Newspaper review: UK faces 'longest-ever recession' and 'HMS WAG'

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By BBC News
Staff

The state of the economy continues to occupy most of the front pages.

The Daily Telegraph says the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is preparing what is describes as a "raid on entrepreneurs, savers and landlords" to help plug a £50bn hole in the public finances. The paper says the Treasury is considering increasing the headline rate of capital gains tax, as well as raising taxes on dividends.

The Financial Times says the Treasury is also looking at halving the tax-free allowance on dividends.

But the Daily Mail is among several papers warning Mr Hunt against tightening the nation's belt too enthusiastically - with its city editor Alex Brummer saying the biggest danger to prosperity would be to "pile on the hardship".

"What has happened to our 999 services?" asks the Daily Mail, which says the report into the Manchester Arena bombing identified "appalling failings" in the way emergency crews reacted to the attack.

The paper says survivors and the families of those who died have been left furious after the inquiry found the response of the police, fire and ambulance services were characterised by "caution, confusion and deadly delay".

The Mirror focuses on the youngest person to die in the attack - Saffie-Rose Roussos - whose father tells the paper "she fought, but she was badly let down".

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Most papers reflect on the grim economic warnings that came from the Bank of England yesterday. The Daily Express warns of "stormy times ahead" as the UK faces its longest recession on record.

"Pain and no gain" is how the Daily Mirror characterises the economic outlook, coupled with the biggest rise in interest rates for more than 30 years.

"HMS WAG sets sail" is the headline on the front of the Sun, which says the wives and girlfriends of the England football team are to stay onboard a luxury cruise liner when they travel to Qatar for the World Cup.

Several papers note some of the unexpected entrants on a list of the most streamed songs for every year since 1950.

The Times notes that the Beatles tune Here Comes The Sun is most streamed song from 1969 - even though it was, the paper says, "not released as a single" and "never intended for greatness".

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The Times reports that the Beatles' Here Comes the Sun is most streamed song from 1969

The list shows Bryan Adams hit the top spot - with Summer of '69 found to be the favourite song from 1985.

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