Maternity Review, Burnham's Leadership Plans, and UK Heat Records Dominate Headlines
A major maternity review reveals avoidable harm at Nottingham hospitals. Andy Burnham's leadership plans include decentralisation and state control of water firms. The UK records its hottest June day amid a European heatwave.
·7 min read
Maternity Review Highlights Serious Failings at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
A significant maternity review of the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust features prominently across several newspapers. The Daily Mirror leads with the bold headline:
"Never again"
summarizing the report's findings that
"520 babies & mums died or suffered avoidable harm"
. The paper also highlights the response from Health Secretary James Murray who
"vowed nationwide change"
.
The Times reports on the
"'Cruel' maternity care left hundreds dead or injured"
, adding that
"NHS leaders could face jail as report reveals they ignored serious failings for more than a decade"
. Image caption, The Times writes: ""Cruel' maternity care left hundreds dead or injured", adding that "NHS leaders could face jail as report reveals they ignored serious failings for more than a decade".
The Daily Mail criticizes the
"arrogance of men who wouldn't listen"
as revealed in the maternity review of the
"toxic" hospital trust
. It states that some NHS executives were
"shaped by self protection rather than patient safety"
, according to the review. Image caption, The Daily Mail scorns the "arrogance of men who wouldn't listen" as revealed in the maternity review of the "toxic" hospital trust. It reports that some NHS bosses were "'shaped by self protection rather than patient safety", according to the review.
Andy Burnham's Leadership Prospects and Policy Plans
Numerous papers discuss speculation about Andy Burnham's intentions if he becomes Prime Minister. Burnham remains the sole candidate for the Labour Party leadership following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation. The Financial Times reports that Burnham
"is looking to set up a 'No 10 in the north', moving part of his prime ministerial operation to Manchester"
. This initiative is part of his
"wider decentralisation agenda"
as he seeks to
"shift power beyond Westminster"
. Image caption, Many of the papers feature speculation about Andy Burnham's plans if he becomes prime minister, including his choice of chancellor, as he remains the sole candidate running for leader of the Labour Party after Sir Keir Starmer resigned. The Financial Times says Burnham "is looking to set up a 'No 10 in the north', moving part of his prime ministerial operation to Manchester". It is part of his "wider decentralisation agenda", the paper writes, as Burnham attempts to "shift power beyond Westminster".
The i Paper adds that under Burnham's leadership,
"failing water firms face state control"
. Should he succeed Sir Keir, Burnham would
"consider taking over England's sewage-dumping companies using Paris model of public ownership"
to combat
"profiteering"
and
"tackle pollution"
. Image caption, The i Paper adds that "failing water firms face state control under Burnham plans for power". Should Burnham succeed Sir Keir as prime minister, the paper says that he would "consider taking over England's sewage-dumping companies using Paris model of public ownership", in a bid to end "profiteering" and "tackle pollution".
The Daily Telegraph focuses on Burnham's choices for Chancellor, reporting that he
"fears a Blair-Brown-style split with Ed Miliband if he appoints him as chancellor"
, citing sources close to the former Greater Manchester mayor. The paper notes that
"conflict" between No 10 and the Treasury was common during Sir Tony Blair's premiership
, which Burnham
"was keen to avoid"
. Critics of Miliband, the former Labour leader and current Energy Secretary, warn he would be a risky choice due to his
"passion for expensive net zero policies and his history of promoting a Left-wing fiscal agenda"
.
Image caption, Andy Burnham's choices for chancellor lead the Daily Telegraph, which reports he "fears a Blair-Brown-style split with Ed Miliband if he appoints him as chancellor", referencing sources close to the former mayor of Greater Manchester. "Conflict" between No 10 and the Treasury was reported widely during Sir Tony Blair's premiership, the paper says, which Burnham "was keen to avoid". Critics of Miliband, former Labour leader who currently holds the role of energy secretary, "have warned that he would be a risky choice", the paper says, "because of his passion for expensive net zero policies and his history of promoting a Left-wing fiscal agenda".
The Metro highlights Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch's remarks, headlined
"Kemi lashes out at Andy!"
. Badenoch mocked Burnham as
"nothing but 'a pair of eyelashes and a black t-shirt'"
. These
"string of withering jibes"
occurred during a House of Commons session where Badenoch and Sir Keir faced off in the first Prime Minister's Questions since his resignation announcement. Image caption, "Kemi lashes out at Andy!" the Metro's headline splashes, quoting Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch who "mocked" Burnham as "nothing but 'a pair of eyelashes and a black t-shirt'." The "string of withering jibes" came during a session in the House of Commons where Badenoch and Sir Keir faced off "in the first PMQs [Prime Minister's Questions] since he said he would quit".
The Daily Express leads with campaigners, led by shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride, urging Burnham
"not to axe the 'crucial' triple lock"
on state pensions amid fears the current system is
"at risk"
. The triple lock ensures state pensions rise annually by inflation, wage increases, or 2.5%, whichever is highest. Image caption, The Daily Express leads with campaigners, spearheaded by shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride, urging Burnham "not to axe the 'crucial' triple lock" on state pensions, fearing the current arrangement is "at risk". The triple lock means state pensions annually rise by either inflation, wage increases or 2.5%, whichever is highest.
Extreme Heat Across Europe and UK Records
's front page poses the question
"The new normal?"
over a heat map of Western Europe and the UK. It reports that as
"extreme heat sweeps the continent"
, the UK has recorded its
"hottest ever June day"
, France has broken its heat record again, and these extremes are driven by the climate crisis. Image caption, "The new normal?" poses on its front page, imprinted over a heat map graphic of Western Europe and the UK. As "extreme heat sweeps the continent", the paper reports, "UK registers hottest ever June day", "France breaks record heat again" and "extremes driven by climate crisis".
The Daily Star's headline reads
"Hottest June Day ever"
, featuring a close-up photo of King Charles III with a streak of sweat on his face. The paper notes the King was
"feeling the heat"
at 36°C, contrasting with his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor who claims he
"can't sweat due to a medical condition"
, as stated in a 2019 Newsnight interview. Image caption, "Hottest June Day ever" is the Daily Star's headline, embedding a close-up photo showing a streak of sweat trickling down the side of King Charles III's face. It writes the King was "feeling the heat" in 36C, "unlike his brother Andrew [Mountbatten-Windsor] who claims that he can't sweat due to a medical condition", which the former prince said during a Newsnight interview in 2019.
Other Notable Headlines
The Independent promotes its new documentary on "kito" attacks in Nigeria with the front page titled
"Hunted"
. The paper reports that LGBTQ+ individuals are
"catfished and extorted by gangs in a surge of violence and hatred"
, leading to kidnappings, blackmail, and torture. Image caption, The Independent teases its new documentary on "kito" attacks in Nigeria on its front page, titled "Hunted". According to the paper, LGBTQ+ people are "catfished and extorted by gangs in a surge of violence and hatred", writing it is leading to people being "kidnapped, blackmailed and tortured".
England's scoreless draw against Ghana at the World Cup appears on the Sun's front page for the second consecutive day. The headline
"Kane curse lifted"
refers to England captain Harry Kane, who was reportedly under a
"curse" from a "witch doctor"
. The paper reassures fans that Kane has been
"released" from the curse that prevented him from scoring against Ghana.
Image caption, England's scoreless draw against Ghana at the World Cup makes it on to the Sun's front page for a second consecutive day. "Kane curse lifted", the paper says, referring to England captain Harry Kane, who came under a "curse" from a "witch doctor". Engalnd fans can "breathe easier", the paper reassures, because Kane has been "released" from the curse that "stopped him from scoring against Ghana".
