Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Many of Friday’s front pages report on the new legislation in Scotland making it easier to change gender.
Scotland gender law
“A dark day for women,” is how the Scottish Daily Mail describes it, adding there are worries about the safety of women and children.
The Scotsman reports that powers to block legislation on devolved matters could be used for the first time by the UK government in an attempt to roll back the new law. It notes that “the threat” from Scottish Secretary Alister Jack almost immediately followed the Scottish Parliament’s overwhelming backing of the legislation.
The Guardian says Westminster has made it clear it will be considering a “nuclear option” of blocking the bill from going for royal assent, a move that would enrage supporters of the changes and nationalists.
The Times reports that senior figures in Westminster feat the law could have profound effects in England, as well as north of the border. The paper says they are worried that it could allow biologically male Scottish inmates in English jails, including rapists, to demand to be placed in women’s prisons, and lead to what it calls “gender tourism”.
More NHS strikes planned
Some of Friday’s newspapers are leading with the announcement of more NHS mass strikes in January.
The i newspaper leads with the strike plans, saying medics are digging in for a battle with No 10. The paper says junior doctors are set to join nurses and ambulance staff on the picket lines.
The Daily Express reports that a last-minute spending spree will give High Streets a much-needed boost of £2.6bn after what it calls a year of misery. The paper says who can blame Britain for going on a spending spree and insists “we will have a merry” Christmas.
Killer Damien Bendall is the lead for the Daily Telegraph. The paper says “appalling” blunders by the probation service meant that a multiple child murderer was “free to kill.” The paper notes that he was assessed as “medium risk” rather than “high risk” in an arson case and he received a suspended sentence – just three months before he killed his partner and three children. He also raped one of the children.
