Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Several papers continue to report on news the chancellor’s wife, Akshata Murty has non-domiciled tax status as one of Friday’s lead stories, as well as the cost of living crisis, energy bills and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
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The Daily Mirror pulls no punches in its take on Murty’s tax affairs, reporting that his wife profits from £50m in UK public sector contracts while avoiding paying millions in taxes. The paper reveals that Akshata Murty has a stake worth £690m in Indian IT giant Infosys. The paper says it’s enough to “make you sick”.
The Sun reports that Rishi Sunak has accused Labour of a dirty tricks campaign against his wife, branding their tax attacks “unpleasant smears”. The paper’s headline: “Rishi: Lay off my missus” – Sunak blasts Labour ‘smears’.
The Guardian reports that Rishi Sunak’s wife has potentially avoided up to £20m in UK tax by being non-domiciled and pays £30,000 a year to keep the status, amid growing pressure on the chancellor. Ms Murty’s spokesman says all necessary taxes have been paid in full but the paper says the row over her tax status risks “further denting” her husband Rishi Sunak’s “carefully honed” brand among voters and Tory MPs.
The Independent reports pressure is “growing” on Rishi Sunak and his wife to come clean on details of their tax affairs after it was reported she used non-domicile status and pays no UK tax on her foreign earnings.
Russia has been stripped of its place on the United Nations human rights council following its invasion of Ukraine, Metro reports. “Human rights pariah” is how the Metro describes news.
The Daily Express leads on the cost of living crisis, writing that Britain is facing crippling energy bills for three years. “Not another energy bills shock” pleads the front page of the paper as it warns the UK could face “crippling” bills for at least three years – despite Mr Johnson’s power strategy.