Editorial 18 April 2024.
Thursday’s front pages lead on a variety of stories, with mostly domestic political news being splashed.
The government’s Rwanda plans, the latest political polling, Angela Rayner’s tax scandal and Brexit are among the headlines. Several papers cover international news, including flash flooding in the Gulf states, Prince Harry is a hot topic for a couple of the tabloids, as the prince lists the USA as his main residence.
Labour ahead in public opinion polls
including in tory areas
tax, defence and brexit
The papers also pick up on both Manchester City and Arsenal being knocked out of the Champions League.
‘Rwanda plan stalled by Lords’
The right-wing Daily Express has a typical take on the news. “Lords defy will of the people … again.” The paper says “meddling” peers are more interested in stopping the flights than stopping the boats and accuse Labour of a “politically cynical” move to block the legislation.
The Times reports on Conservative MP Mark Menzies who is facing allegations that campaign funds were misused by making a late-night call to a party volunteer saying he had been locked up by “bad people” who were demanding thousands of pounds. The paper claims Menzies’ office manager gave him money from her savings but that this money was repaid from local campaign funds from party donors. In a statement, Menzies “strongly disputes” the allegations and says he has “fully complied with all the rules for declarations”.
The Daily Telegraph continues its coverage of Angela Rayner’s tax affairs. The paper says the deputy Labour leader is facing “new questions” about her finances. It claims that at least a dozen officers have been assigned to her case. Rayner says she is confident she followed the rules at all times.
The FT says there’s a question mark over the PM’s cuts to NI – after the IMF urged the government to take much tougher action to reign in public debt. The warning casts doubts on Sunak’s bid to scrap the tax in the future, the paper adds.
The Times also reports on the government’s economic plans. The paper says the smaller-than-expected drop in the rate of inflation crushed the Treasury’s hopes for a significant cut to interest rates before the election.
‘Tories behind in polls’
The Daily Mail leads on a poll that shows the Tories are trailing Labour in public opinion on every major political issue. The paper says Labour maintains the lead on issues like the NHS as well as “traditional Tory policy areas, including defence, tax, immigration – and even Brexit”. It says the result should act as a “major wake-up call to Rishi Sunak”.
Away from politics, a variety of domestic and international topics lead the rest of the papers.
The Guardian leads on drug shortages in Britain. It leads on a report by the health think tank Nuffield Trust who said the shortages have been exacerbated by Brexit. The paper says the medicines affected include those used to treat epilepsy, type 2 diabetes, and ADHD and that pharmacy bosses have warned the shortages are endangering the lives of those with the most serious illnesses.
The i reports on Joe Biden who they say may seek to revive the Iran nuclear deal in order to avoid a further escalation in the Middle East conflict. The deal, under which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in return for the lifting of sanctions, was agreed in 2015 but later scrapped by Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump. An administration source tells the paper: “The president is doing everything he can to avert a war.”
The Metro leads on the extreme rainfall and flooding across the Gulf States – leading on the British travellers stranded in Dubai. It adds that the city has experienced its heaviest rainfall in 75 years.
The Daily Mirror leads on the death of Michael Donovan, the man who was involved in the fake kidnap plot of Shannon Matthews back in 2008. The story was nationwide and when it unravelled it was revealed that Donovan and Shannon’s mother plotted her disappearance in hopes of claiming a £50,000 reward.
The Sun leads on Prince Harry who has officially registered as a US resident. The paper says the US is his “new country” in records filed at Companies House and that the move suggests he has “cut all ties with Britain”.
