‘Budget put us off hiring’ and ‘Cabinet assisted dying split’
The ongoing fallout from the Budget leads several front pages. The Times reports on business leaders warning that the rise in employer’s national insurance will put them off hiring new employees. The paper says a survey of employers suggests half of the UK’s firms are looking to reduce their headcount since the £25 billion tax rise was announced.
The Guardian features a preview of upcoming remarks by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who is to “rebuke critics of her tax-raising budget” on Monday. The paper says she is due to address “disgruntled business leaders” and tell them that no one has suggested an alternative course of action for the government.
The i leads with reporting on a split in the cabinet over Friday’s assisted dying vote. The paper notes 14 cabinet ministers support the bill, with eight of their colleagues – including Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Health Secretary Wes Streeting – opposed. It notes Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously backed the policy, but is now said to be reading the bill “line by line”.
Campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen has called on MPs to change the “cruel, messy criminal law” on assisted dying in England and Wales, according to the Daily Express. The paper notes that four recent polls have suggested “overwhelming support for the right to choose” among the public.
The Daily Mail leads with an exclusive on claims that the head of the GMB union has become “embroiled in allegations of harassing and bullying women”. The paper says Gary Smith – who it says endorsed Starmer’s 2020 bid for Labour leader – was “allowed to run for the role despite” the bullying allegations. Mr Smith did not provide a comment for the paper, while GMB denied it had a “bullying culture” at union.
The Metro has dedicated its front page to its campaign against the “epidemic” of violence against women and girls. The paper reports that every 11 minutes on average a woman or girl is killed in their own homes globally, as well as noting there has been a 37% increase in crimes committed against them in the UK between 2018 and 2023.
The Daily Telegraph has a report on calls by a former Metropolitan Police chief for a review of how forces respond to non-crime hate incidents. Lord Hogan-Howe was responding to a conservative think tank report which has urged ministers to stop police recording these incidents to save officers time. The former Met boss went one step further, suggesting the government should consider whether officers should not be investigating them at all.
The Daily Mirror leads with a story about a woman who almost died after having a “botched” Brazilian butt lift. Bonnie-Louise Cooper described the plastic surgery industry as “madness”, with the paper also reporting that the Royal College of Surgeons has backed its campaign for more regulation.
US retailers are keeping their Black Friday and other seasonal discount offers in place for longer in a bid to encourage consumers, according to the Financial Times. The paper says despite the cheaper offerings, general retail sales in the US are down 3 points since this time last year.
England football legend Bobby Moore’s missing 1966 World Cup shirt has been “tracked to Wales”, according to the Sun’s front page splash. The red number six top is worth more than a million pounds, with the paper reporting that “Britain’s biggest collector of memorabilia” is now claiming to have it in his hands.
Under the headline “Five Storms by Xmas”, the Daily Star reports that we’re facing a dire December weather-wise. The paper says forecasters have predicted “five more snowy storm blasts” while the festive season kicks in.
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