“So much for cutting our energy bills!” There is a headline on the front. The Daily Mail.
It is one of several papers to highlight rising fuel costs for households. The Mail says Labor has promised price cuts, but the newspaper warns families are now facing three energy price hikes in a row – with a new one coming into effect today.
The Daily Telegraph says energy bills are set to rise further in the spring, adding £70 a year to households. The paper says the increase will put more pressure on families already struggling with high living costs – and says economists have warned of a possible recession this year. It quoted ministers as insisting Labour’s clean energy plans would eventually cut bills.
Daily Express There is a warning from campaigners that pensioners have been left with winter fuel cash more than £500 worse off after today’s price hike.
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition told the newspaper that the chancellor, Rachel Reeves’ “biggest mistake” has been a complete failure to understand the impact of cuts to winter fuel payments. He has previously defended his decision, saying he had to work to fix what he called a black hole in public finances.
According to research reported by The Guardian. It said “NHS treatment shortages” were being used to drive up filling, check-up and extraction charges to “eye-watering” levels. The British Dental Association, which represents dentists, says in the paper that “high inflationary pressures” on practices, including the cost of energy and laboratory bills, help explain the rise in prices.
The Daily Telegraph Private schools will today increase their fees by more than the 10% predicted by the government, as its planned VAT charge comes into effect, the report said.
The paper accuses the government of underestimating the impact of its policy on parents. It says analysis carried out shows that fees have risen by an average of 14 per cent – with a fifth of private schools in England, Scotland and Wales paying the full cost of the tax to parents. . Government ministers have defended a 20% VAT on private school fees, saying it would fund initiatives including more teachers in the state sector.
Daily Mirror Sir Keir Starmer’s “Promise for 2025” says. The Prime Minister tells readers he will make it a special year by paying tribute to the sacrifices of the war generation after 80 years – and building a country “he” will be proud of.
And the papers welcome the New Year with spectacular scenes from around the world. The Times Fireworks exploding in central London is a stunning image – the illuminated hands of Big Ben sitting at midnight and the dark silhouette of landmarks in front of the London Eye. The Telegraph There is a similar image of the display, which went on to cancel other events across the UK due to bad weather. “Fireworks 2025 kicks off with a bang,” declares the paper.