Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Many of Friday’s papers lead on a deal reached between union leaders and the government that would give NHS staff a 5% pay rise from April plus a one-off payment of at least £1,655 for this year.
NHS pay deal
The i suggests the agreement signals an end to public sector strikes, while the Daily Express lauds it as a breakthrough for common sense and urges union members to support it. Meanwhile, the Metro expresses hope that a winter of industrial action may be drawing to a close. The Independent reports that leaked figures reveal the recent strike by junior doctors, who are not covered by the new deal, could cost the NHS over £90m, equivalent to covering 25,000 shifts daily at rates between £158 and £262 an hour.
Met Police report
According to sources familiar with the Casey report, which has been examining the Metropolitan Police’s culture, the findings are “horrible” and “atrocious”, indicating the force is “in the last chance saloon”, reports the Guardian. The paper claims the report argues that Wayne Couzens, who killed Sarah Everard, and David Carrick, a police officer imprisoned for multiple rapes, were not isolated cases, but signs of serious shortcomings. Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, has already pledged to overhaul the force, and Scotland Yard has said it will not comment until the report is released next week.
US Bank collapse just the start
Amid a global stock market downturn, banks in the US and Europe are scrambling to assure customers of their resilience, reports the Financial Times. A column in The Times by Gerard Baker cautions against complacency, warning that the recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank may be just the beginning of a fresh financial crisis.