Editorial 08 April 2024.

Monday’s front pages feature a variety of topics, with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, and the war in Ukraine featured on several papers. 

Most papers carry photographs of the British man who has completed his epic challenge to run the entire length of Africa. 

Domestic topics such as the Post Office scandal, the NHS and the latest from the Premier League are also splashed on the front pages. 

Most papers suggest Liverpool threw away two precious points as they only managed a draw against Man Utd. Other papers are excited at what has been dubbed the best-ever Premier League title race, with only a point separating the top three teams. 

‘Ukraine aid package’

The Telegraph says David Cameron will warn the US it is risking the West’s security by holding up a new aid package to Ukraine. The bill has faced delays due to opposition by Republicans in the House of Representatives. 

Cameron hopes to address this during his trip to Washington this week. He has also written an article for the paper alongside his French counterpart Stéphane Séjourné, which mentions the importance of backing Kyiv in its fight against Russia. “If Ukraine loses, we all lose”, they write.

The Times reports the UK’s legal advice on Gaza is to remain a secret despite growing pressure on the government to publish its legal advice. It comes after the death of the aid workers – three of whom were British. Famine looms in Gaza and there have been calls for the UK to stop selling weapons to Israel as the death toll tops 33,000. 

The Guardian’s front page also leaves room for Gaza. The paper takes a more personal approach, speaking to people who are unaware if their loved ones are still alive. The paper says “anguish over tens of thousands missing in Gaza.” 

Domestic stories also make the front pages. 

The Times leads on the NHS. The paper says more than 150,000 patients in England had to wait more than 24 hours in A&E before a bed was found on a ward last year. It says the figures are a ten-fold increase on 2019. 

The FT looks at the ongoing Post Office scandal, looking ahead to the next phase of the public inquiry. The paper says there will be a shift to “accountability” as it will focus on the role of company executives, government ministers and figures from Fujitsu. 

The Guardian reports that tens of thousands of unpaid carers looking after relatives are being forced to repay huge sums to the government and threatened with prosecution after breaching earning rules. 

The i newspaper reports on homeowners who have been told they have to sign NDAs if they want to see details of their rising service charges. The contract would stip residents on a Newcastle new-built estate from sharing the information. A government spokesperson told the i newspaper that using NDAs was  “completely inappropriate”.

The Metro reports on 280,000 hours of community service being written off, according to the Labour Party. The paper says criminals are getting away without completing unpaid work they have been ordered to do. 

The Express reports on the “care home crisis” saying one in five sites ranked inadequate or requires improvement. 

The Sun and the Mirror both lead on cosmetic surgery in Turkey. The Sun says people are being pressured into signing up for surgery in roadshows at UK holidays. The paper found medics from Turkey were exploiting loopholes to offer consultations for discounted surgeries. A barrister told the paper their investigation found “serious clinical misconduct”.

The Mirror says Turkish clinics are offering cut-price deals combining pet treatment and plastic surgery. The tabloid says it comes as vet costs soar in the UK.

‘British man running across Africa’

Many papers feature photos of Russell Cook – the British man who ran the entire length of Africa. 

The Metro says “Run of a kind,” “Victory” says the Sun, whilst the Mirror brags “No Sweat”. 

Cook started his journey almost a year ago, crossing the finish line on Tunisia’s northern coast on Monday. 

The Mail and the Guardian highlight the comment the 27-year-old made as he completed the challenge: “I’m a little bit tired.”