The Sun leads with reports that the father of Sara Sharif has been attacked in prison where he is serving a life sentence for the murder of the 10-year-old. The paper says two inmates “ambushed” Urfan Sharif in his cell and slashed his throat. The Prison Service says police are investigating an assault on a prisoner at HMP Belmarsh on New Year’s Day but did not confirm any identities.
The Guardian says ministers are to launch a historic independent commission to reform adult social care in England. It notes the proposed timeline has been criticised by health and care leaders, who say a “crisis” is being “kicked into the long grass”.
The Times says reform of the social care system is being “pushed back again”, with reform not likely to be delivered until 2028, until after the commission reports back. However, it adds the government hopes to build a “national consensus” as Baroness Casey, a “veteran Whitehall troubleshooter” leads the review and aims to seek the support of the main political parties.
The Daily Express reports on Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s demand for a national public inquiry into the UK’s “rape gangs scandal”. The call came after the Home Office rejected Oldham Council’s request for a government-led inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation in the town – saying the council should lead it instead.
The Daily Telegraph also leads with the government’s rejection of an inquiry into grooming gangs – interpreting it as meaning that Labour has “blocked” a probe into Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s conduct while he was head of the Crown Prosecution Service between 2008 and 2013. The Telegraph joins several other papers in featuring a picture of the Duchess of Sussex in a kitchen, from a newly-released trailer for her upcoming lifestyle show on Netflix.
“Your country needs you” is the Daily Mirror’s headline as it reports the call by the Royal British Legion for veterans of World War Two to join this year’s 80th-anniversary commemorations for VE and VJ Day.
The Financial Times leads on a poll it has conducted with economists that suggests the government is likely to have to raise taxes again before the next election. The survey found that although the UK is expected to return to growth this year, the upturn may not be strong enough to spare the country from a fresh round of tax hikes.
The i focuses on government plans to see heat pumps replace gas boilers in almost all homes in the UK. It says not all households are eligible for government help with the cost and some people will also be made to improve insulation in their properties.
The Daily Mail highlights its findings that NHS managers’ salaries in England have risen by more than £1.1bn in the last decade, amid a 36% rise in senior staffing levels.
The upcoming cold snap that forecasters say will bring snow to many parts of the UK in the next few days is the focus for the Daily Star. Under a headline the “Grit Escape”, the paper highlights the fact that six million sunshine holidays will also be booked this month, amid the amber warnings and plunging temperatures.
