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Newspaper headlines: ‘Recession lifts’ and Eurovision ‘discord’

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Image caption, The Financial Times leads on GDP figures from Friday, which revealed that the UK has emerged from recession – a “boost” for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak “who last year made economic growth one of his five key pledges to the public,” the paper writes. Elsewhere, there is a mention of Israel’s Eurovision entry “stirring discord” at the song contest.

  • Author, BBC News
  • Role, Staff

Image caption, “Economy’s going gangbusters!” is how the Daily Mail sums up the end of the “shortest and shallowest recession on record”. The headline is a quote from Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the Office for National Statistics (ONS), who speaks to the paper. There is also a royal exclusive about the Duke of Sussex’s recent visit to London – during which he and his father, the King, did not meet.
Image caption, Similarly, the Daily Express writes about the UK economy going “back to full strength”. The paper quotes “upbeat” Chancellor Jeremy Hunt as saying Britons “will soon feel the difference in their pockets”.
Image caption, A different kind of exclusive leads the Daily Mirror – an interview with a woman who says she is a real-life victim of the stalker depicted in Netflix’s Baby Reindeer.
Image caption, Returning to the economy, the i reports that Treasury officials are “working on plans” to announce a 2p tax cut to National Insurance in September, “weeks ahead” of a potential general election – one has to happen by January 2025. There is also a slot for Eurovision – the final of which takes place on Saturday evening – with the paper reporting that security has been “stepped up amid Israel protests”.
Image caption, The song contest makes a more prominent appearance on the Guardian’s front page – with another image of Israel’s Eden Golan, and now the headline “United by Music? Not this year.” She qualified for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Friday, hours after thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in the streets of host city Malmö in Sweden. The paper’s main offering is about the UN calling for Palestine to be accepted as a member.
Image caption, The Daily Telegraph leads on an interview that former Labour leader Neil Kinnock has given to BBC Radio 4’s Week in Westminster programme – the paper quotes him as saying it is “fair” to conclude voters are not yet convinced by current leader Sir Keir Starmer’s party. Meanwhile, Matt Pritchett’s cartoon weighs in on new Labour MP Natalie Elphicke’s defection – two figures joke that the town of Dover (Ms Elphicke’s constituency in Kent) has “defected to France” because “they got sick of their MP”.
Image caption, An image of the prime minister’s wife, Akshata Murty, dominates the Times’ Saturday edition – her interview is titled “Life with Rishi and my mission at No 10”. The paper’s main story, though, is about a 2.7% drop in private school admissions this academic year – reportedly the biggest proportion in more than a decade. Labour’s pledge to put VAT on fees deterred parents from making a commitment, the paper cites the Independent Schools Council as saying.
Image caption, In other news, a “humungous solar flare” – known, according to the Daily Star, as a “sun burp” to those in the space industry – could cause an internet blackout. It could “be handy” for people working from home on Monday, the paper jokes.

The FT also highlights that Britain’s growth beat the US and the Eurozone in the first quarter, but carries a Labour warning that the UK economy is “still £300 smaller per head” than when Mr Sunak became prime minister in October 2022.

Meanwhile, the i reports that the Treasury is working on plans for what it calls a “2p Tory tax giveaway in September”. The paper says the chancellor is understood to be targeting a cut to National Insurance “weeks ahead of the election”, if the economy allows.

It says Labour insiders fear that the general election could become a repeat of 1992, when Sir John Major’s Conservative Party pulled off a shock victory. Anneliese Dodds – who chairs Labour – tells the paper: “We can be very good at losing elections people thought we would win.”

Image caption, Opinion polls in 1992 had Labour out in front, but John Major (pictured) won for the Conservatives

The Guardian leads on the UN General Assembly backing a Palestinian bid for full membership of the UN. The paper says the “highly charged gesture” drew an immediate rebuke from Israel. But it says the vote signals what it calls “Israel’s growing isolation” over the war in Gaza, and the extent of the humanitarian crisis.

The Times reports that private schools face a “testing time”. It says the number of children being enrolled has dropped by the biggest proportion in more than a decade – with admissions falling by 2.7% this academic year. The paper says the independent schools’ sector blames Labour’s pledge to put VAT on fees if it wins power.

“Euro division” is how the Sun sums up this year’s song contest in Sweden. The paper says Eurovision has been plunged into crisis ahead of Saturday’s final, with more than 20,000 pro-Palestinian protesters expected to turn out against the inclusion of Israel’s contestant, Eden Golan. The Sun says some UK venues have also decided not to show the event – or face what it calls a “mob backlash”.

Finally, the Guardian reports that tennis fans at Wimbledon may be treated to the “cream of the crop” of strawberries this year. It says many farms have borne the brunt of the extreme, wet weather during the winter. But berry growers tell the paper that if it is cool, that means strawberries ripen more slowly – and are bigger and juicier.



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