A variety of stories lead the papers. The Financial Times reports that European members of Nato are holding talks about increasing the alliance’s spending target to 3% of GDP, up from the current level of 2%. The paper says the proposal is being made in anticipation of Donald Trump’s return to the White House and amid a realisation that currently spending levels are inadequate to support Ukraine in its war with Russia. It says the change would be introduced at Nato’s annual summit next year and that members would be expected to meet the new target by 2030.
The i quotes Mark Rutte, the recently appointed head of the alliance, warning that European members need to “turbocharge” defence spending and “shift to a wartime mindset”. The paper adds that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer “risks a showdown” on the issue with Trump unless he hikes spending even further than the rise to 2.5% currently planned.
A close confidant of the Duke of York has been banished from Britain over claims he is a Chinese spy, according to the Daily Mail. The paper says court documents have revealed that the man was barred from the country on “security grounds” following an investigation by MI5.
The Times says the man became so close to Prince Andrew that he was invited to his birthday party and even “authorised to act on [his] behalf to seek investors in China”. It also quotes a letter to him from one of the prince’s advisers saying: “You sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.”
The Home Office decided to bar the man, named only as H6, in July 2023 after MI5 concluded he had engaged in “covert and deceptive activity” on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party was a national security threat, according to the Daily Telegraph. The paper adds that H6 challenged the decision, but that a special immigration commission has now ruled it was justified.
The Daily Express says the prime minister has led calls for action following the death of ten-year-old Sara Sharif, whose father and stepmother were convicted of her murder on Wednesday. The paper quotes Sir Keir describing the killing as “shocking” and saying there are “questions to be answered” about how it could have happened.
A review of safeguarding data has shown Sara was one of 485 children killed or seriously hurt in the year to March, the Daily Mirror reports. The paper says many of the children affected were hurt by relatives who were meant to be caring for them and that babies suffered the most.
The Guardian says jury trials could be axed for some criminal cases in England and Wales as part of plans to ease record backlogs in the crown courts. The paper says a review could create “intermediate courts”, with cases heard by a judge and magistrates, in order to speed up the length of trials.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has “sparked a bizarre food fight” with Sir Keir by declaring that “lunch is for wimps”, according to the Metro. Badenoch is quoted responding to a question about her daily regime by saying: “What’s a lunch break? I have food brought in and work and eat at the same time. There’s no time.” She also declared sandwiches not “real food”. A spokesperson for Sir Keir calls the sandwich a “great British institution”.
The same story leads the Daily Star, which says Badenoch has chosen to go “to war over the most pressing issue of the day… bread-based comestibles”.
And the Sun reports that police were called to an All Bar One and a woman believed to be a Buckingham Palace housemaid was arrested following a fracas at a staff Christmas party. The paper calls the incident a “Palace xmas party punch-up”.
A variety of stories lead Friday’s papers.
The Duke of York’s link to an alleged Chinese spy is the lead for the Times, the Telegraph and the Daily Mail. They report that concerns were raised over communications found on one of the businessman’s devices after he was stopped by UK border security in 2021, and that he has now been barred from entering the country on national security grounds. The Times says Prince Andrew’s ties to China go back to his days as a trade envoy, a role he was given by then-Prime Minister Tony Blair when he retired from the navy in 2001.
The front page of the Guardian carries a photo of a coffin draped in the Syrian flag being carried through the streets of the country’s capital, Damascus, during a public funeral. The paper reflects that, while the streets of the city have been filled with celebrations since former President Bashar al-Assad fled last Sunday, the country is beginning to grapple with the fact that many of the 130,000 people who are estimated missing may be “lost forever”. “Joy gives way to sorrow as Syria buries its dead”, the headline reads.
The Financial Times leads with more detail on talks among European Nato members about increasing the alliance’s target for spending on defence. It says an increase from 2% of GDP to 3% is being discussed. The paper quotes a German official as saying the move would send a “good signal” to US President-elect Donald Trump, who believes Nato’s European members should pay more towards their defence.
The same story is the lead in the i, which says the former chief of the navy, Admiral Lord West, and former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace are among those urging the UK government to push towards the 3% target by the end of the decade. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the paper says, favours a lower target of 2.5%.
The Sun reports that police had to intervene after a Christmas party for royal staff “spiralled” out of control. The paper says glasses were smashed, punches were thrown and a woman was arrested after staff visited a bar following an early evening drinks reception at Buckingham Palace. The Palace stresses that the party was an unofficial event, but says the facts will be “fully investigated” and “appropriate action” taken.
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The Guardian reports on the funerals now being carried out in Syria for the victims of the Assad regime
A number of the papers bear potentially good news for people who are living with sleep apnoea. The Times reports that scientists have developed an app-controlled tongue implant which can “zap” snorers into submission. It says the Genio implant has been fitted in two patients so far, and works by stimulating a particular nerve in the tongue.
And the Mail reports that figures from the department store John Lewis show sales of their boxed cards are down 23% on last year. The paper speculates the price of a first class-stamp may be one of the reasons why. It says the store has also reported that people are shunning bigger Christmas trees, with sales of six-footers down 13% this year. In contrast, there has been a 55% rise in people buying smaller, cheaper trees – meaning, the paper says, more families are enjoying a merry “little” Christmas.
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