Labour targets waiting lists but tax rises ‘won’t cure NHS’

Many of the papers report on the measures expected to be unveiled in Wednesday’s Budget, particularly those intended to address issues in the NHS.

The Daily Mirror declares there is “hope for the health service” and calls the budget “Labour’s war on waiting lists”. It says the chancellor will pump billions of pounds into the health service tomorrow to “save it from disaster”.

The Guardian says an injection of funds by Chancellor Rachel Reeves will revive a “broken but not beaten” NHS and quotes her saying she wants to “end the neglect” of the service under the Conservatives.

The papers suggests the funding boost could be as much as £7bn.

Other papers strike a note of caution. The Daily Telegraph quotes Reeves saying the additional funding for the NHS won’t be enough to undo “14 years of damage” and says the comment raises “the prospect of further rises in years to come”.

The Times and the Daily Mail both highlight an acknowledgement from the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, that the budget is unlikely to deliver major improvements or – the Mail adds – “prevent patients dying while waiting for care this winter”.

The i carries a warning from charities that they may be forced to make cutbacks if an expected rise in employers’ national insurance goes ahead. The paper says a group of volunteer organisations has written to Reeves telling her: “With costs climbing and funding falling, our sector already faces a crisis”.

The Daily Express continues its campaign for restoration of the winter fuel payments to all pensioners, with a front page message to the chancellor that “it’s not too late for a U-turn”.

The Financial Times says Volkswagen plans to shut at least three plants in Germany, axe tens of thousands of jobs, and slash pay by 10%.

The paper says management at the company, Europe’s largest car maker, believe radical measures are needed amid intense competition from China, slowing sales, and the costly transition to electric vehicle production. It adds that the move marks the first closure of a German factory in the company’s 87-year history and has “set up a battle with [the country’s] powerful unions”.

A warning from Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza that social media companies are ignoring the harm they inflict on children, while making billions of pounds from them, also makes the Telegraph’s front page.

A report based on children’s experiences reportedly found examples of cyber-bullying, sexual grooming by adult predators, and guides on self-harming.

Dame Rachel criticises the government and the regulator Ofcom for going too slowly in introducing safeguarding laws to tackle the “multiple hazards in the online world”.

An Ofcom spokesman tells the paper they are “bound by law” to consult on codes to protect children, and though that took time, it resulted in better and more “legally robust” regulation.

The Sun’s front page carries a picture of Eric Ten Hag, who was sacked as Manchester United manager on Monday. The paper reports that the Dutchman – who they call “Eric Ten Swag” – has been given a £15m pay-off. The Daily Star adds that Ten Hag was on a private plane within hours of his dismissal from the club. “Jet me out of here,” reads the headline.