Editorial 22.11.24
The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the former defence minister, Yoav Gallant. The European leaders – including PM Keir Starmer – have backed the arrest of Netanyahu, and several papers note if the Israeli prime minister steps foot in the UK, he’ll be arrested.
Several papers pay tribute to the ex-deputy prime minister John Prescott who died at 86. Other domestic stories include the latest death in the alcohol poisonings in Laos, this time a 28-year-old British woman. There is ongoing coverage of the farm tax fallout and No 10’s vow to stand with Ukraine features.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the use of US and UK missiles by Ukraine means the West is now involved in his war against Ukraine.
‘Starmer supports arrest of Netanyahu’
‘Netanyahu will be arrested if he flies into Britain,’ says The Times.
The Times says Netanyahu will face arrest if he flies into Britain. The prime minister has said he backs the ICC’s decision but also says Israel has a right to defend herself.
‘Starmer supports arrest of Netanyahu,’ writes the Daily Telegraph.
The Daily Telegraph says the prime minister supports the arrest of the Israeli PM. The paper quotes the prime minister “We respect the independence of the ICC.”
‘Arrest warrants big escalation,’ says FT.
The FT says the court’s arrest warrant marks the first for a Western-backed leader, the paper calls it a “big escalation”. It shows how Israel has become “ever more isolated” since the start of the conflict, the paper adds.
‘ICC cites starvation as method of war as reason for arrest warrant,’ says The Independent.
The Independent notes the ICC’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu cites ‘using starvation as a method of war’ and intentionally targetting civilians.
‘ICC is a clown court,’ says The Sun.
The Sun has a completely different take. The paper calls the ICC a “clown court.”
The Mail’s editorial says “while the force of Israel’s retaliation in Gaza is not beyond reproach, the country is fighting for its survival”.
‘Putin threatens Britain’
‘UK is now part of the war,’ says the Mirror.
The Daily Mirror reports on Putin threatening to hit Western military installations. The paper says that Putin is warning Britain that it is now at war and there is a risk UK targets could face missile strikes.
‘Britain and Frace will relentlessly fight Putinisation,’ says the i.
David Lammy takes to the i to write that the Kremlin’s violations of international law make it a threat to world order, not just European security. In an article written with his French counterpart, Lammy says Britain and France will “relentlessly” fight what he calls “Putinisation”.
‘Putin could target UK,’ warns The Times.
The Times also uses its front page to report that Putin could target the UK in direct response to Ukraine’s use of British-made missiles.
‘Farmers tax fallout continues’
‘Treasury looking to rework tax rules,’ says The Guardian.
The Guardian says the Treasury is looking at reworking the new inheritance tax rules for farmers to make it easier for those aged 80 and over to hand their properties down without incurring the tax.
‘Disability benefit claims among working people will rise,’ says The Telegraph.
The Telegraph says official forecasts show that disability benefit claims among working people will rise by a quarter of a million each year until the end of the decade. The paper says 4.2 million people will claim PIP – an increase from the current figure of 3 million.
‘John Prescott tributes’
‘Rare dash of Technicolour,’ says the Mirror.
The Mirror pays tribute to former deputy PM John Prescott. The paper says “in the sometimes monochrome world of Westminster, he was a rare dash of Technicolour.”
Former PM Gordon Brown writes in the paper that “he believed in the good in everyone, even the egg thrower in Wales he famously punched.”
‘True political heavyweight,’ says the Express.
The Daily Express calls him a “true political heavyweight”.
‘From humble beginnings to the top of politics,’ says The Times.
The Times notes his journey from humble beginnings to the top of politics in which he once remarked: “I no longer keep coal in the bath. I keep it in the bidet”.