Many of Friday’s papers lead on the Employment Rights Bill. The Times says the reforms – which would give unions “wider powers to recruit members and stage strikes” – make it “easier” for unions to raise money for Labour. The bill means all members will have to pay into funds that contribute “millions” into the Labour party, unless they opt out, it adds. According to the paper, unions have given the party “almost £10m” in the past year.
The Guardian headlines with the UN saying Israel “deliberately” fired on its peacekeepers in Lebanon on Thursday, injuring two. This comes as Israel has conducted “repeated ground incursions” into the country in its war with Hezbollah. The paper says UN member states have expressed outrage at the “alleged attack”, at a time when Israel is facing “scrutiny for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity” for its conduct in Gaza.
A number of papers also feature the first official visit of Catherine, Princess of Wales, since completing her chemotherapy. “We’re here for you,” the Sun splashes as Catherine made a “surprise” visit to Southport, where she and the Prince of Wales met the families of the three children who were killed in the knife attack in July.
“Phew!” reads the Metro headline, as “hammered” Florida dodges the “worst case scenario”, after being hit with the hurricane. It says more than three million people have been left without electricity in the state, and at least eight people have died “amid 120mph winds, 27 tornados and heavy flooding”.
The Financial Times leads with HSBC’s chief executive, Georges Elhedery, planning a restructure that would see him “shedding senior bankers” to save the company $300m. The paper reports that people familiar with the plans say HSBC’s commercial banking unit will merge with its global banking and markets division. One person said the merger would “reduce top management layers”, according to the FT.
The I reports that carers will get a pay rise under the Employment Rights Bill, dubbed by them as the “Rayner law”. According to the paper, salaries agreed on by the new adult social care negotiating body must be paid across the sector. It adds that the bill also includes “similar measures” to increase pay and prospects for teaching assistants.
The Telegraph reports that private hospitals will “rescue” the NHS by easing the waiting list crisis in government plans currently under consideration. A source said the government would “grab with both hands” any spare capacity that would see patients receiving treatment more quickly, according to the paper. Meanwhile, the Matt cartoon depicts a man in his living room telling his wife: “The BBC Weather app says it’s going to be 404C tonight. Sometimes I think they overdo the climate change warnings.” The app did have some technical issues on Thursday.
The Daily Mail headlines with the chancellor’s tax hike plan that “will cost billions”. The warning comes from HMRC, who said a percentage point increase of ten or more could cut revenue by around £2bn because many investors would quit the UK. The paper also shows a beaming photograph of the Princess of Wales, who “dazzles” during her Southport visit.
“Smiling, caring, hugging Kate is back,” reads the Daily Mirror headline, after she met with the families of the Southport stabbing victims. The papers says she “also hugged hero 999 crews” as they recalled their experiences during the July attack.
Pensioners fear the “impossible choice to heat or eat”, the Daily Express reports, after winter fuel payments were cut. The warning to the chancellor came from campaigners, who have urged Rachel Reeves to drop the plan, the paper says.
The Daily Star says Only Fools and Horses actor David Jason has backed their “mega-important” campaign to “spare class put-downs from extinction”. Jason, who played the role of wheeler dealer Derek “Del Boy” Trotter, who was known to use put-downs such as “plonker”, says the words must be saved after people have stopped using them, the paper reports.
Reuters
Catherine, Princess of Wales, visited the Southport Community Centre as her first official trip after completing her chemotherapy
The Daily Telegraph says the government is considering plans that could see the NHS increasingly rely on private hospitals to help to clear waiting lists. It reports that independent healthcare providers have told the chancellor and health secretary that more than £1bn of private sector capacity could be invested in facilities for NHS patients. The paper says the proposals would result in the independent sector funding the biggest expansion in healthcare since the Blair government.
The Guardian says the chancellor is considering raising capital gains tax as high as 39% in the Budget later this month as concern grows within Whitehall about the limited options for tax rises to fund what the paper calls “crumbling” public services. The Daily Mail says Rachel Reeves has been warned against such a move by HMRC, which predicts that a rise of 10 percentage points or more would cut revenue by around £2bn because so many investors would quit the UK. The Times says ministers are also concerned about a rise as they fear the rich would delay selling assets, rather than pay the higher rate.
In other news, according to the Daily Telegraph, moderate Conservatives are threatening to throw away their leadership ballots, after Tory MPs voted for Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick as the final two candidates in the contest to succeed Rishi Sunak. The paper says the elimination of James Cleverly raises the prospect of a damaging split in the party, with those in the centre feeling they have no say over its future direction. The Daily Express says Jenrick has warned that the Tories must get serious about migration to survive.
Meanwhile, The Times says the government’s new Employment Rights Bill will make it easier for unions to raise money for Labour as part of reforms that give them a far greater role in the workplace. It says a fifth of the legislation is devoted to extending the power of trade unions, prompting the shadow business secretary, Kevin Hollinrake, to warn that Labour are “changing the law just so they can fill the party coffers”. A government source has told the paper that unions “remain free to spend their money as they wish”.
Images of Catherine, Princess of Wales, feature on several front pages, after she joined her husband in Southport on her first official public engagement since completing chemotherapy. “Kate dazzles,” says the Daily Mail, while the Daily Mirror says: “Smiling, caring, hugging Kate is back.” The Sun describes the visit as a “welcome sign of Kate’s growing strength” after her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
Comments by the best-selling author, Ian Rankin, are highlighted by The Times after he told the Cheltenham Literary Festival that crime novels should be no longer than 300 pages. The Inspector Rebus creator argues that some of the best crime stories ever written are under 200 pages – and blames computers and publishers for books becoming longer. He suggests the development of word processors has made it easier to keep writing, and says publishers have told crime authors that books must have at least 300 pages if they want to be taken seriously.
Reuters
