The key facts
- British newspapers are focused on Chancellor John Healey's first budget
- The Times and the Mirror report plans to raise the minimum wage by 3.9%
- The Guardian writes about scrapping the 'cliff edge' in carer's allowance; there are cabinet disagreements over free movement with the EU
- The Guardian writes about scrapping the 'cliff edge' in carer's allowance; there are cabinet disagreements over freedom of movement with the EU
The main stories in the morning papers
Most British newspapers on Tuesday, 27 October, discuss the contents of Chancellor John Healey's first budget. The round-up of the front pages was prepared by BBC News. The main expectations centre on pay rises, changes to carer's benefits and a request for extra funding for hospice services.
Wages, benefits and hospices
The Times reports that the national living wage (for workers aged 21 and over) and the national minimum wage (for those aged 18 to 21) will rise by 3.9%. The Daily Mirror leads with the same story while also urging the chancellor to introduce a windfall tax. According to The Guardian, the budget will scrap the controversial 'cliff-edge' rule for the so-called carer's allowance: the chancellor will announce a new digital system for gradually tapering payments. The Daily Express writes that palliative care leaders — among them Marie Curie, Sue Ryder and Hospice UK — are asking for £200m a year to be included in the budget for a 'once-in-a-generation boost to services'.
The row over free movement and the defence budget
Several papers examine Andy Burnham's position on Brexit. The i Paper reports that the prime minister sparked 'cabinet discontent' by backing debates on restoring free movement with the EU: according to the paper, some senior ministers were 'angry at being presented with a fait accompli'. The Independent quotes Burnham as saying that after leaving the EU the UK has 'weaker control' over immigration, but notes that the prime minister has ruled out the return of free movement 'without a new referendum'. The Daily Mail points out that the prime minister previously warned that free movement 'should never be revived', and that the No 10 press office was forced to 'walk back' his comments. The Daily Telegraph, citing former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace, reports his accusation that the government is artificially inflating the defence budget by including billions of pounds of intelligence spending in it — in Wallace's words, this contradicts NATO rules under which funding for the intelligence services does not count as defence spending.
The rest of the front pages
The Financial Times writes about the planned IPO of Anthropic — by the paper's assessment, one of the largest in history and the main test to date of 'investor appetite for the AI boom'. The Sun reports that former Little Mix member Jesy Nelson will not take part in the next series of I'm A Celebrity, as she wants to care for her twin daughters who have muscular atrophy. Metro covers the case of American singer Chris Brown, who avoided prison after hitting a man with a tequila bottle in a London nightclub. The Daily Star writes about a new book by former prime minister Liz Truss, while The Times and the Mirror put Harry Kane with the Ballon d'Or on their front pages — 'England's golden boy'.
Many of the papers on Tuesday consider what will be included in Chancellor John Healey's first Budget. The front page of Times reads: 'Chancellor will boost minimum wage by 4%'. The paper reports that the national living wage, which applies to those 21 and over, and the national minimum wage, which applies to those aged 18 to 21, will both increase by 3.9%. 'England's golden boy' Harry Kane also features on the front page, pictured holding the men's Ballon d'Or award.
The reported increase in the minimum wage also makes the front page of the Mirror, which also makes a plea to the chancellor on the issue of a windfall tax.
The Daily Express says end-of-life care bosses want the Budget to include funding for a 'once-in-a-generation boost for services'. Marie Curie, Sue Ryder and Hospice UK are among the groups asking for a £200m annual injection to 'give more families proper care and support'.
The Guardian says the Budget will see the controversial 'cliff-edge' rule abolished, reporting that the chancellor will announce a new digital taper system for the so-called carer's allowance.
The i Paper is one of several that considers Andy Burnham's position on Brexit. It says the prime minister has sparked a 'cabinet backlash' after calling for a debate about a return to freedom of movement with the EU, with some senior ministers reported to be 'angry at being blindsided'.
'Burnham blames Brexit for small boats crisis' declares the Independent. Burnham has warned the UK has 'weaker control' over immigration since leaving the EU, the Independent says, but notes that the prime minister has ruled out a return to free movement 'without another referendum'.
The Daily Mail says that the prime minister has previously warned that the free movement of people across borders should 'never be revived'. The paper says a spokesperson for No 10 has had to 'row back' on his comments.
Former Defence Secretary Sir Ben Wallace has accused the government of artificially inflating its defence budget, according to the Daily Telegraph. Wallace says the budget will include billions of pounds in intelligence spending, which the paper says contradicts rules from Nato that stipulate funding for security services do not qualify as defence expenditure.
The Financial Times focuses on Anthropic, and what it says is set to be one of the largest ever initial public offerings. The IPO will be the biggest test to date of 'investor appetite for the AI boom', the paper reports.
Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson is pictured on the front page of the Sun, which says she will no longer be appearing on the next series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! This is due to her wanting to spend as much time as possible in caring for her twin daughters, who suffer from a muscle-wasting condition, the paper reports.
The Metro reports on the case of US singer Chris Brown, who has avoided jail after striking a man twice in the head with a glass tequila bottle in a London nightclub.
Former prime minister Liz Truss is releasing a new book, the Daily Star reports, noting that it does not include a reference to the publication's infamous joke about an iceberg lettuce and the length of time the Conservative politician spent in office.
