Editorial 12.12.24
Thursday’s headlines are dominated by the conviction of a father and stepmother who killed 10-year-old Sara Sharif. Police said Urfan Sharif, 43, and Beinash Batool, 30, had subjected Sara to “horrific suffering” before her body was found at the family’s home in Surrey last year.
As more details emerge about the life and death of the young British girl, the newspapers react with horror at the brutality Sara lived – and died – under. Many of the newspapers pick up on the state’s failure to save her, pointing the finger at the courts, police, social services and teachers, who reportedly missed at least 15 chances to save her life.
Several domestic political stories also find space on the front pages with reports on Labour’s plans to build new houses, potential strikes this winter and ongoing reactions to the October Budget.
The back pages cover last night’s Champions League action – including yet another loss for Manchester City and the news that Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the 2030 World Cup hosts.
Sara Sharif: ‘It’s not human to do this to you daughter’
‘Not human,’ reports The Sun.
The Sun leads with the tragic death of Sara Sharif. The paper reports the girl’s mother said: “It is not human to do this to your own child” after the ten-year-old’s dad was found guilty of her murder.
Daily Express calls for an inquiry into child protection services in the UK.
The Daily Express says Sara was “killed by the very adults who should have loved and protected her.” The paper calls for an inquiry to look at what is going wrong with child protection in the UK.
‘Sara’s smile masked the horrors she endured,’ says the Mirror.
The Daily Mirror says Sara was described as a “cheerful little soul” whose smile masked the horrors she endured. She died after “two years of sickening abuse,’” the paper adds.
‘Sharif showed no emotion as jury found him guilty of his daughter’s murder,’ notes the Metro.
The Metro says Sharif showed “no emotion” after a jury found him guilty of his daughter’s murder. The paper says Sharif’s brother, Faisal Malik, 29, was convicted of causing or allowing a child’s death and that the three will be sentenced next week.
‘At least 15 missed chances to prevent her death,’ says the Mail.
The Mail says at least 15 chances to prevent Sara’s death were missed by the courts, police, social services and teachers. She was “let down by everyone supposed to protect her”, it says. The paper adds Sharif and Batool now face a “lifetime behind bars”.
‘Sara plunged into a life of misery and violence from birth,’ says The Times.
The Times says Sara was “plunged into a life of misery and violence” from the moment she was born, despite being the subject of a child protection plan from birth. From when Sara was a toddler, in around 2013, council workers observed issues with her development, including that she was unable to “vocalise to protect herself” and, on one occasion, stood facing a wall.
‘Sara’s case highlights weakness in UK system,’ says the i.
The i newspaper quotes Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza saying that Sara was “failed in the starkest terms by the safety net of services around her” and that the case highlights “profound weaknesses in our system”.
‘Civil service jobs to be axed’
‘Civil service jobs to be axed as it become too big,’ says The Guardian.
The Guardian reports that 10,000 civil service jobs are to be axed under a new government efficiency drive. Sources tell the paper that there is an acceptance that the civil service has become too big after expanding to meet the demands of Brexit and the pandemic.
‘Tories upset over Rayner’s plans to built on green belt,’ notes The Telegraph.
The Telegraph says the government is facing accusations that they want to “bulldoze the Home Counties” as it prepares to set out a major overhaul of planning rules. The paper says the changes put forward by Angela Rayner will allow new estates to be built on the green belt around major cities. The paper says Tories have warned that existing residents could be deprived of a say over the new plans.
‘UK needs houses desperately,’ Starmer reminds The Sun’s readers.
Writing about the plans in the Sun, Keir Starmer says he wants to take on the “blockers, the nimbys and the naysayers to build the houses and communities we desperately need”,
‘Qatar wealth fund preparing to invest,’ notes The FT.
The FT says Qatar’s $500bn sovereign wealth fund is preparing to invest “aggressively” overseas ahead of a new windfall from the sale of oil that could double its size. The fun’s chief executive tells the FT the fun expects to do “bigger-ticket deals” with “more frequency” and will be looking to invest in the US, UK and Asia.