Today’s news summary – Paper Talk 

Wednesday’s front pages lead with the widespread industrial action, the biggest in decades which will grind Britain to a halt. The ongoing investigation into claims of bullying by Dominic Raab is another popular story for the papers, along with the latest breakthrough in the Northern Ireland protocol. 

Britain’s biggest strike day in decades

The Independent says parts of Britain will “grind to a halt” on Wednesday as widespread strike action takes hold. It predicts 85% of schools will be closed. 

For the Mail, the “Walkout Wednesday” is a general strike in all but name and goes as far as accusing teachers of a “cynical walkout” that “betrays children.”

The Sun brands it as “Lockdown 2023” and says millions of people will have to work from home. Whilst the Guardian focuses on unions warning that negotiations on ending strike action are “going backwards.” 

Dominic Raab investigation 

The Daily Mirror uses its front page to report on the ongoing probe into complaints made against Dominic Raab. It focuses on allegations by civil servants that he “bullied staff like an abusive husband.” 

The Times says No 10 was warned about concerns over the deputy PM’s behaviour before Rishi Sunkak bought him back into government in the autumn. But government sources insist the PM was not “directly told” and officials never advised against bringing Raab back. 

The Times lead story, however, is on an apparent breakthrough in the Northern Ireland protocol. It claims Britain and the EU have struck a customs deal – and Brussels have accepted a proposal that would avoid the need for routine checks on products going into the province. But Downing Street said no agreement has been reached. 

The Financial Times looks at the prospects of Ukraine joining the EU. The paper says member states have warned Brussels “against giving Ukraine unrealistic expectations of joining the bloc rapidly”.