'Prepare for higher taxes' and 'I legally punished' Sara
Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves
- Published
Several of the papers seize on the latest hint by Rachel Reeves that employers’ national insurance contributions could go up in the Budget. The Guardian calls her refusal to rule out the move the "strongest hint yet" that an increase is planned. The Financial Times says that, at Monday's investment summit, the chancellor insisted business leaders understood the need to put the UK on a stable footing.
It says that while increasing business taxes would help the public finances, it would also hit the bottom line for companies. The I says some economists fear the measure could end up hitting workers too if employers hire fewer staff or reduce pay rises. The Daily Mail says Reeves has broken Labour's manifesto pledge not to put up National Insurance.
A study which found a new treatment regime could cut deaths from cervical cancer by 40% is highlighted by The Times. It says researchers at University College London found that simply by changing the order in which women were given existing drugs, survival rates could be "transformed". Doctors involved tell the Guardian it's the most significant breakthrough in treatment since the end of the last century.
The front page of the Daily Mirror reveals that the BBC halted production of the Christmas Special of Mrs Brown's Boys after the star of the show made what the paper calls a "racist joke". Brendan O'Carroll - who created and plays Agnes Brown - has apologised in a statement, saying he made a "clumsy" joke which "backfired". The paper says cast and crew members were shocked, and the production was stopped while an investigation was carried out.
The Times offers the latest twist in the row about Taylor Swift's police escort when she performed in London. After reports that the attorney general was pressed to intervene, the paper says Scotland Yard asked him for advice because of its concern that officers could be liable if bystanders were injured by the escort. The Sun reports that Swift's mother, Andrea, spoke directly about the arrangements with Sue Gray, who was Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff at the time. Government ministers and the mayor of London have all denied pressuring the Met about security for the singer, and have said the decision was left to police.
An unlikely tale of skulduggery has emerged from the World Conkers Championships. The Daily Telegraph reveals that the winner of the men's event in Northamptonshire at the weekend was found to have a steel conker in his pocket, and rivals are feeling hard-done by. David Jakins, 82, who was also the top judge for the event, says he only had it with him "for humour value", and denied using it in competition. But the loser of the men's final has lodged a complaint and organisers say they're investigating. He says his conker "disentegrated in one hit - and that just doesn't happen".
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