Today’s news summary – Paper Talk  

Some of Wednesday’s newspapers lead on the upcoming strikes by ambulance staff, as paramedics are being urged not to risk lives with an NHS strike this winter. 

In other UK news making the front pages, a picture of a ninth child, who died from strep A is splashed on several papers, the UK is facing a cold snap amid rising energy prices – as the US doubles its gas supply to the UK and the latest from the Michelle Mone scandal, as the Tory peer attempts to clear her name. 

Morocco stun the footballing world as they knock Spain out of the World Cup on penalties, and several papers look ahead to England’s game against France on Saturday. 

Planned ambulance strikes this winter

The Daily Telegraph gives a strong warning to the elderly – “Ambulance Unlikely if you fall – Elderly told” The paper says that because such tumbles are usually classified as Category 3 for response, they’re unlikely to merit a call-put during the strikes. 

The Times reports that the details of what unions have described as “life and limb” cover are still being worked out – but that bosses are demanding a pledge to protect heart and stroke patients. 

“Ambulance strike to put lives at risk” says the headline for the Daily Express. The paper’s columnist Leo McKinstry says the PM needs to channel the spirit of Maggie Thatcher and ‘get tough’ with the unions. 

Michelle Mone scandal –  ‘abandoned by her party’ 

Several papers report on the Conservative peer Michelle Mone, who has been “abandoned by her party” and is “isolated” according to the Metro. 

Mone is fighting claims that she cashed in on government contracts for PPE provided by the company Medpro during the pandemic.

The Guardian also leads on the story. The paper splashes a new claim that Lady Mone lobbied on behalf of a second company that had secret links to the office that manages her husband’s wealth. 

The paper claims Mone pushed for LFI Diagnostics to provide lateral flow tests during the pandemic and was reminded of the need for propriety at the time by a fellow peer.

Mone is now taking a leave of absence from the Lords to clear her name over the allegations. 

Some of Wednesday’s front pages carry pictures of Stella-Lily McCorkindale, 5, from Belfast – who is the UK’s ninth strep A victim. 

“Strep A took my Princess away,” reads the headline on the Daily Mirror – the paper says her grieving father Robert McCorkindale describes how he took his daughter to A&E three times before she was admitted to intensive care. She died on Monday.

The i newspaper warns that whilst officials consider deploying antibiotics in schools to fight strep A, the government may need to source extra supplies of amoxicillin. 

At present, there are no current supply issues, according to health officials.