Today’s news summary – Paper Talk: UK expanded citizen army and Royal Mail cutbacks
Thursday’s newspapers cover various stories, with the “citizens army” being a hot topic. The head of the British army called for an expanded “citizens army,” in the event of the UK entering a full-scale war with Russia.
PM rules out Citizens Army call
The Daily Telegraph reports “PM forced to rule out Army draft,” revealing that Downing Street didn’t want General Sir Patrick Sanders’ comments to be public. He emphasises the need for a “shift” in the British people’s mindset to be mentally prepared for war.
The Times shares that Britain’s military leaders are considering plans to create a force of 500,000 people. They highlight the impact of Ukraine’s war with Russia, prompting discussions about a backup force in case the trained military faces defeat.
The Metro’s headline declares, “Your country will need you to fight Putin,” featuring an image reminiscent of Lord Kitchener’s famous recruitment poster from the First World War.
Royal Mail delivery schedule
The Daily Mail highlights reactions to proposed changes in Royal Mail’s delivery schedule. The regulator’s suggestion of reducing deliveries from six days to as low as three is called a “first-class fiasco.”
The Daily Express joins the story, reporting that the prime minister is determined to block any changes to the postal service. Rishi Sunak, in the House of Commons, declares his “absolute commitment” to maintaining six-day-a-week deliveries.
According to the Guardian, Rishi Sunak is contemplating prioritising British workers for social housing. However, the idea is met with resistance from senior government members, with concerns that the move, labelled “British homes for British workers,” might boost support for the Reform UK party.
The i newspaper reveals that the Post Office knew about issues with another IT system similar to Horizon but still prosecuted staff. The Capture system, installed in 1995, recorded incorrect financial shortfalls, leading to wrongful firings and prosecutions of sub-postmasters.
The Financial Times reports that France is seeking help from the UK to fill a budget gap in nuclear projects being built in Britain by the French electricity operator. The request, involving multi-billion pounds, is expected to cause tensions between the two countries.