Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Wednesday’s front pages are dominated by the newly-appointed PM Liz Truss and her first day in office. Most of the papers lead with “we can ride out the storm” of the cost of living crisis from her national address on the steps of Downing Street, with the famous black door behind her.
The papers report on the “brutal” reshuffle in which she cut more than half of Boris Johnson’s cabinet.
PM Liz Truss takes office – how the media reacted
Right-wing newspapers
Daily Mail says the torrential rain cleared “in a moment loaded with cheering symbolism” as the new PM addressed the nation. The paper’s columnist Jan Moir says Truss “strode down the wet street with a tangible air of purpose, delivered a short, no-frills speech – and even managed to throw in a reference to the soggy climate at the climax”.
Whilst the Daily Express claims the new PM launched her premiership “with a blitz on the issues holding the country back.” The paper’s political editor Sam Lister says a “no-nonsense” Liz Truss showed she “means business” with a maiden address to the nation that focused on “delivery, not rhetoric.”
The Daily Telegraph leads on the PM’s assurance that financial help will be coming for those struggling with bills amid rising costs. The paper quotes economic forecasts saying that inflation could “halve by next summer” thanks to plans for an energy cap – although some say a recession is still likely to happen.
The Times looks at how the markets reacted, pointing to a positive reaction to the arrival of a new prime minister, saying “inflation fears were downgraded.” The paper says economists believe that a freeze on prices “could curb inflation and the depth of the approaching recession.”
Left-wing newspapers
For the Financial Times, PM Truss’s plans for an energy bailout may amount to “the largest welfare programme in the UK’s recent history.” The package could cost more than £150bn and will include families and businesses, according to FT.
The i newspaper reports on sources from No 10 insisting that no new taxes will be needed to fund the energy package, which it puts at around £200bn. But the paper also carries a warning from economists – that taxpayers or energy consumers, will ultimately need to pay for the bailout.
Liz Truss cabinet reshuffle
The papers also highlight the cabinet reshuffle, in which she cut Rishi Sunak supporters and appointed her closest allies to the top roles.
For the first time, the four top roles – prime minister, chancellor, home secretary and foreign secretary – are not held by a white man.
The Daily Telegraph praises her new cabinet as the “most diverse” and points out that “none of the great offices of state” is “held by a white male.”
But the Independent says it’s a “cabinet of cronies” and warns the new PM’s hopes of uniting a fractured Tory party are at risk.
The Guardian says Liz Truss rejected pleas to appoint a cabinet to bring her party together, after the “bruising” leadership race. The paper uses the image of a storm to describe the reshuffle as “brutal.”
The Daily Mirror says the appointments will make little difference if the PM fails to deliver on her promises. It sums up the story with “Now fix the Britain you lot broke.”
The Sun’s front page leads with a picture of the Queen appointing Liz Truss as PM. “Hello Liz” is the joint speech bubble above both of them. It’s the Queen’s 15th prime minister during her reign as monarch.
