Editorial 15.10.24
Many of Tuesday’s papers provide coverage of the latest hint from Chancellor Rachel Reeves that employers’ national insurance contributions could go up in the Budget.
The trial of Urfan Sharif makes several tabloid front pages, as he admitted to police that he had killed his ten-year-old daughter.
‘Reeves hints at rise in employer national insurance’
‘Breaking manifesto promises,’ is the Guardian’s take.
The Guardian says the refusal to rule out the move the “strongest hint yet” that an increase is planned. The paper says the chancellor’s plans to raise employer national insurance contributions have prompted accusations Labour is “about to break a manifesto promise”.
‘Business leaders understand need to put UK on stable footing,’ says the FT.
The FT says the chancellor, speaking at Monday’s investment summit, insisted business leaders understood the need to put the UK on a stable footing. It says that while increasing business taxes would help the public finances, it would also hit the bottom line for companies.
‘Move could end up hitting workers too,’ says the i newspaper.
The i newspaper says some economists fear the measure could end up hitting workers too if employers hire fewer staff or reduce pay rises.
‘Reeves tells business to prepare for higher taxes,’ says The Times.
The Times’s headline reads: “Reeves tells business to prepare for higher taxes.” The paper says business leaders have warned the chancellor of anticipated “collateral damage” to the UK following the proposed rise in business taxes.
‘Labour breaking manifesto promises,’ suggests the Mail.
The Mail says the chancellor has broken the Labour manifesto pledge not to put up NI.
‘Weight loss jab for the unemployed,’ leads the Daily Telegraph.
In other political news.
The Daily Telegraph reports on Wes Streeting’s claim that a new weight-loss jab will have a massive impact on obesity and getting unemployed people back into work.
‘Sara beat to death’
‘I beat Sara up too much’ quotes the Metro.
The Metro leads on the trial of Urfan Sharif who admitted to killing his 10-year-old daughter Sara Sharif. “I beat Sara up too much,” he was quoted as saying in the call from Islamabad, Pakistan. Jurors were told Mr Sharif’s case was that her stepmother, Beinash Batool, was responsible for Sara’s death and he had made a false confession to protect her.
‘Sharif says he legally punished his daughter,’ writes the Express.
The Daily Express leads with quotes from Sharif who said he had “legally punished his daughter” and insisted he didn’t mean to kill her. The Mail also leads on the story detailing the many injuries the 10-year-old suffered in the lead-up to her death. Sharif had told the police that his daughter had been “naughty.”