Today’s news summary – Paper Talk: Furious row – Michelle Mone vs Rishi Sunak
Tuesday’s papers are leading with a variety of stories.
The Financial Times leads on the abandoning of a £20 billion acquisition deal between tech giants Adobe and Figma due to “no clear path to receive necessary regulatory approvals from UK and Brussels watchdogs”.
The Daily Telegraph highlights the government’s newly issued guidance for educators on transgender matters, emphasising a presumption that children cannot change gender. The approach encourages a “parent first” strategy, requiring headteachers to inform parents if a child expresses a desire to change gender. The newspaper notes that teachers and peers won’t be obligated to use a child’s preferred pronouns, and staff won’t face repercussions for opting not to do so. The guidance, long-awaited since 2018, is depicted as a result of careful deliberation on this “complex and sensitive issue,” according to a Whitehall source.
Michelle Mone vs Rishi Sunak
The Guardian leads with a “furious row” involving Baroness Mone and the government. The Baroness confessed to lying about her ties to a PPE company that secured lucrative deals during the Covid-19 pandemic. Michelle Mone alleges that the Cabinet Office, government, and NHS were aware of her involvement from the outset, prior to her husband’s firm securing a PPE contract.
The i leads with new EU travel checks for UK passport-holders from next year, reporting “fingerprint and facial scans” are planned from October 2024, and that the new checks could see waiting times at European border security “double” as a result. The paper also previews Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove’s appearance at the Covid Inquiry.
The Daily Mail’s headline, “NHS Dentists on the Brink,” centres on the Nuffield Trust’s report indicating that NHS dental services are at their most precarious juncture ever. The report suggests that heavily subsidised NHS dentistry is now a thing of the past.
Housing plans
The Times reports on Housing Secretary Michael Gove’s plans to empower councils to lose planning powers if they “delay or deny” legitimate housebuilding. This is part of the government’s broader reforms to address England’s housing shortage. The Telegraph also covers this story, highlighting Gove’s directive to councils that they won’t be required to designate protected countryside for future population growth, contrary to previous guidelines.
Alex Batty home
The Sun showcases a photo of the recently found 17-year-old Alex Batty, who went missing in 2017 with his mother and grandfather. The paper reports his reunion with his grandmother in Oldham, underlining the headline “Happy To Be Home.”