Energy bills 'to rise further' and world rings in 2025

The New Year's Day front pages are dominated by stories about an increase in the energy price cap and New Year's celebrations. On the price cap, the Daily Telegraph reports that households will face a £70 hike in energy bills following the increase from 1 January, ahead of a further expected increase in April. As its lead, the paper reports that private schools plan to raise fees by more than the government predicted as the planned VAT hike takes effect.

The Daily Mail claims the increase will leave the government at risk of breaking an election pledge to bring down the cost of energy bills, as Sir Keir Starmer vowed to put "more cash in your pocket" during a New Year message.

Campaigners warn that pensioners who no longer qualify for winter fuel payments will see their bills rise by £500, according to the Daily Express.

The Times' front page features an image of New Year's Eve fireworks above London, and reports on a gloomy YouGov poll commissioned by the paper, which show voters think Labour will fail to meet its own targets. It also reports on Sir Keir's New Year's message, in which he will say that many in Britain find it "hard to think about the future", but that 2025 will be about "rediscovering the great nation that we are".

The Mirror leads with an interview in which the prime minister says 2025 will be the year for the nation to come together to mark 80 years since the end of World War Two.

The Guardian's front page features a photo of fireworks in Sydney as the world kicked off New Year's celebrations on Tuesday. It also carries an exclusive on research showing that private dentist charges for treatments such as fillings and extractions has risen.

The i's front page wishes readers a happy New Year and splashes on unions calling for a ban on a type of stone commonly used in kitchen revamps which is "blamed for deadly lung disease".

The Daily Star leads on a story about Brian Blessed with the headline: "Why I punched a polar bear".

"So much for cutting our energy bills!" is the headline on the front of The Daily Mail.

It's one of several papers to highlight increases in fuel costs for households. The Mail says Labour promised to slash prices, but the paper warns that families are now facing three hikes to the energy price cap in succession - with a new one taking effect today.

The Daily Telegraph says energy bills are set to go up further in the spring, bringing the rise to a £70 a year increase for households. The paper says the rise will pile more pressure on families already struggling with high living costs - and says economists have warned of a possible recession this year. It quotes ministers as insisting that Labour's clean energy plans will ultimately bring bills down.

The Daily Express carries a warning from campaigners that pensioners stripped of winter fuel cash face being more than £500 worse off after today's price cap rise.

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition tells the paper that the chancellor, Rachel Reeves', "greatest mistake" has been her total failure to understand the impact of the winter fuel payment cut to "some of the most vulnerable older people". She has previously defended her decision, saying she had to act to fix what she called a black hole in public finances.

A surge in private dentist charges is pricing patients out of treatment, according to research reported by The Guardian. It says "the scarcity of NHS treatment" is being used to hike charges for fillings, check ups and extractions to "eye-watering" levels. The British Dental Association, which represents dentists, tells the paper that "huge inflationary pressures" on practices, including the cost of energy and laboratory bills, help explain the price rises.

The Daily Telegraph reports that private schools will increase their fees today by more than the 10% predicted by the government, as its planned VAT charge takes effect.

The paper accuses the government of under-estimating the impact of its policy on parents. It says analysis it's carried out shows an average fee increase of 14% - with around a fifth of private schools in England, Scotland and Wales passing the full cost of the tax on to parents. Government ministers have defended the 20% VAT on private school fees, saying it will fund measures in the state sector, including more teachers.

The Daily Mirror leads with what it calls Sir Keir Starmer's "promise for 2025". The prime minister tells readers that he'll make it a special year by honouring the sacrifices of the war generation 80 years on - and building a country "they" would be proud of.

And the papers welcome in the New Year with spectacular scenes from around the world. The Times carries a dazzling picture of fireworks exploding over central London - with the illuminated hands of Big Ben sitting on midnight and the darkened silhouette of historic landmarks in front of a lit-up London Eye. The Telegraph has a similar picture of the display, which went ahead as poor weather saw other celebrations across the UK cancelled. "Fireworks start 2025 with a bang," declares the paper.

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