‘Yousaf faces no-confidence motion’ & ‘Cancer jab England trial’ – Paper Talk
Editorial 26 April 2024
Friday’s front pages have a variety of different stories as their leads. Two domestic stories feature across several of the papers. According to several papers, Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf is in peril as the Scottish Greens say they will back a no-confidence motion against him. The world’s first “jab to stop skin cancer” is another popular story on the front pages, with the personalised vaccine being tested on UK patients.
Elsewhere, various celebrity stories and football make the front pages.
The UK back pages all lead on Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Brighton to move them within a point of the top spot – and with a game to spare.
‘Yousaf faces no-confidence motion’
The Guardian’s headline reports “Yousaf in Peril” and says the Scottish FM is facing a no-confidence motion. The paper says he “stunned” his allies and opponents on Thursday when he announced the end of the power-sharing deal between the SNP and the Scottish Greens.
The i newspaper claims his “future hangs in the balance.” The Scottish Daily Mail sums up the story with the headline “meltdown,” describing yesterday as a “disaster” for Yousaf.
The FT says the no-confidence vote will be Yousaf’s biggest test so far. It’s expected to come next week, The paper has spoken to a political consultant who said the FM has “staked his leadership” on his new direction and if he is able to navigate the vote then he will be in a stronger position.
The Times says Yousad is “considering his position.” The paper says his allies have “called into question the wisdom of ending the coalition agreement so quickly”. One of his former supporters, who is not named, goes as far as to tell the paper “he’s done”, adding “whether it’s today, tomorrow or later than that, he’s done”.
‘Cancer jab England trial’
Several papers lead on the world’s first cancer jab.
The i newspaper says the personalised vaccine, which uses the genetic code of tumours to tackle the disease, is being tested on UK patients. It says the news will bring hope for patients around the world. Researchers say the jab could be a “game-changer.”
The Daily Express also leads on the cancer vaccine. It says the jab for melanoma may also prove effective in treating lung, bladder and kidney tumours. The vaccine uses the mRNA technology that helped overcome the Covid pandemic.
‘Rwanda policy impacts Ireland’
The Daily Telegraph leads on the Rwanda policy. The paper says the threat of deportation to Rwanda is causing “an influx of migrants” from the UK to Ireland to try to escape the government’s policy. Ireland’s deputy prime minister Michael Martin says the bill is already having an impact. The paper says Conservative MPs have pointed out that the comments show the policy is having the intended effect.
The Independent leads on French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech in which he slammed the UK government’s Rwanda scheme saying it won’t work.
Away from the two main stories, a variety of celebrity gossip and other domestic news makes the front pages.
The Sun leads on Ryan Giggs saying the former Man Utd star is to become a dad again at 50.
The Daily Mirror asks readers to back its campaign to bring back the recently scrapped FA Cup replays. Elsewhere the paper also continues its coverage of its Jill Dando investigation.
The Metro splashes on the “sensational” overturning of Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction. A New York appeals court said prosecutors in the pivotal #MeToo case called witnesses whose accusations were not part of the charges against him. The paper points out the disgraced Hollywood mogul will remain in prison. He was separately convicted of rape in LA.
The Independent, the Guardian and the Express also find space to splash on the story.