The Times characterises the electoral success of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as the country’s first “big win” for the far right since World War Two. It reports that the AfD won a regional state election, “breaking a political taboo that dates from the fall of the Nazis”. Like other papers, it also carries the images of six Hamas hostages, whose bodies were recovered in Gaza by Israeli soldiers on Saturday.
The AfD’s victory in Thuringia is also the focus of the Financial Times, which suggests voters have “quit” the centre ground in Germany. The paper describes the poll in the eastern state as a “disaster for [Chancellor Olaf] Scholz’s coalition”, and point out that the hard left also made gains.
The Daily Mirror focusses on domestic issues, with an exclusive story headlined “Race hate surge in schools”. The paper reports that “almost 60 children a day were suspended from school for racism last year”. It adds that means the number of race hate incidents among pupils rose by a quarter in 12 months.
Protests in Israel lead the Guardian, alongside the images of the six hostages also featured on the front pages of the Times and Financial Times. It reports that tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets on Sunday and that a general strike had been called “amid an eruption of public outrage against the government”.
The Daily Express brands the UK government’s claim that it cut the winter fuel allowance to help to stop a run on the pound “ludicrous”. Labour had been “derided for a “desperate attempt to defend axing winter fuel payments,” it reported. Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell told BBC Breakfast on Sunday that there could have been a “run on the pound” had the government not taken action on public finances.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s party is also criticised on the front page of the Daily Mail, suggesting in its headline that “Labour is ‘scaring off’ big business”. The paper warns of a “sudden collapse” in economic confidence among bosses, amid “fears of a tax-raising Budget… and concern about Labour’s plans for a union-friendly package of workers’ rights”.
One-word Ofsted statements are to be scrapped immediately, Metro reports. Its headline quips: “Grade big U-turn on schools”. The report runs alongside a picture of headteacher Ruth Perry, who died by suicide while waiting for an Ofsted report to be published last year.
The Daily Telegraph leads with the same story, reporting that parents will “no longer be told whether a school is outstanding, good, requiring improvement or inadequate by inspectors”. Instead, the Telegraph explains, school “report cards” will come in from September next year – “although the change has been introduced so swiftly that their exact form has not been decided”.
Meanwhile, the Daily Star takes aim at Oasis, labelling tickets for the band’s reunion tour “a rip off at £488”. “From working-class heroes to zeroes,” the paper says of frontmen and brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, after prices surged while fans queued for tickets online.
Photographs of the six Israeli hostages found dead in Gaza make the front pages of The Times, The Guardian and The Financial Times. Their discovery has led to what the Guardian calls “an eruption of public outrage” against the Israeli government for the failure to reach a deal to bring the remaining hostages back.
Frustration among relatives has, according to the Financial Times, become more intense because of the realisation that time is running out for the 101 hostages still being held. The Times says protests and the prospect of a general strike are increasing the pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The decision to scrap one-word Ofsted judgements for the state sector in England is described by Metro as a “Grade big U-turn on schools”. The Daily Telegraph reports that the change has been introduced so swiftly the exact form of the new report cards has not been decided. The paper understands they could be “at a glance” sheets no bigger than A4. “Another week, another win for the unions,” says The Sun – adding, in its editorial, “teachers have got their way”
Reuters
Protesters in Israel on Sunday night called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do more to free hostages held by Hamas
“Germany’s far right has first big win since Nazis”, is the Times‘ lead on the electoral success for the AfD party in regional elections in Thuringia and Saxony. The Guardian says the results have “sent shockwaves through the political landscape”. But according to the FT, what has happened is a reflection of mounting frustration among many east Germans against a government that they associate with high inflation, economic stagnation, surging energy costs and constant internecine squabbling. The Telegraph reckons Olaf Scholz’s days as chancellor are numbered.
The Daily Mirror reports that almost 60 children a day were suspended from school for racism last year. In all 11,619 pupils were sent home in 2023 – an increase of 25% on the previous 12 months. Campaigners claim impressionable children are repeating what they hear from their parents and right-wing figures in the media. The Department for Education says racism and discrimination has no place in schools.
“How Ludicrous!”, is the Daily Express’ take on a claim by the Commons leader that the government cut universal winter fuel payments for pensioners to prevent a run on the pound. Shadow Treasury Minister Laura Trott has described Lucy Powell’s remarks as “ridiculous fantasies”.
The Sun’s political editor, Harry Cole, calls the remarks “gibberish”. Ms Powell, leader of the House of Commons, said she was “really sorry” that the government had been forced to make the decision – but said ministers had been left with no choice.
Reuters
