A variety of stories feature on Monday’s front pages. The Daily Telegraph reports that Lord Mandelson is set to call on Nigel Farage to “help him win over” Donald Trump’s administration when he becomes UK ambassador to the US. It says the contact with the Reform UK leader, who has been close to Trump since 2016, is likely to lead to a backlash from figures within Labour. It also has a story on how social media giants are to start using facial checks to stop underage users accessing platforms.
The Financial Times leads with a story about the Reform UK treasurer Nick Candy saying that Nigel Farage’s party is going to disrupt UK politics “like we have never seen before” as he claims billionaires, aside from Elon Musk, want to back the party.
The Times leads with Labour cabinet minister Lucy Powell calling the country’s economic outlook “disappointing” while a leading business group said the UK economy was “headed for the worst of all worlds” next year. The paper also features a photo of André Gleissner, the nine-year-old boy killed in an attack on a German Christmas market over the weekend.
The Daily Express carries the headline “Labour set to drive UK headlong into recession”. It quotes from a survey of company figures carried out by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) which suggests the government is creating a “hostile environment for aspiration, investment and growth”.
The Daily Mail also reports the CBI survey, saying businesses have sounded a “recession warning”. It also has a photo of actor Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Lively has filed a legal complaint against It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and a campaign to “destroy” her reputation.
The Guardian reports that more than £100m was spent last year by local authorities and the government on failed efforts to block support for children and young people with special educational needs in England.
The i reports that Sir Keir Starmer faces his biggest rebellion yet as “Labour rebels believe dozens of MPs” will revolt against the government’s refusal to compensate women who were born in the 1950s and say they were not properly informed of the rise in the state pension age to bring them into line with men.
The Sun has a story on boxer Tyson Fury reportedly telling friends “it’s not over” for him despite a second world heavyweight defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
The Daily Mirror has a story about a three-year-old boy called Zachary who needs a double organ transplant to save his life, describing it as a “heartbreaking Christmas wish”
And the Daily Star has the headline “jingle smells”, quoting a poll that claims millions of Britons will not wash or change their underwear between Christmas and New Year.
