Editorial 09 September 2024.
Monday’s front pages continue to report on the backlash facing Keir Starmer and his government’s decision to scrap the winter fuel allowance. The PM was on the Laura Kuenssberg show on Sunday and attempted to defend his policy, However, There are mixed reactions from the papers suggesting the government could face a rebellion to it’s not going to make any difference, leading up to the Commons vote on Tuesday.
Additionally, other notable domestic stories do make the front splash. The England football team won against Ireland and English cricketers are poised for a final days play in the Test against Sri Lanka.
‘PM faces backlash after winter fuel backlash’
The Guardian laments that no U-turn is on the horizon despite threats of rebellion.
It says “up to 50” Labour MPs could refuse to back the plans at Tuesday’s Commons vote. Sources tell the paper that “dozens” could abstain or be absent, but few on the government benches are expected to actually vote against the policy.
The ‘Bullish’ prime minister is about to be tested, claims The Times.
The paper labels the vote as “a key test” of Sir Keir Starmer’s authority saying a “bullish” prime minister is “shrugging off” any criticism. Government sources tell the paper they are not concerned about the size of any potential rebellion. The paper says Liz Kendall spent the weekend on the phone, speaking to “wavering backbenchers.”
Labour’s own research said it could lead to thousands of deaths, says the Daily Mail – so why are they pushing ahead with it? they ask.
The Daily Mail asks why Labour is pushing ahead with the policy when it claimed that the party’s research back in 2017 warned that cutting the payments could lead to the deaths of thousands of pensioners. The paper says the analysis was written after former PM May announced plans to scrap the allowance and describes the proposals, which were later dropped by the Tories, as the “single biggest attack on pensioners in a generation”.
It’s a massive ‘political mistake’ says the Mirror which looks and what consequences the Labour government might face.
The Mirror’s editorial says “Don’t be a fuel, Keir” as the paper describes the policy as a “political mistake” which “surely merits a rethink.”
The paper calls on the government to come up with an “escape route” before tomorrow’s vote.
PM to deflect crisis by offering up alternative cuts, says the i.
The i newspaper says the government might respond to the criticism by announcing plans in next month’s Budget for a social tariff for energy bills – similar to those for mobile phones. The paper says the government is weighing up the idea which would give households on lower incomes cheaper gas and electricity.
The Telegraph leads on the findings of a major report on the state of the NHS, due to be published this week. The paper says the report will warn that the health service is “going backwards” for the first time in 50 years.
‘Inquiry into Lucy Letby’
The Mirror says the inquiry into Lucy Letby – which begins this week – will look into whether the NHS failed to learn from the crimes of fellow serial killers Harold Shipman and Beverly Allitt.
The Metro focuses on the start of the Lampard Inquiry looking at the deaths of around 2,000 people who were either impatiens at NHS-funded independent clinics in Essex or who died within three months of leaving between 2000 and 2023.