Many of the papers lead with the growing pressure on Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby over a damning report into a prolific child abuser associated with the Church of England. The Daily Mail says the report found that Mr Welby’s failure to act when details of the case were presented to him in 2013 meant John Smyth QC, who is believed to have abused more than 100 boys and young men, was never bought to justice. Mr Welby acknowledged last week that the review made clear he had “personally failed” to “energetically investigate”, and said he had considered resigning, but decided to stay in his role.
The Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, has become the most senior Church leader to call for the archbishop’s resignation, the Metro reports. “Time to go Archbishop” is its headline. The paper says a petition started by three members of the Church’s governing body, the General Synod, calling for Mr Welby to step down has attracted more than 6,500 signatures.
Speaking to the Times, one of the men abused by Smyth says the archbishop’s handling of the allegations was a “dereliction of duty” and that he has “no shadow of a doubt” Mr Welby should step down.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has “declined to offer his public support” to Mr Welby, the Daily Telegraph reports. The paper quotes Sir Keir saying the archbishop’s future is a “matter really for the Church rather than for me” and describes the situation as “unprecedented”.
Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP bringing a bill to legalise assisted dying in the UK, has pledged the new laws would contain the “strictest protections and safeguards of any legislation anywhere in the world”, the Guardian reports. The paper says that, to be eligible, patients will have to be expected to die within six months, have the mental capacity to make their own choice, and see their bid to end their life approved by a high court judge. It adds that critics are concerned about the potential for undue pressure on patients and the risk that the scope of the bill will widen under legal challenges.
Water minister Emma Hardy has said water bills will have to rise in order to repair the country’s crumbling infrastructure and stop illegal sewage spills, the i reports. The paper says the government is also looking at conducting year-round sewage testing at wild swimming spots and expanding the number of spots at which testing is carried out.
The Financial Times says that, following Donald Trump’s win in the US presidential election, the European Union is planning to redirect potentially tens of billions of euros to defence and security. The paper says the change will involve loosening the rules governing how EU funds intended to reduce inequality between member states can be spent, and that in future the money could be used to boost arms manufacturing or reinforce roads and bridges to allow for the passage of tanks.
Gary Lineker is to step down from hosting Match of the Day at the end of the season and leave the altogether after the 2026 World Cup, the Sun reports. A source tells the paper Lineker “wants to leave on a high” and that “if England were to win, it doesn’t get much higher”.
And the Daily Mirror describes the move as a “shock” and says it will bring to an end a 25-year career as the host of the show. One insider tells the paper it comes after a deal “agreed by both sides” and that “everyone is happy”.
