'Arise Sir Gareth' and 'justice for our Liam'

Gareth Southgate wearing a white polo shirt claps at an England game in JulyImage source, Reuters
  • Published

There's praise for Gareth Southgate's knighthood across the front pages, accompanied by a number of different pictures of him while he was leading England's men's footballers.

"Arise Sir Gareth,", external declare the Daily Express and the Daily Star. "Southgate scores in new year honours," says the Times., external

According to the Daily Mirror, external, he "lifted a nation and gave us dreams of glory". "Southgate wins a title," says the Daily Telegraph, somewhat cheekily.

In contrast, there's criticism in some of the papers that the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, has been knighted.

The Telegraph says Sir Keir Starmer stands accused of "putting party before country", external, quoting shadow home secretary Chris Philp.

It says there is also likely to be controversy over the damehood for Emily Thornberry, after she was overlooked for a ministerial post when Sir Keir became prime minister.

The Daily Mail says the row over the Labour mayor's knighthood "risks overshadowing", external the New Year Honours. Supporters of Sir Sadiq tell the paper that he is the first mayor of London to be re-elected for a third term.

The "i" focuses on four Post Office scandal victims , externalbeing given honours in recognition of their "services to justice".

But the paper says many campaigners are still waiting for compensation despite being cleared of wrongdoing. Christopher Head - who, at 18, was the youngest victim of the scandal and has now been given an OBE - tells the paper: "It was a privilege to receive such an award, but the government's actions don't match their promises."

"Spectacular mistake" to open borders, external, is the Express headline.

It is one of several papers to report on Labour government records, from 2004, released on Tuesday.

They indicate that Sir Tony Blair granted migrants unrestricted access to the UK, from new EU countries, despite the concerns of some senior ministers.

The Express says his then foreign secretary, Jack Straw, and deputy prime minister, John Prescott, warned of a surge in immigration unless some controls were put in place.

But it says others, including the then home secretary, David Blunkett, persuaded the then prime minister that migrants were needed to boost the economy.

The Financial Times says a surge in people, external, coming from 10 mostly eastern and central European nations, fuelled a debate over migration that became a crucial issue during the 2016 Brexit referendum.

The FT says Sir Tony Blair declined to comment.

The Guardian leads with a warning from NHS chiefs that England's hospitals are so rundown they're "outright dangerous", external.

The paper says internal NHS trust documents reveal that hospital buildings in England are in such a dilapidated state "from decades of under-investment", they risk fires, floods and electrical faults.

The Times reports that millions of teachers, nurses and civil servants could be offered higher salaries, in return for lower pensions. The paper says the plans are being considered as a way to retain staff and avoid further pay disputes., external According to the Times, unions are "split" on the idea, and the Treasury is likely to be sceptical.

Finally, a breed of dog cited by Shakespeare in Henry the 5th, which he's believed to have written in 1599, is set to be recognised by The Kennel Club for the first time, according to the Telegraph.

The Icelandic sheepdog will become the 224th official pedigree in the UK in April. The paper says the medium-sized breed, external has a "prestigious lineage" and a temperament that includes being affectionate, strong-willed and merry.

Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox.