Today’s news summary – Paper Talk: Tories plotting election fight & Man City fury
Monday’s front pages cover various stories including the BBC license fee, Tories preparing for the election, Starmer defending his Maggie Thatcher praise and the UK weather.
Many of the front pages feature an image of an animated Erling Haaland, after the Man City vs Spurs game ended in controversy.
BBC license fee
The Daily Mail speculates that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is asking the BBC to cut costs, amid speculation the government could limit the planned increase to the licence fee in April. The PM has said all public organisations should “cut their cloth” during a difficult time for households.
The Daily Telegraph quotes PM Sunak as saying the BBC has to be “realistic” about what the public can afford. The paper says there is frustration from some BBC figures, given the planned increase comes on the back of a two-year freeze.
General election 2024
UK politics makes several of the front pages, with the general election on the tip of many tongues.
The Daily Express carries an interview with Richard Holden, who became the new Tory chairman last month. He says he is putting the party on a “war footing” from January and believes a fifth term is within their grasp.
The i newspaper claims the Tories are losing voters to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party due to Tory voters being angry over high migration figures.
The Daily Telegraph reports more Tory MPs are expected to say they are quitting politics in the New Year and will not stand at the next election because of poor polling numbers.
The backlash to Sir Keir Starmer’s comments crediting Margaret Thatcher, as well as Tony Blair and Clement Attlee, with bringing about meaningful change in Britain, makes several papers.
The Daily Mirror describes Starmer’s comments about Thatcher as “bizarre” and says they have “enraged” some in the Labour party.
The Sun calls the move a “brazen grab” for Tory voters.
Many of the papers feature pictures of Baroness Kinnock who died yesterday at the age of 79. The Mirror describes the politician and wife of the former Labour leader, Neil Kinnock, as a “beloved force of nature”. The headline in the i newspaper says she was “truly formidable”.
Man City fury
Several of the newspapers report on Manchester City’s fury over a call made by the ref during the Tottenham game. The Times says “Haaland looses his head,” The Daily Express calls the match “a six-goal thriller,” and the i newspaper calls the Premier League weekend “high octane thriller.”
