'New era of stagflation' and 'putrid' figures for Reeves
- Published
A gloomy warning for the British economy leads many of the papers. The Financial Times says the Bank of England has halved its growth forecast, with a cut to rates powering the FTSE 100. The bank is expecting the economy to grow by just 0.75% this year in what the paper describes as a blow to Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
The Daily Express says the chancellor's job is on the line. The paper says there is speculation she could be replaced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
The Times also says the Bank's alert is a setback for Reeves as it says there was a warning of a new squeeze on living standards. The Bank cut interest rates to 4.5% as it attempts to stimulate the and has warned growth is weak and productivity "tepid", the paper says.
The Daily Mail puts the blame directly at Reeves's door as it says "New era of stagflation thanks to Reeves's ruinous Budget". Stagflation is when there is flat growth and rising inflation.
The Guardian also mentions stagflation fears as it says the chancellor's growth plan has suffered a double blow. The paper quotes Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying the government was never going to be able to turn the economy round in six or seven months so the growth outlook "just spurs us on".
The i says the growth and inflation warning "piles pressure" on Reeves to boost the "flagging economy". It says Andrew Bailey has backed the chancellor's growth plans but she may have to raise taxes of cut spending to meet her own fiscal rules.
The Daily Telegraph blames the "bloated state" for harming the economy. Mr Bailey said an increase of half a million public sector workers since lockdown had not been matched by a rise in productivity.
The Daily Mirror leads on allegations that TV chef Gino D'Acampo made "sexual and aggressive comments" to a "string of women at work". In a statement to ITV News, which first reported the story, D'Acampo firmly denied the allegations.
"Bedlocked" is the Metro's headline as it says a winter vomiting bug has left hospitals in crisis, with thousands of beds taken up by patients suffering from norovirus. Last week 96% of beds were full, the paper says.
The Sun has a story from its exclusive interview with the girlfriend of the late singer Liam Payne. Kate Cassidy tells the paper the star was "secretly considering" a reunion with his One Direction bandmates before his death last year.
And the Daily Star has some good news for those of us who like to lounge around as it says "boffins" have found that "lazy gits live longer". Relaxing on the sofa, having good sleep and not overdoing it at work can help you live an extra 10 years, the paper says.
The UK economy leads most front pages after the Bank of England halved its growth forecast for this year.
The Times says the assessment is a "setback" for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, external, who has pledged that economic growth is her number one priority.
The Financial Times says the Bank's "gloomy outlook" delivers a "sobering message", external to the chancellor.
The Daily Express believes the assessment should serve as a "wake up call", external for the government while the front page of the the Daily Mail suggests the UK is in a "new era of stagflation", external, which is when there is flat growth and rising inflation.
But the Mail does go on to say that there was "some relief for households" as interest rates were cut to 4.5%.
The Guardian quotes the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, saying the government was never going to be able to turn the economy around in six or seven months and that the growth outlook would spur him on, external.
On its front page the Daily Telegraph says the "bloated state" is harming the economy, external. The paper highlights comments made on Thursday by the Bank of England's Governor, Andrew Bailey, that an increase of half a million workers in the public sector since lockdown has not been matched by a rise in productivity.
Commuters are unhappy with a new system which sees train listings removed from departure boards three minutes before they are scheduled to leave, the Times says
The Times reports that many commuters are unhappy with Network Rail testing a new system which sees train listings removed from departure boards, external at stations three minutes before services are scheduled to leave. The idea is to stop people rushing on platforms. There has been a trial at London King's Cross. According to the paper some passengers have labelled the idea "patronising" - with one regular commuter quoted as saying whether he ran for the train or not was his decision.
Some of the papers feature comments from the chef Heston Blumenthal, who says his imagination has been suppressed by medication he takes following a mental health breakdown in 2023. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after being sectioned. The Times notes that he is known for his "outlandish creations", external such as snail porridge, and bacon and egg ice cream. The chef says that while he hopes to regain some of that flair he does not regret that his character has changed and that he is much more calm.
And finally, most of the papers have picked up on a study from Italian scientists claiming to have "cracked" the perfect boiled egg. But it will take you 32 minutes. The method involves transferring an egg back and forth between a saucepan of boiling water and a bowl of tepid water. Trying out the new technique, the Guardian's correspondent Linda Geddes says the "science won out" as she was impressed with the end result, external. The Telegraph's food writer Silvana Franco also tested the method, external and writes that she thought the "yolk was pretty special". The Express wonders at taking that length of time, external to boil an egg. "You're cracking us up," it says.
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