Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Many of Sunday’s newspapers feature ongoing negotiations for a new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.
New Brexit deal for Northern Ireland
The Sunday Telegraph’s lead story suggests that Rishi Sunak plans to abandon Boris Johnson’s NI Protocol Bill, which grants the UK government the authority to annul portions of the existing agreement with the EU, as part of his new arrangement with Brussels. In his article for the paper, Sunak states that the bill was always a “last resort”.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Times’ headline proclaims “I’m the PM who will get Brexit done,” and reports that Sunak is willing to challenge Eurosceptics in his party and propose a new deal with the EU regarding post-Brexit trade regulations for Northern Ireland, even without explicit support from the Democratic Unionist Party.
Sunak also argues in an article for The Sun that the protocol is not functional and that he is committed to delivering a solution.
The Mail on Sunday alleges that some senior Tories have accused Rishi Sunak of involving the King in “toxic Brexit politics” by sending him on a forthcoming tour to “schmooze” EU nations. The paper suggests that the King’s visit to Berlin and Paris is viewed as a charm offensive as the prime minister negotiates with Brussels. The paper’s editorial advises Sunak to negotiate with the EU carefully, stating that he may regret his actions later.
Police officers facing criminal charges
The Observer’s lead story highlights a report stating that one out of every 100 police officers in England and Wales faced criminal charges last year. According to the investigation, the Police Federation received more than 1,300 claims for legal assistance from members facing criminal charges in 2022.
The Sunday Express reports on the government’s crackdown on lawyers representing asylum seekers, referring to them as “activist lawyers.” The paper claims that numerous firms are being monitored for creating work for themselves. The president of the Law Society responds, stating that law firms are strictly regulated and held to high standards.
Finally, the Sunday Mirror showcases an 11-year-old Ukrainian boy on its front page, pleading with the PM to allow him to reunite with his father in the UK. The paper suggests that he and his mother are among the 9,000 cases delayed by Home Office bureaucracy.
