Local elections 2024: ‘Bruising night for the Tories’ & ‘Save our FA Cup’
Editorial 03 May 2024.
Friday’s front pages feature a variety of topics, including domestic UK topics including the Rwanda bill and the London sword attack suspect.
There are several political stories on the front pages, with several publications looking at Labour’s plans if they are elected to office this year.
Online, most newspapers are dominated by yesterday’s local elections in England and Wales – as results continue to come in, it’s clear the Tories have suffered major defeats and Labour has picked up more than 58 seats.
‘Bruising night for the Tories’
Much of the UK’s news today covers politics.
The Guardian’s online election coverage features a statement from the Shadow Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, who says Labour’s victory in Thurrock puts her party on course to win the general election.
The Mail Online says it’s a “bruising night” for the Tories.
The Daily Telegraph leads on the row between Ireland and the UK over the Rwanda policy. The paper quotes Downing Street source. Dublin blamed the plan to send some migrants to Rwanda for a surge in asylum seekers crossing its border with Northern Ireland from the UK.
The Daily Express quotes James Cleverly saying “migrant protests won’t stop us doing what is right”. It references Thursday’s demonstrations in London, where 45 people were arrested for trying to stop a coach taking asylum seekers to the Bibby Stockholm barge off the coast of Dorset.
The Daily Mail’s front page asks “Whose side is Labour really on?” The paper says Sunak has accused Labour’s Starmer of being “soft” on migrants.
The i newspaper says Labour’s team are set to “woo Team Trump” as Starmer prepares for power. The paper says Starmer and David Lammy will meet Donald Trump’s team before the election in the US and UK this year, while Lammy will also meet senior figures in Joe Biden’s party.
Elsewhere, there are a few other political stories.
The Times says it has seen figures showing that a number of local authorities are taking advantage of Conservative planning changes to slash targets for building new homes, in anticipation of a Labour government which might try to stop them.
The Guardian leads on the government’s announcement today that will say fossil fuel companies will be allowed to explore for oil and gas at sites intended for offshore wind. The paper has been told that 30 licenses will be granted to companies. Rishi Sunak’s former net zero tsar, Chris Skidmore, who quit the Conservative party in protest at the government’s climate policies described the move as “deeply irresponsible”.
‘Save our FA Cup’
The Mirror leads on its own campaign, its fighting to save replays in the FA Cup. The paper says the FA is holding an emergency meeting next week to discuss plans to reduce the number of games.
The Metro features photos of Marcus Arduini Monzo, the 36-year-old charged with murdering schoolboy Daniel Anjorin with a Samurai sword in London on Tuesday.