Rafah pounded by Israel bombs & Whooping cough kills 5 babies – Paper Talk
Editorial 10 May 2024.
Friday’s front pages have no single lead with various topics splashed on the papers. Most lead on domestic topics – with politics and health the most popular but a few international stories – including the latest from Gaza do find space to make the front pages.
Elsewhere, celebrities and the arts are also featured.
The back pages are dominated by the latest from the Premier League and the Europa League.
@tntsportsfootball Olympiacos reach a European final for the FIRST TIME in their history✨ Britain’s last hope in Europe this season have been knocked out ❌ #uecl #conferenceleague #europaconferenceleague #olympiacos #olympiacosfc #foodtiktok #soccertiktok
‘Five babies die of whopping cough’
The Daily Mirror is one of several front pages to lead on the news that five babies have died of whooping cough. The paper says the country is facing its worst outbreak in 40 years.
The Metro also reports on the outbreak of whooping cough, also known as the “100-day cough”. The paper says it is the biggest outbreak of whopping cough in a decade and notes there has been a slump in vaccinations in the UK following scepticism since the Covid pandemic.
The Mail also has the whooping cough outbreak story as its lead, saying that almost 3,000 cases have been reported so far this year. The paper also highlights comments from experts that a fall in vaccinations is to blame.
‘Hunt urges BOE not to cut rates’
Away from the whopping cough story, several political stories make the leads.
The Daily Express leads with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt urging the Bank of England not to cut interest rates until it’s “absolutely sure” high inflation is beaten.
The Daily Telegraph also leads on the chancellor warning the Bank of England about cutting interest rates too quickly. Elsewhere, the paper also leads on a story about Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner assuring MPs that Natalie Elphicke – who defected from the Tories to Labour – will have no “formal role” in the party.
‘More Tories want to defect to Labour’
The Times leads with a story on the education secretary saying that there has been an “unacceptable” rise in school truancy on Fridays.
The i has an interview with Dominic Cummings. The former chief adviser to Boris Johnson claims to have saved thousands of lives during Covid, but says it’s “extremely, extremely unlikely” him and Mr Johnson will ever speak again.
The Independent also leads on UK politics. The paper features comments from shadow health secretary Wes Streeting who tells the paper that he’s spoken to a number of Tory MPs who are also considering defecting to Labour. But, he says, Labour will not take “just any MP”.
The Guardian leads on Israel’s Rafah offensive in Gaza, reporting that 100,000 have fled while Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu vows his country will “‘fight with our fingernails’ in defiance of US warnings not to proceed with a ground invasion in Rafah.
An image of civilians fleeing Rafah makes the front page of the Independent. The paper says the southern Gaza city was pounded by Israeli bombs as they ignored the US warning.