Editorial 18.12.24
Ongoing British scandals dominate Wednesday’s front pages with the Waspi women and the second post office scandal leading the way. The government’s decision not to pay compensation to millions of women born in the 1950s, affected by changes to the state pension, has drawn a strong reaction across the UK newspapers regardless of political leanings. The papers express their anger at what they roundly call a betrayal from the government.
The sentencing of the father and stepmother of Sara Sharif also makes several front pages. The pair were jailed for life for the 10-year-old’s murder.
On the international front, a handful of British newspapers lead with the death of a Russian general accused of using chemical weapons in Ukraine. Lt Gen Igor Krillov and his assistant were killed in an explosion caused by a bomb hidden on a scooter.
Elon Musk is reportedly ready to ‘bankroll’ Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. Farage met with Musk in the US and said there were “ongoing negotiations” about Musk making a financial contribution.
‘We have been betrayed’ – Waspi Women
‘Liz Kendall says the cost of paying out women would hit taxpayer,’ reports the Mirror.
The Mirror leads with the fury campaigners have expressed since the news of the government rejecting payouts for women affected by the changes to the state pension age. Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, said the cost of paying out up to £10.5bn in Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) claims would hit the taxpayer.
‘Labour betrays pensioners again,’ reports the Express which also highlights the earlier decision to scrap winter fuel payments.
The Daily Express leads with comets made by Reform UK’s Rupert Lowe who accuses the Labour government of “betraying our pensioners time after time.” The paper also points to the decision Labour made earlier in the year to scrap the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners – a decision that was also widely panned across the political spectrum.
‘Labour accused of hypocrisy after party backed Waspi campaign when in opposition,’ says the Mail.
The Daily Mail says the rejection of the payout to more than three million women has left Labour being accused of hypocrisy after several senior party figures backed the Waspi campaign when the party was in opposition.
‘Labour MPs rebelling over the decision,’ reports The Times.
The Times picks up on reports that Labour MPs are rebelling over the decision not to pay out compensation, with one MP describing it as a “historic injustice.” Labour backbenchers are reportedly urging ministers to reconsider rejecting the recommendations to pay women born in the 1950s up to £2,950 each.
‘Labour says Scotland should come up with the cash, reports The National.
The National says Starmer and Sarwar are both under fire as ‘pensions women get NO payouts.’ The front page also notes that a Labour minister has suggested Scotland should come up with the cash.
‘Farage meets with Musk in hopes of $100m’
‘Farage and Candy meet with Musk at Mar-a-Largo,’ notes The Times.
The Times features an image of Elon Musk, Nigel Farage and Reform UK’s treasurer Nick Candy standing in front of a 1989 portrait of Donald Trump. The paper notes they met the billionaire at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
‘Musk ready to bankroll Farage,’ says the Telegraph.
“Musk ready to bankroll Farage,” is the Daily Telegraph’s headline. Writing in the paper, Farage says he was left in “no doubt” that he had the backing of Musk -adding that there were “ongoing negotiations” about a financial contribution.
‘Farage cosies up to Musk in hope of $100 million,’ says The Independent.
The Independent leads with the same image saying Farage is cosying up to the billionaire in ‘hope of $100 million for Reform.’
‘Kremlin general killed in Moscow’
‘Most prominent military figure to be assassinated since start of war,’ highlights the FT.
The FT leads on the death of a Russian general who was killed, alongside his assistant, in an explosion by a bomb hidden on a scooter. The paper says the attack “bore the signs of the work of Ukraine’s spy agencies inside Russia” and that a Ukrainian intelligence official with “direct knowledge of the attack” told the paper that Ukraine’s SBU security service was responsible.
He is the “most prominent military figure to be assassinated” since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the paper adds.
‘Moscow vows to avenge the killing,’ says The Guardian.
The Guardian reports on comments by Dmitry Medvedev who has said Moscow will avenge the killing by targeting the “military-political leadership of Ukraine”. It adds that his killing “is likely to send shock waves through Russia’s political and military elites.”
‘Retribution to the prosperous part of the Russian capital,’ says the i.
Anne McElvoy writes in the i newspaper that the “bigger prize” for Ukraine “is bringing retribution to a prosperous part of the Russian capital.”
‘Sara Sharif parents sentenced’
‘Sara had an “unquenchable spirit”‘quotes the Metro.
The Metro leads on the sentencing of Sara Sharif’s father and stepmother to life in prison for the 10-year-old’s murder. The paper carries a photo of the little girl and reports on the judge’s comments at sentencing who spoke of her “unquenchable spirit” and love of singing and dancing.
‘Sadistic pair killed angel Sara,’ says the Express.
The Daily Express says the ‘sadistic pair’ were jailed for life for killing ‘angel’ Sara.
‘sadistic executioners jailed for life,’ notes The Independent.
The Independent also notes the father and stepmother were branded ‘sadistic executioners’ as they were jailed for life.
Spoty Awards, European Super League returns
Keely Hodgkinson, the British Olympic gold champion, features on the front and back pages after she won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
‘No one could stop Keely,’ says The Guardian.
The Guardian says “No one could stop Keely Hodgkinson on the track,” or, as it turned out, in the battle for public opinion.”
‘Girl with the golden run,’ says the Telegraph & ‘No one more deserving’ says The Times.
The Daily Telegraph calls her the “girl with the golden run” whilst the Times says “there has been no one more deserving” of recognition.
‘Uefa official says latest super league plans are a Christmas pantomime’ reports The Sun.
The Sun leads on the return of the controversial European Super League. The paper says previous plans folded in April 2021. Promoters believe this new format, of 96 teams across four divisions, complies with EU law. But one official from Uefa, European football’s governing body, has called the proposals a “Christmas pantomime”.