‘Business blames budget’ and ‘UK economy takes hit’
Several front pages lead with the UK economy taking a hit, with the Times reporting on a new survey of businesses which shows private sector activity falling to a 13-month low. The paper reports businesses had “given a thumb’s down” to the government’s choice to increase employer National Insurance contributions in the Budget.
The FT Weekend also leads with the survey results, reporting that the private sector has “warned that confidence in the Labour government has been badly damaged”. The pound fell to its weakest level against the dollar since May following the release of the new data, the paper adds.
Labour has been “accused of wrecking UK growth” by the Conservatives, according to the Daily Mail’s front page. The paper says the poor outlook comes following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s decision to carry out a “damaging tax raid” on businesses, which a Tory shadow minister described as a part of “Labour’s Budget of broken promises”.
The Daily Express leads with warnings from social care campaigners that the Budget may be the “final straw” for millions of people. Rising tax receipts and wages combined could be “potentially disastrous” for private businesses providing care, an expert has told the paper.
Away from economic news, the Daily Telegraph leads with US President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to sanction the ICC over its recent decision to issue an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu. The paper reports the Hague-based court is “facing a major international backlash” over its plans to charge the Israeli prime minister over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The number of people being hospitalised after adverse reactions linked to weight loss injections is “four times higher than previously reported” – with hundreds hospitalised, reports the I. The paper says at least 274 people have needed treatment following purchases of weight loss injections made over social media.
Princess Kate has invited children who survived the Southport stabbings to her Christmas carol concert, according to the Sun splash. The Princess of Wales met the survivors privately last month and will be reuinted with them at Westminster Abbey on 6 December, the paper says.
The King is planning a major tour of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, according to the Daily Mirror’s reporting. The paper says the move is a sign he is returning to full duties following cancer treatment, adding that the original tour of the subcontinent was cancelled after the Queen’s death in 2022.
The Daily Star criticises the “astronomical” cost of the King’s coronation to taxpayers, which it says is the same amount which could have been spent on an extra 2,057 nurses.
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