The Daily Telegraph reports that Prime Minister Andy Burnham is considering a 1.8% earnings tax for workers over 34 to finance an £18bn annual social care overhaul. Meanwhile, The Guardian highlights Burnham’s push for political consensus, noting his invitations to opposition leaders Kemi Badenoch and Ed Davey to address the sector’s crisis. The Times expresses concern that these measures might exclude private providers, while the Daily Express underscores the current shortfall, noting two million people are struggling without adequate support.
In other policy news, the government has introduced a £4,000 bursary for families on benefits to encourage youth apprenticeships, a move the Daily Mail labels a “benefits bribe.” Economically, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds suggested the administration is open to private capital, even as it weighs public ownership of utilities. Internationally, the i Paper reports on significant backlash against FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup, a plan Uefa and Prime Minister Burnham have strongly condemned.
Elsewhere, the media covers a variety of urgent events. The Financial Times reports on a deadly earthquake in southern Japan, while The Independent provides an on-the-ground report regarding destructive wildfires spreading across the Gironde region in France. Additionally, the Daily Mirror highlights a mother’s persistent search for answers regarding her son, Simon Parkes, who has been missing since 1986.
