Newspaper headlines: Rwanda 'revolt melts away' and Royals' 'health shock'
- Published
A number of Thursday's papers report on the government's success in seeing off a revolt by Tory MPs who wanted to see the Rwanda bill strengthened in a series of votes on Wednesday.
The Daily Telegraph, external says the eventual passing of the bill by the House of Commons was a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's staunchest Conservative critics, and that they had been plotting to raise questions about his leadership if the final legislation had been defeated. But it adds that many hurdles remain before the bill can become law, not least in the House of Lords. Peers are expected to try to water down some of its tougher measures amid fears they could breach international law.
The Daily Mail, external says the prime minister's "Rwanda headache" is set to continue for months as peers and migrant groups threaten a series of new stumbling blocks. But the Daily Express, external believes the vote has brought the first migrant flights to Rwanda a step closer. The sooner they begin, the better, it says.
The Times reports, external that while the prime minister may have seen off the rebels, support for the Conservatives is at 20%, a low not seen since the economic turmoil triggered by former prime minister Liz Truss's mini-budget. A YouGov poll for the paper suggests that, among people who voted Tory in 2019, only 35% now trust Mr Sunak on immigration. It gives Labour a 27-point lead over the Tories.
The Guardian understands, external that the first 100 people to be deported once the Rwanda bill becomes law have already been selected. Home Office officials said they had been chosen because there were no obvious grounds for appeal.
Many papers are dominated by the medical issues affecting the King and the Princess of Wales. The Sun says, external the princess is recovering after undergoing abdominal surgery, while the King needs an operation to treat an enlarged prostate, and describes the news as a "double health blow" for the Royal Family. The Daily Mirror, external says it's been told by an unnamed source that Prince William's main role now is simply to be there for his wife. "Let's Pray They're Both OK", is the Daily Mail's, external headline. It says the news that two key royals are out of action shows how few other leading members of the family there are to step in for them.
According to the i, external, there are allegations that another Post Office IT system was flawed and led to wrongful convictions before the Horizon scandal. Labour MP Kevan Jones said he was in touch with five or six potential victims of the Capture system. The paper said it was unclear who developed Capture. The Post Office is said to have declined to comment about its implementation.
The Sun continues, external its coverage of the two-year-old boy who appears to have starved to death after his father had a fatal heart attack. Bronson Battersby's mother, Sarah Piesse - who'd moved out of the home in which the pair were found dead - tells the paper that if her son had been just two inches taller he could have reached a fridge full of leftovers. Bronson was known to Lincolnshire County Council children's services, who have launched an urgent review.
The Daily Telegraph, external also reports that shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering tax cuts for top earners as she, in the paper's words, tries to recast Labour as the party of economic growth. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ms Reeves said she wanted to make sure success was celebrated under a Labour government. Her instinct was to have lower taxes, she said.
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