Shropshire Star

What the papers say – January 12

Politics and health issues dominate the front pages.

Published
What the papers say - January 12

Calls for a second EU referendum, the tragic consequences of the winter flu virus and reported developments over Donald Trump’s planned visit to Britain all make the front pages on Friday.

The Daily Mail leads with claims that the US president has scrapped his plans to visit the UK next month, amid fears he “won’t be made welcome”.

The report says Mr Trump has “gone cold on the idea” and that no new date has been offered.

The paper also carries a front-page picture of 18-year-old Bethany Walker, who died after developing pneumonia following a battle with flu.

The teenager also features on the front of the Daily Telegraph, which warns that Britain could be in the grip of the flu epidemic by the end of the month if the virus continues to spread at its current rate.

The paper leads on reports that banks will be ordered to close the accounts of illegal immigrants suspected of hiding in the UK, in an attempt to force them out of the country.

Nigel Farage’s calls for the UK to prepare for a second EU referendum feature on the front pages of the Guardian, the Independent and the Daily Mirror.

The Mirror describes it as an “astonishing U-turn”, but says a poll for the paper found most would now vote to stay, while the Independent says the debate has been “set alight” by the ex-Ukip leader.

And the Guardian says his intervention has ignited hopes among anti-Brexit campaigners that both sides of the debate will back a poll on Theresa May’s final deal.

Elsewhere, the Sun reports that Tory MP Peter Bone has left his wife for a married physio, while the Times leads on reports that military chiefs have drawn up plans to combine elite units of paratroopers and Royal Marines to save money.

The i says 60 A&E bosses have written to the Prime Minister warning that patients are “dying prematurely” in hospital corridors.

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