1. Tories fear ‘exodus of MPs’
The government is “braced for an exodus of MPs” before the next election as the party continues to “trail in the polls and faces an economic squeeze”, said the i paper. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been warned that so-called Red Wall MPs will resign due to “economic turmoil”. Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison has become the third MP to say she will not stand at the next election. She said she wanted to dedicate more time to “life outside politics - mainly to my family”.
2. Review damns ‘racist’ Fire Brigade
The London Fire Brigade is “institutionally misogynist and racist”, an independent review has found. The report concluded that a “toxic culture that allows bullying and abuse” was found in the brigade in addition to “dangerous levels of ingrained prejudice against women”. It was commissioned following the death of Jaden Francois-Esprit, a trainee at Wembley fire station who took his own life aged 21 in August 2020 after being bullied.
3. Disabled evicted from care homes
“Severely disabled” care home residents are being evicted amid disputes between a leading care charitu and a number of local authorities, said The Guardian. Leonard Cheshire, a charity which supports 3,000 people in 120 care services throughout the UK, said it had begun evicting vulnerable residents with complex disabilities because council funders had refused to increase funding to meet the rising costs of wages, energy and food. Keith Harris, who is paralysed from the neck down and requires a 24-hour care presence, blamed the government’s underfunding of social care.
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4. PPE firm dodges questions
PPE Medpro, the company awarded lucrative government personal protective equipment contracts after an introduction by the controversial Tory peer Michelle Mone, has refused to say how it would repay millions of pounds of public money for unused equipment if the government ordered it to do so. The Guardian revealed earlier this week that Mone and her children secretly received £29m from the profits of the PPE business that was awarded large government contracts after she recommended it to ministers.
5. Putin ‘feels mothers’ pain’
Vladimir Putin told the angry mothers of men sent to fight in Ukraine that he “feels their pain” during a “choreographed” meeting, reported The Telegraph. The Kremlin has published footage of the Russian president meeting with 17 women who had been “carefully handpicked for their pro-war and pro-Kremlin views”, said the paper. Speaking to the group, the president said: “I personally, and the whole leadership of the country, share your pain.” Putin’s voice “appeared to catch with emotion at one point during the discussion,” said the paper.
6. Musk would back Trump rival
Elon Musk has said he would support Ron DeSantis in 2024 if the Florida governor were to run for president. “Yes”, Musk said in a tweet when asked if he would support Donald Trump’s great rival in 2024. “My preference for the 2024 presidency is someone sensible and centrist. I had hoped that would the case for the Biden administration, but have been disappointed so far,” the Twitter owner wrote.
7. Queen had ‘no regrets’ in last days
The Queen was aware she had limited time left in the latter days of her life and said on the weekend before her death that she had “no regrets”, according to a new biography. The book, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, written by Gyles Brandreth, says she was in “fantastic form” on the weekend before she died. The Right Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, who met her, tells the author that she she was “so alive and engaging”.
8. Millions without power in Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said six million Ukrainian households are still without power following missile strikes on the country this week. “As of this evening, blackouts continue in most regions and in Kyiv,” said the Ukraine president in his nightly address. Although the number of affected households has reduced by half since Wednesday, millions have been left without light, water or heat as winter sets in. The Kremlin did not deny that Russia was attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure but blamed Kyiv for the situation.
9. Ex-soldier convicted of Troubles killing
A former soldier was found guilty of the manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie in Tyrone 34 years ago. David Holden, 53, is the first veteran to be convicted of a historical offence in Northern Ireland since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. McAnespie was killed by a shot that ricocheted off the road and struck him in the back. His family has described a day of mixed emotions after the verdict, said the Belfast Telegraph.
10. ‘Drab’ England share spoils with US
England could only manage a draw against the United States last night. Gareth Southgate’s side were “second best for long periods” during the “drab” performance, said the BBC. The Three Lions remain solid favourites to qualify for the knockout stage, as they only need to avoid a four-goal defeat against Wales on Tuesday to progress. However, the newspapers were unforgiving. “Yawn in the USA” was the front-page headline on the Daily Mirror, The Sun and the Daily Star. The Telegraph described the performance as “lacklustre”.
