Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Most of Thursday’s front pages lead with the resignation of Lady Susan Hussey. The senior member of the Royal household made comments to a black charity boss asking her what part of Africa she was from amongst other offensive remarks. Hussey is Prince William’s godmother and chief lady-in-waiting to the late Queen. She has since apologised and resigned from her voluntary role.
Royal race row
The royal-loving Daily Mail describes the incident as a “new Palace race storm” and a “royal disaster.” It says the black British charity boss, Ngozi Fulani, felt “violated” after being “interrogated” by Lady Susan about where she came from.
The paper claims it has “the inside story” on how Lady Susan’s 60 years of royal service ended in five hours and quotes an insider who says the palace had “thrown her under the bus.”
The Daily Express – another pro-royal conservative paper – noted that Prince William has condemned the comments made by Lady Susan but the race row “overshadowed” his trip to the US. It quotes Ms Fulani, who accused the Palace of institutional racism and calls on officials to implement anti-racism training.
“Shame of royal aide,” is the left-wing Mirror’s take. The paper reports that the Palace said it had reached out to Ms Fulani though her London charity, Sistah Space, but as of last night she says she had heard nothing.
Winter of discontent
Away from the royals, the Daily Telegraph warns of a “new winter of discontent” claiming that millions of people across the country face disruption from strikes. The paper says rail workers, nurses, teachers, security guards, driving examiners and rural payments officers are all planning industrial action that will disrupt every day until Christmas.
The planned strikes by ambulance crews will add to the wave of unrest, according to the Financial Times.
The Guardian says 70 per cent of England’s water firms are now owned by foreigners. The paper’s research revealed a “complex web of ownership” that involves foreign investment firms, pension funds and businesses lodged in tax havens. The paper says there are increasing calls for the industry to be held accountable for sewage dumping and water shortages, but the ownership structures make transparency difficult.
Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie dies
British singer-songwriter Christine McVie, who penned some of Fleetwood Mac’s biggest hits has died at the age of 79.
The Guardian quotes its recent interview with McVie, who was speaking about the period when Fleetwood Mac’s best-selling album Rumours was released; she said the band “were having a blast” and it felt incredible that they were writing such songs.
In its obituary, the Times said those songs “resembled pages ripped” from intimate diaries, and highlighted McVie’s contrasting but close relationship with Stevie Nicks, which it says resulted in some of “the most compelling and irresistible rock music of its era”.
