‘Bumper pay deal’ and ‘sweets maker turns salty’

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mail reads: “Labour offers train drivers dumper pay deal to end strikes" — A number of Thursday’s front pages lead with the breakthrough in the long-running train driver pay dispute. The Daily Mail writes that the offer of a 15% pay increase, over three years, could end “crippling” industrial action. The pay rise, that will see the average train driver salary for a four-day-week increase from £60,000 to £69,000, will cost the Treasury an estimated £100 million, fuelling concerns that ticket prices could now rise higher than they otherwise would have as a result, the paper writes.

Taylor Swift dominates The Times’ front page as she comes to London on her Eras Tour. The paper reports that the Conservatives have accused the government of “caving in” with the pay deal it has offered train drivers. According to the paper, the Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, said the pay increase was “the right thing to do”, whilst the general secretary of the Aslef union, Mick Whelan, called it a “fair offer”.

The headline on the front page of The Times reads: “Don't rush in new laws for workers, bosses warn” — Taylor Swift dominates The Times’ front page as she comes to London on her Eras Tour. The paper reports that the Conservatives have accused the government of “caving in” with the pay deal it has offered train drivers. According to the paper, the Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, said the pay increase was “the right thing to do”, whilst the general secretary of the Aslef union, Mick Whelan, called it a “fair offer”.

The news of Ukrainian forces making further advances inside Russia is on The Guardian’s front page. It says Kyiv also launched “major” drone attacks on four Russian airbases as President Volodymyr Zelensky used his nightly address to repeat calls for Western allies to allow Ukraine to target Russia with long-range strikes.

The headline on the front page of The Guardian reads: “Ukraine moves deeper into Russia and targets airbases" — The news of Ukrainian forces making further advances inside Russia is on The Guardian’s front page. It says Kyiv also launched “major” drone attacks on four Russian airbases as President Volodymyr Zelensky used his nightly address to repeat calls for Western allies to allow Ukraine to target Russia with long-range strikes.

In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, Ian Russell, whose daughter Molly took her own life aged 14, says that social media firms are “failing to remove dangerous content about self-harm and suicide”. He says the companies have made verbal promises but that there’s “no evidence anything has changed”.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror reads: "Social media firms...They just don't care" — In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, Ian Russell, whose daughter Molly took her own life aged 14, says that social media firms are “failing to remove dangerous content about self-harm and suicide”. He says the companies have made verbal promises but that there’s “no evidence anything has changed”.

The i newspaper leads with the UK’s inflation rate rising for the first time this year, which it says will benefit homeowners who could see mortgage rates drop to 3.5%. Expert analysis for the paper says that interest rates will probably be cut “multiple” times before December.

The headline on the front page of the i reads: "Savers hit by interest rate drop, but UK mortgages set to fall to 3.5%" — The i newspaper leads with the UK’s inflation rate rising for the first time this year, which it says will benefit homeowners who could see mortgage rates drop to 3.5%. Expert analysis for the paper says that interest rates will probably be cut “multiple” times before December.

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Express, Ester McVey calls for Rachel Reeves to reverse the “cruel” decision to scrap winter fuel payments for approximately10 million pensioners. The former work and pensions secretary labelled the decision announced by the chancellor last month as “out of the blue” and urged a U-turn.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Express reads: "It's cruel to rob pensioners of winter fuel payments" — In an exclusive interview with The Daily Express, Ester McVey calls for Rachel Reeves to reverse the “cruel” decision to scrap winter fuel payments for approximately10 million pensioners. The former work and pensions secretary labelled the decision announced by the chancellor last month as “out of the blue” and urged a U-turn.

The parents of a teacher who died in Cambodia are on the cover of Thursday’s Metro after they were sent the remains of another man. Maureen Thompson and Stephen Nightingale had raised money to repatriate their son. It was only when they went to view his body at a funeral home that they discovered they had been sent the remains of a 77-year-old Canadian instead.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Express reads: "Our teacher son Kevin died abroad... we were sent the remains of a 77-year-old Canadian" — The parents of a teacher who died in Cambodia are on the cover of Thursday’s Metro after they were sent the remains of another man. Maureen Thompson and Stephen Nightingale had raised money to repatriate their son. It was only when they went to view his body at a funeral home that they discovered they had been sent the remains of a 77-year-old Canadian instead.

“Sweets group moves into salty snacks” says The Financial Times in its lead story about confectionary giant Mars buying the company that makes Pringles. Mars, the manufacturer of M&M’s and Skittles, has made a deal to buy Kellanova for $35.9bn, which the FT have called “one of the largest deals of the year”.

The headline on the front page of the Financial Times reads: "Confectionery giant Mars seals $35bn deal to buy Pringles maker Kellanova" — “Sweets group moves into salty snacks” says The Financial Times in its lead story about confectionary giant Mars buying the company that makes Pringles. Mars, the manufacturer of M&M’s and Skittles, has made a deal to buy Kellanova for $35.9bn, which the FT have called “one of the largest deals of the year”.

“Horror of the cold baked beans deviants.” The Daily Star’s front page leads on an apparently divisive and contentious issue – do you eat baked beans hot or cold? The paper reports that a quarter of Britons don’t heat before they eat.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Star reads: "Horror of the cold baked beans deviants" — “Horror of the cold baked beans deviants.” The Daily Star’s front page leads on an apparently divisive and contentious issue – do you eat baked beans hot or cold? The paper reports that a quarter of Britons don’t heat before they eat.

Reuters Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves gives a speech at the Treasury in London, Britain, to an audience of leading business figures and senior stakeholders, announcing the first steps the new Government will be taking to deliver economic growth. Picture date: Monday, July 8, 2024 — Rachel Reeves

The Daily Mail has used its front page to call on Sir Keir Starmer to “get a grip” on what it calls “work shy Britain”. It says official figures showing the number of people who are economically inactive has climbed to a 12-year high which has caused a “major headache” for the government. The paper highlights Conservative claims that plans to strengthen workers’ rights will only make things worse. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has signalled she will announce further measures to help people back into employment, when she unveils her budget.

The Sun’s editorial argues ministers will need to take a tough line on benefits. It questions whether Labour can “brave the uproar” if they cut welfare or impose new restrictions.

The Daily Telegraph suggests that the Ministry of Defence is facing deep cuts to its budget for modernising the armed forces. The broadsheet says civil servants have been told to reduce research spending by 20% which could put hundreds of jobs at risk. Officials have called the figure “incorrect”.

“Don’t blame UK’s finances for not fixing pension injustice” is the headline in the Daily Express. Campaigners have told the paper that stretched government budgets are not an excuse for denying compensation to women affected by changes to the state pension age. Tens of thousands of women have said they weren’t adequately informed about plans to equalise their age of retirement with men. The government says it “remains committed to ensuring historical errors are corrected” and that “pensioners get the financial support to which they are entitled”.

The Guardian has highlighted research that suggests cheaper food brands saw the biggest price rises during the cost of living crisis. According to the study, the cost of the least expensive groceries rose by more than a third, whilst the most expensive items went up by 16%. The article says the the Institute for Fiscal Studies findings lay bare the disproportionate impact of rising food costs on the poorest households.

“Get ready to flee” is the headline in the Daily Mirror, in relation to previously reported plans to get UK nationals out of Israel if Iran launches an attack on the country. It says officials are investigating the possibility of putting on emergency flights if commercial planes are grounded.

The front pages of the i and the Financial Times both carry stories about Elon Musk’s social media network X. The i alleges the website, formerly known as Twitter, has been running adverts for major brands alongside far-right posts. X hasn’t responded to the article. The Financial Times says the European Union has accused its digital commissioner, Thierry Breton, of going rogue after he warned Mr Musk against spreading harmful content.

Several papers highlight research that suggests living in Australia could extend your life. The study, published in the British Medical Journal, says people there survive on average two years longer than those in the UK. The Times says that while it’s tempting to put the difference down to “ice-cold beer and al-fresco shrimp and burger dining”, the likely reason is the healthier lifestyle and better healthcare.