Author: WTX News

Eighteen children and one adult have been treated for injuries.

The Observer – ‘He’s gone full Trump’ Tories turn on Johnson over Partygate Summary of the front page The Observer has run with news of senior Tory MPs blasting ex-prime minister Boris Johnson, quoting one describing him as going “full Trump”. The paper claims that support for the embattled ex-leader is draining away in the wake of his response to the probe into whether he misled MPs over parties at No 10. It reports that several Conservative grandees reacted with ‘disbelief’ as Mr Johnson questioned the work of a cross-party Commons committee investigating the issue. Allies of the former Prime…

The Independent – So why are you funding courses for top executives on £100,000 a year Summary of the front page The Independent reports that millions of pounds of taxpayers money is being used to part fund university qualifications for high-flying executives. Experts say the money for MBAs is being taken from the apprenticeship levy, which was instead designed to help entry-level recruits. Labour says the scheme introduced by David Cameron is in freefall, but the government says it’s taken steps to stop this abuse. The front page pictures Ukrainian fighters in battle. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave…

Sunday Telegraph – Hancock’s plan to ‘frighten the pants off’ the public Summary of the front page Fallout from the former health secretary Matt Hancock’s WhatsApp messages leak carries on. The Sunday Telegraph claims that one message from Mr Hancock appeared to suggest that he wanted to use the emergence of a then new strain of Covid to scare the public into complying with lockdown measures. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous Next

Sunday Express – Rishi: I’ll stop migrant boats Summary of the front page The Sunday Express is also leading with migrant boats. The paper reports that the Conservative Party leader has said he will not flinch from taking necessary measures to stop people from crossing the Channel on small boats. “Make no mistake, if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay” the prime minister is quoted as saying. The front page also features an image of Prince Harry. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous Next

‘You do need to have patience.’

A mayor said the beachcombers come in 4x4s wearing head torches.

Russia has abducted thousands of Ukrainian children since the war began, which is considered genocide under international law.

Piers is at it again… is he too opinionated or just trying to stay relevant?

Clocks run faster on the moon than on earth.

His tale is all the more heroic as he dislocated his ankle four days after becoming lost.

Metro – Sickened by Hancock’s messages Summary of the front page The Metro leads with reaction to allegations that Matt Hancock ignored care home test advice when he was health secretary during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper carries reaction to texts published by the Telegraph on Wednesday that appeared to show former health secretary Matt Hancock declined to follow a recommendation that everyone entering a care home at the start of the pandemic be tested for Covid, an accusation he has denied. One campaigner whose father died in April 2020 tells the paper she is “sickened” by…

The Guardian – Confidence in inquiry hit after leak of Hancock messages Summary of the front page The Guardian reports confidence in the official COVID-19 inquiry has been hit by the leaking of thousands of WhatsApp messages sent by Matt Hancock, who was health secretary in the early part of the pandemic. The paper notes that Isabel Oakeshott, the journalist to whom Hancock gave access to his texts while they were co-authoring a book, was an outspoken critic of lockdowns, and says bereaved families groups are now calling for the public inquiry into the pandemic to be given more teeth and…

Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab died in March 2020 aged 13.

Financial Times – Bailey seeks to take heat out of market expectation for further rate increases Summary of the front page The Financial Times reports that Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has signalled markets are wrong to assume the bank will raise interest rates further. The paper quotes him saying he would “caution against suggesting either that we are done with increasing bank rate, or that we will inevitably need to do more”. The paper says the comments are part of an effort to convince investors that Britain’s economic outlook is not the same as those of the US and…

An inspection detected legionella bacteria at 3,700 times the permitted level.

Daily Mirror – The tragic betrayal Summary of the front page The tragic betrayal – that’s the headline on the front of the Daily Mirror, which concentrates on reaction to leaked messages from Matt Hancock during the early months of the COVID pandemic. The front page also reports on the PPE scandal – saying Baroness Mone is holidaying in her new villa. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous Next

The Daily Telegraph – Hancock’s rearguard action to shut down schools Summary of the front page The Daily Telegraph leads with another story based on the texts, this time concerning the closure of schools during the pandemic. The paper says that, as health secretary, Hancock discussed mounting a “rearguard action” after losing a cabinet tussle with then-education secretary Gavin Williamson about whether schools should reopen after the Christmas break in January 2021. The front page also features an article from Gavin Williamson – who reflects on whether he should have resigned when his ‘plea to put pupils first was ignored’. Today’s…

The i – UK chickens may get jabs to stop bird flu Summary of the front page The i newspaper says UK chickens may get jabs to stop bird flu spreading in humans, adding that there have been 330 avian flu outbreaks since October 2021. The front page reports on other Tory-related stories including the fall of Boris Johnson. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous Next

Education Secretary said schools shut during Covid because teachers ‘hate work’ The Metro says Former education secretary Sir Gavin Williamson said some schools wanted to close during the Covid pandemic so staff would have an ‘excuse’ not to work, according to the latest tranche of Matt Hancock’s leaked messages. The ministers swapped WhatsApp messages in May 2020 as ministers and teachers planned for lessons to begin returning as normal after the first national lockdown. Messages published by the Daily Telegraph show Sir Gavin asked Mr Hancock for help securing PPE for schools, adding: ‘Some will just want to say they…

Teachers furious at Matt Hancock’s leaked WhatsApp messages calling unions ‘absolute arses’ The i says Teachers and teaching unions are furious at Matt Hancock and Sir Gavin Williamson after leaked WhatsApp messages revealed they called them a “bunch of absolute arses” and accused them of looking for an “excuse” not to work during the Covid pandemic. The comments were made public in the latest set of leaked WhatsApp messages from Mr Hancock published by The Telegraph. The National Education Union’s joint general secretary, Dr Mary Bousted, tweeted: “Why am I utterly unsurprised to now have it absolutely confirmed that Gavin…

‘Massive betrayal’: Matt Hancock hits out at Isabel Oakeshott in first statement since WhatsApp leak The Independent says Matt Hancock has broken his silence after Whatsapp messages were leaked to the Daily Telegraph by journalist Isabel Oakeshott. Ms Oakeshott is the journalist behind the leak of more than 100,000 of Mr Hancock’s Whatsapp messages. She today claimed the former health secretary sent her ‘menacing message‘ after they were published. The TalkTV presenter, who was given the WhatsApp exchanges by Mr Hancock while they were collaborating on a book about the pandemic, claimed that the former health secretary sent her the…

LIVE – Matt Hancock says leaking of WhatsApp messages a ‘massive betrayal’ as he apologises to colleagues The Guardian says This morning Matt Hancock has for the first time responded directly to the story. Yesterday his spokesperson issued a statement on his behalf, but this morning Hancock has put out a statement in his own name. He accuses Isabel Oakeshott, the journalist who gave the material to the Telegraph, of a “massive betrayal” and says he is “sorry” for the impact this has had on his colleagues (whose messages to Hancock are now also in the public domain). He also…

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk Thursday’s front pages feature a variety of stories. The most popular story this morning is Matt Hancock’s leaked WhatsApp messages – with the Telegraph leaking more today. The news of the arrest of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, following the remains of a baby being found in the woods is also reported on. For the tabloids, news Harry and Meghan have been asked to give up their UK-based home makes some of the front pages. Matt Hancock’s leaked messages  The Daily Telegraph’s headline for the second day focuses on leaked WhatsApp messages related to…

Constance Marten arrest: A baby’s remains found in woods Police searching for the missing child of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have found the remains of a baby in an area of woodland near Brighton. The couple had disappeared, along with their baby, in early January and were arrested earlier this week on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. The discovery came as hundreds of officers and volunteers were scouring a 90-square-mile area. The search involved sniffer dogs, helicopters, drones and thermal cameras and continued for 55 days before ending in tragedy. Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford from the Metropolitan Police confirmed…