Editorial 29.09.24
Sunday’s front pages feature a wide variety of international and domestic stories – some feature ongoing topics whilst other papers lead with exclusives.
Several newspapers lead on UK politics as the Conservative Party leadership candidates offer up their vision of the future of the party – and how to be the most effective opposition to the Labour government. The Conservative Party conference is taking place in Birmingham and who is chosen to lead the party will define the party going into the future. They have candidates stretching from centrist-conservatism to right-wing conspiracy theorists.
The latest Israeli attack on Lebanon features on several of Sunday’s newspaper front pages as the publications weight up the potential ramifications of Israel killing the top Hezbollah leader – hailed a ‘turning point’ by the Israeli prime minister.
The ongoing sleaze scandal facing the new British government makes several front pages, as a Labour MP quits in response to the freebie scandal.
Tributes to Dame Maggie Smith – who died on Friday are splashed across the papers as well as other showbiz news.
‘Iran threatens revenge’
The Observer leads with the latest escalation in the Middle East. The paper’s headlines on Iran’s threat of “vengeance” over the assassination of the Hezbollah leader. The paper notes the leader inspired adulation as well as bitter enmity from his foes – and he’ll be hard to replace.
The Sunday Times front page has a picture of a man surveying the wreckage of at least six residential buildings at the site of an Israeli attack in Beirut. The paper claims that 50,000 people have now fled Lebanon for Syria. It adds that the death of Hezbollah’s leader will be a transformative moment for the organisation.
The Sunday Telegraph reports that the strike that killed the leader – along with the communication device explosions (walkie-talkies and pagers) – means that the fighters now running Hezbollah are “young and inexperienced.” It could mean the war does not escalate any more than this point.
The Sunday Mirror has a different point of view. The paper says whilst the group has been bruised by the recent events, it is still an incredibly powerful opponent.
‘Conservative Party conference’
The Sunday Express has an exclusive on Tory leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch’s vow to “crush” Robert Jenrick, who’s also in the race for party leader (and current favourite). Badenoch tells the paper she will do “whatever is necessary” to “end illegal smuggling” and stop the migrant boats.
The Telegraph also speaks to Badenoch who says not all cultures are “equal” when it comes to immigration. “Our country is not a dormitory for people to come here and make money. It is our home. We expect them to share our values and cultures.”
‘Labour MP quits over freebie’
The Sunday Telegraph leads on the Labour MP Rosie Duffield who quit the Labour Party over the “freebies” scandal. The paper says she leaves the party after accusing PM Keir Starmer of “sleaze, nepotism and apparent avarice.”
The Observer also reports on domestic politics saying the chancellor’s cut to the winter fuel allowance in England and Wales may save less money than had been hoped. The cut was expected to remove the payment from around 10m pensioners but not those on pension credit.
The Sun on Sunday says the government is considering cigarette-style health warnings on junk food packaging as part of a drive to reduce childhood obesity. It calls the idea a “nanny-state crackdown” following a ban on fast food ads before 9 pm and restrictions on under-16s buying highly caffeinated drinks.
