Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Thursday’s front pages lead with a variety of stories; the strikes, cost of living crisis and W Euros 2022 final on Sunday are amongst some of the most popular stories.
Strikes, unions and Labour sacking
The Guardian leads with unions threatening to hold a general strike this year after it was announced that rail workers had voted for further industrial action later this summer. The paper reports that the divisions between the unions and Labour are expected to grow following Starmer’s sacking of Sam Tarry – who made an appearance at the strikes on the picket line.
The i reports that the RMT plans to call for a general strike if Liz Truss becomes the next prime minister and introduces laws to limit workers’ ability to walk out.
For the Financial Times, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Frances O’Grady, criticises the proposed laws, accusing the government of attacking “a fundamental British liberty.”
Cost of living crisis, hottest July and China tensions
The cost of living crisis is splashed on several of the front pages – “Shocking” reads the headline in the Daily Mirror. The paper says experts claim energy bills this winter could reach as much as £500 for one month.
The Times says that could mean an annual cost of nearly £4,000, with bills remaining above £3,000 a year until 2024. The paper quotes experts saying that the rise could push millions of households into financial hardships, as Russia further limits gas supplies to Europe.
The West and China risk “miscalculating” their way into nuclear war say Sir Stephen Lovegrove, the UK’s national security adviser, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Whilst the Times picks up on Sir Stephen’s comments that the “world’s superpowers understood each other better during the Cold War” but that a “breakdown in communications” in the years since mean’s there’s a greater risk of tensions accidentally escalating.
The Daily Mirror says that allies of Boris Johnson are planning to find a safe Tory seat for him to launch his political comeback.
In recent polls, it seems Boris Johnson is in danger of losing Uxbridge and South Ruislip at the next election. Sources say the PM is “testing the water” over moving to a constituency with a larger Tory majority.
“United for our boys” says the Sun, which reports on both leadership contenders. The paper says they have come together to agree pledges on supporting veterans.
This month is the driest July in England for more than a century, leads The Independent. Whilst the Metro says an “official drought is on the cards” as Met Office figures show 0.6in of rain has fallen on average this month, less than a quarter of the usual amount.