Trump says Europe ‘weak’ and ‘faithful servant’ Winkleman
US President Donald Trump declared European leaders “weak” and his comments were reflected on many front pages on Wednesday. According to Metro, the president “berated the ‘rotting’ nations of Europe” for failing to act to end the Ukraine war in a rant that the newspaper said “endangered the peace.”
Claudia Winkleman was honored by King George III for her services to publishing. She beams on the front page of the Telegraph after being awarded an MBE by Charles. The paper begins with quotes from an interview with Jordan Bardella, leader of France’s National Rally Party, who said he would rewrite border policy to help Britain push small boats carrying migrants back into French waters.
Britain and Europe face a “major reality check” on their security after Trump condemns “weak” European leaders, i Paper says. The newspaper reports that No 10 has denied the president’s allegations, but says the prime minister met with the US ambassador in Downing Street.
Trump’s “blistering attack” on Europe tops the Independent’s front page. Also ahead is Storm Bram, which caused “travel misery” and “flood warnings” across Britain.
There are hopes that Kiev will accept the US-brokered peace deal “by Christmas”, according to the Financial Times. It is reported that the US has given Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky “days” to respond to his offer that would require Ukraine to accept territorial losses in exchange for “unspecified US security guarantees”.
The Times front page headline reads “police force numbers cut to dozen under plan”, reporting that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is considering reducing the number of police in England and Wales to just 12. Sources told the newspaper that the home secretary had delayed the publication of his “long-awaited” police reform plan until 2026 because he wanted to make “bolder changes than previously planned”.
Sir Keir Starmer has called on European leaders to “urgently restrict” common human rights laws to allow states to “take tougher action to protect borders”, the Guardian reported. The paper said Labor had been “condemned” for calling for changes, while critics argue the changes could allow countries to abandon some of the world’s most vulnerable people.
There is not a single image on the Mail’s front page that begins with the headline “The never-ending asylum fiasco”. It says a “damning report” from the National Audit Office has revealed “massive gaps in systems” and missing data, including how many asylum seekers went missing after arriving in the UK.
The Express features photos of Afghan teenagers Israr Niazal and Jan Jahanzeb after they were convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl in Leamington Spa on Tuesday. Carole Malone wrote in a comment to the newspaper: “How many more sexual assaults will it take?” he asks.
“Missing Covid billions” was the Mirror’s main story after a report revealed aid programs were left exposed to risk during the pandemic. The paper says fraud and error cost £10.9bn under the Conservatives and most of the shortfall is “beyond fixing”.
A photograph of the late Ozzy Osbourne with his wife Sharon appeared on the front page of the Sun after he revealed his final words to her before his death in July this year.
The Daily Star’s main headline reads “Vlad has plenty of pussy” and claims Larry the Cat “underestimated” the Ukrainian president during his visit to No 10 earlier this week.
