Tuesday’s headlines are heavily focused on what’s happening outside our little island, with heavy coverage of the latest airstrikes in Ukraine and the group chat blunder from top US officials.
A handful of headlines look ahead to Wednesday’s Spring Statement and continue to speculate on potential job losses and cuts to public spending. There is a handful of stand-alone stories on the front pages, covering domestic news.
Ukraine-Russia air strikes
Russia have continued their airstrikes on Ukraine, killing at least 14 children. Ukraine’s air force says Russia used 139 drones and one Iskander ballistic missile in overnight attacks. The US and Russia are expected to release a joint statement at about 08:00 GMT following Ukraine peace talks in Riyadh on Monday.
- Metro reports on the latest airstrikes from Russia on Ukraine. The paper cites Ukrainian reports that the Russian military injured 74 people – among them 14 children – in strikes on homes and a hospital, on the same day as negotiators held ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia.
- The Daily Express carries a report from Kyiv, laying out the “brutal” realities of recent overnight Russian air strikes on Ukraine’s capital. The paper’s correspondent in Ukraine tells US President Donald Trump to “wake up” and recognise that “Ukrainians are the victims”, after a father and young daughter were recently killed by a drone strike.
Spring Statement speculation
On Wednesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver her Spring Statement. There is an expectation that the cuts to public spending are going to be incredibly severe – leading to anger from the left-wing backbenchers who are eyeing up a rebellion – one No 10 is desperate to quell.
- The Guardian reports Rachel Reeves will plough £2bn into affordable housing in a bid to “sweeten the pill” of the spending cuts being announced on Wednesday.
- The Telegraph suggests the £2bn is an attempt to “buy off” the left-wing backbenchers who are angry over the massive spending cuts.
- The Independent leads with its own investigation into the country’s welfare bill saying 23% of the working-age population is now in receipt of some form of benefits.
England 3-0 Lativia – Lions off to great start
Opinions are being shared on Thomas Tuchel’s first two matches in charge of England. The World Cup qualifiers are underway and England’s first Tuchel camp ended with two wins, two clean sheets and some first caps.
- Mirror Sport reports that “great goals from Eberechi and James and a tap-in from Kane as England take another trouble-free step towards World Cup finals”.
- Sun Sport says new England boss Thomas Tuchel has told the Premier League bosses he will not rest England stars.
- Mail Sport says Reece James bends in an incredible 27-yard free-kick to set England on the path to victory.
- BBC Sport offers a bit more analysis of Tuchel’s first two games in charge saying “England show Tuchel’s search for thrills will be no quick fix”.
Britain’s economic growth, US tariffs
There are rumblings over the effects of US tariffs – both in the UK and abroad, as Trump threatens a 25% tariff on imports from countries that are buying oil from Venezuela. The Bank of England boss has spoken about the effects of the US tariffs – but also strikes optimism about AI and how it could transform the UK economy.
- The Times says the boss of the Bank of England has dealt a blow to Labour’s hopes for economic growth. The paper reports that Andrew Bailey used a lecture at Leicester University to warn about the “strong headwinds” of US tariffs and an ageing population. But the Times also says he struck an optimistic note about the potential of Artificial Intelligence to transform Britain’s economic prospects.
- The i newspaper leads with unhappiness among Labour MPs over the future of the “triple lock” on state pension. The paper says people on the government’s backbenchers are considering whether the government should ditch the “sacred cow of British politics.”
- The FT leads with Trump’s threat to impose 25% tariffs on all imports from countries that buy oil from Venezuela. He’s accused the South American country of sending thousands of criminals undercover to the US. The paper says the tariffs risk creating turmoil in the oil market and could sharply raise levies on goods from Venezuela’s biggest customers, including China and India.
Domestic abuse, Reform UK, Meghan Markle latest
There are plenty of exclusive reports and stand-alone stories on the front pages of the UK newspapers this morning.
- The Guardian leads with a warning from police that domestic abusers are driving a number of victims to suicide. The latest data reveals that such deaths have outnumbered cases of people killed by their partners for a second year in a row. The paper says the police have admitted to past mistakes and pledged to investigate more “hidden” cases of violence against women.
- The Daily Telegraph says the honours forfeiture committee threatened to strip the wealthy Reform UK supporter of his OBE last year due to his social media comments. Charlie Mullins said someone should kill the Mayor of London. Mullins has agreed to go to diversity training and as such he can now keep his OBE. Mullins tells the paper he’s a victim of a politically motivated attack.
- The Mirror leads with an exclusive interview with a Manchester Arena bomb campaigner who called for a change to the law to make venues safer from attack. Figen Murray, whose son was killed in the 2017 bombing, hailed the bill passing its final House of Commons hurdle as a “victory” for her son.
- The Sun leads with Meghan Markle suggesting she is “exploiting her children” by putting them in a social media picture promoting her online clothes shop.
