Thursday’s newspaper headlines report on the winter fuel U-turn announced by the chancellor yesterday – widely welcomed by the newspapers.
A handful of other policy-focused stories find a prime spot as Labour gets tougher on immigration, and free school meals will be expanded – as part of broader efforts to tackle child poverty in the UK. There are reports on Net Zero schemes and local papers report on the government’s transport plans.
Beyond that, standalone articles on royal and celebrity news make up the rest of the front-page coverage.
Winter fuel U-turn
The i, The Times and the Daily Express are among the newspapers reporting on the U-turn. The papers are not clear on what the plan is – with The Times and The Guardian learning about a different plan from the rest of the papers.
- The i speaks to experts from the IFS who say around 1.3 million pensioners on disability and housing benefits will likely now be able to get the payment, in addition to those receiving pension credit, who are already eligible.
- The Times says one option is to base the threshold on the average household disposable income – or income after tax – which at present is about £37,000.
- The Guardian says some insiders are worried that some wealthy pensioners will die before the money is clawed back, which would lead to their families being pursued by tax officials.
- Nigel Farage writes in the Daily Express for all pensioners to get the payment. He says it’s a matter of fairness.
Labour gets tough on immigration, Free school meals expanded & Net Zero scheme survives
The prime minister takes to the Mirror to share the news. Other UK policy news makes up much of the rest of the headlines.
- The Daily Mirror reports that the government’s plans to extend free school meals to around half a million more children in England will begin in September next year. The PM says the change will, in effect, put £500 in their parents’ pockets, and help children achieve at school.
- The Daily Telegraph says Ed Miliband has defeated an attempt by the chancellor to raid one of his key net zero schemes in next week’s spending review. The paper says the Treasury was planning cuts to the £13.2bn warm homes plan, but the scheme will be largely unaffected.
- The FT reports shadow chancellor Mel Stride will apologise today for the chaos caused by Liz Truss’s mini-budget in 2022.
- The Daily Mail reports the government and the Tories are both attempting to sound tough on immigration policies with the Home Office drafting legislation to make it easier to deport foreign offenders and failed asylum seekers.