The government’s announcement on Monday of a major expansion of artificial intelligence in the public sector arouses the Guardian. It reports that AI “will be used for everything from spotting potholes to bailing out teachers”, as Starmer announces a “twenty-fold” increase in the amount of AI used over the next five years. The report said the move reflected a “shift in tone” from the government, which had previously focused on technology-related risks.
The Times also covers the story and considers that the UK’s NHS data will be open to AI training. It reports that “archives of scans, biological data and anonymized patient records” will be made available to major technology companies “to place the country at the heart of the global AI revolution.” The lead article in The Times is a warning from former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove that by “wooing Chinese investment for its renewable energy revolution” the government could leave the UK “vulnerable to Beijing “.
Separately, the Daily Mail reports that 518,000 NHS patients “languished on emergency room trolleys for 12 hours or more last year”. It says a lack of beds is preventing staff from transferring new arrivals to wards and that emergency services “were already dangerously overwhelmed” before the winter flu outbreak. The Mail’s front page also features Meghan Markle, whose new Netflix show was delayed by the Los Angeles wildfires.
“LAWless” headlines the Metro, which is the latest news out of Los Angeles – reporting growing fury against “greedy landlords who profit from tragedy, titled celebrities and selfish elites.” He reports that residents “went wild” against billionaires who hired private firefighters to defend their homes. The Metro illustrates the story with an image of a hand-painted sign in front of an abandoned house in Altadena warning against looting.
An overhaul of content moderation at social media giant Meta’ has sparked concerns among advertisers, the Financial Times reports. It says several advertising executives told the newspaper that the decision to end fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram and weaken hate speech policies “is going to become a business conundrum for both sides.” . The main topic is Greenland – with the FT reporting that its citizens feel “destabilized” by US President-elect Donald Trump’s designs on the country.
An article by Jeremy Clarkson, former Top Gear presenter, in the Sunday Times makes the front page of the Daily Star. Clarkson wrote in support of Donald Trump’s plan to buy Greenland and suggested he buy the United Kingdom. The newspaper faked an image of Clarkson resembling arch dealer Arthur Daley from the 1980s ITV series Minder.
The newspaper I is conducting its investigation into the gay dating application Grindr. It says at least 13 cases of serious sexual offenses against minors in 2024 cited Grindr as the first point of contact between suspect and victim. In the digital version of the story, Grindr says it “goes to great lengths” to prevent children from accessing the app and says “there is no place in society for abuse against minors, and we totally condemn anyone who commits crimes against minors.” “.
The Daily Telegraph says the Treasury has “ordered ministers to be ruthless in identifying cuts to public spending”. The newspaper reports that an internal memo from Chancellor Rachel Reeves admits that “difficult decisions on budgets will be necessary”.
The Daily Express begins with comments from former Conservative Home Secretary James Cleverly that families and businesses are “suffering” because of the “ineptitude, arrogance and hypocrisy” of the Labor Party – saying the government’s program amounts to “fiscal aggression”.
The Daily Mirror article concerns the stabbing of a nurse at Royal Oldham Hospital on Sunday. It reports the nurse suffered “life-changing injuries” after a 37-year-old man allegedly attacked her “in front of horrified colleagues and patients”. He reports that a “dispute over waiting times may have triggered the attack.” The man was arrested. Elsewhere on the front page, the Mirror reports that Little Mix band member Jesy is pregnant with twins.
The Sun also discusses the Little Mix star’s pregnancy, but discusses a possible decision by English footballer Manchester City and Kyle Walker to play in Italy. Walker – who has spoken publicly about his infidelity – is expected to be joined by his wife, who “hopes to get the respite they desperately need”, the tabloid said, citing an anonymous source.
The move would involve the health service making its archives of analytics, biological data and anonymized patient records available for the first time to help train AI models. The resource would be part of the nation’s first national data library and could help attract billions in U.S. technology investment.
But the paper notes that there are also fears that sensitive data could end up being exploited for purposes beyond which it was intended, although Technology Secretary Peter Kyle told the newspaper that the NHS and the government would still retain control of the data.
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Peter Kyle told The Times that the NHS and government would always retain control of patient data.
Daily Telegraph claims Health Secretary plans to change law on compensation for people injured by the Covid vaccine. The newspaper claims to have seen a letter from Wes Streeting to the wife of a man who suffered permanent brain damage after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. Streeting reportedly wrote that he was considering a number of options, including possible legislative changes.
The Times publishes warning from former MI6 chief that Labor’s efforts to court Chinese investment in government renewable energy projects risk leaving the UK vulnerable to Beijing. Sir Richard Dearlove has said Britain should not rely on China for its energy infrastructure in its drive to reach net zero. The newspaper says its own analysis found that Chinese companies paid for or supplied parts for at least 14 of Britain’s 50 offshore wind farms in operation or development. A government spokesperson said the biggest risk to energy security was remaining dependent on fossil fuels.
Daily Mail announces new figures from NHS Englandanalyzed by the Liberal Democrats, show a record 518,000 patients had to wait on trolleys in emergency departments for 12 hours or more last year. The newspaper notes that the figures are 400 times higher than ten years ago. He says the number of patients on carts, due to a lack of available beds, shows that emergency departments were already dangerously overwhelmed even before this winter’s flu outbreak. The Department of Health claims it has inherited a broken NHS.
The former conservative interior minister James Cleverly tells the Daily Express The UK is under what it calls a tax attack from the government. In his diary he claims that families and businesses are suffering because of the ineptitude, arrogance and hypocrisy of ministers. He says employers, farmers and schools have all seen their taxes rise to record levels. The government says it has faced significant challenges during its first six months in office.
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James Cleverly criticized the government’s first six months in office
The Guardian publishes details of new poll suggesting that a fifth of Gen Z and millennial Brits prefer the idea of a strong leader without elections to democracy, with voters depressed about politics overall. But among people aged over 55, only 8% prefer a strong leader to a democratic system. The survey was carried out on behalf of the public affairs consultancy FGS.
