Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Thursday’s front pages report on a variety of stories. One of the biggest stories this morning is the Archbishop of Canterbury’s rare intervention in the House of Lords. The Most Rev Justin Welby denounced the government’s policy on migration as “isolationist…morally unacceptable and politically impractical”, warning it will damage UK interests at home and abroad.
‘Stinging attack’
Metro leads with the Archbishop of Canterbury’s House of Lords speech, criticising the Illegal Migration Bill. The headline “Arch enemies” accompanies pictures of the Most Rev Justin Welby and Rishi Sunak. The Guardian describes the speech as a “stinging attack,” while the Daily Mail highlights a backlash from Conservative MPs, questioning the morality of not stopping people smugglers. The i predicts a “Tory rebellion” following the Church leader’s remarks.
‘Rise in interest rates’
The i also reports on the anticipated rise in interest rates by the Bank of England to 4.5%, warning of a further cost of living squeeze. Analysts suggest rates could reach 5% this year, impacting homeowners with variable mortgage rates. The Daily Express features an opinion piece by Sam Richardson from the consumer rights group Which?, criticising some high street banks for offering low rates of just 0.7%.
The Times highlights the latest census data, revealing that half of adults under 25 and over a quarter of adults under 30 still live with their families.
The Financial Times focuses on Rishi Sunak’s preparation for figures showing record net migration to the UK in 2022. The paper suggests that he aims to reduce numbers by preventing family members from joining overseas master’s students at British universities.
‘Scrapping EU law’
According to the Daily Telegraph, Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch blames civil servants for abandoning the plan to let thousands of EU laws expire at the end of the year. She claims that the government will now aim to scrap around 600 pieces of legislation due to a lack of prioritisation and meaningful reform. The decision is welcomed by businesses as a “streamlining” of the “post-Brexit axing of EU legislation,” according to the Express.
The Times reports that England’s surgeries will enlist thousands of doctors without the equivalent training of GPs to address long wait lists. These doctors, known as SAS doctors, have mostly been trained abroad but face dissatisfaction due to a lack of career progression. The paper highlights the need to better utilise such staff, although concerns over safety are raised by general practitioners.