quotes the BBC who said he betrayed audiences who put their trust in him.
‘Paedophile avoids jail,’ The Telegraph says.
The Daily Telegraph covers the story saying the lenient sentencing has prompted accusations that sex crimes against children are being taken less seriously than offences involving comments on social media. The paper quotes campaigners who suggest the soft sentence might send the wrong message to offenders – giving them the impression that they will avoid jail even if they have committed serious offences.
‘Reputation in tatters,’ says The Times.
The Times picks up on comments from a judge during the sentencing in which she told him that his ‘reputation is in tatters.’ The paper notes that the BBC is still facing questions over the handling of the entire situation.
‘US reels from assassination attempt’
‘Harris and Trump safety not guaranteed,’ says the i.
The i newspaper reports a US intelligence source has said the safety of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump cannot be guaranteed.
‘Gunman waited 12 hours,’ reports the Telegraph.
The Daily Telegraph says the suspect had been waiting in the trees for 12 hours before Trump arrived at the golf course.
Trump calls Harris-Biden the ‘enemy within’, notes The Guardian.
The Guardian writes phone records showed Routh camped out near a golf course in Florida for about 12 hours before being confronted by a Secret Service agent. The paper reports that the former president is blaming Kamala Harris and Joe Biden for ‘incitement.’
