Press Round-Up Full (Premium)
Friday newspaper round-up: Whitehall pay squeeze, rail delays, Donald Trump, short sellers, NI cuts
Civil servants are being overpromoted to get round a Whitehall pay squeeze, analysis suggests. “Grade inflation” in Whitehall is costing £1. 5 billion a year and resulting in less-qualified staff doing senior jobs, the Institute for Government has warned. At the same time, permanent secretaries and other top officials who cannot be promoted are experiencing much bigger pay cuts that are driving talented people to the private sector, the think tank warns. - The Times.
Thursday newspaper round-up: Nursery places, Storm Gerrit, recycling, OpenAI, vinyls
The Labour Party is drawing up plans to create thousands of new nursery places for the under fives as part of a signature offer to working parents before the next election. Under proposals expected to be in its manifesto, the party is looking to fund new nurseries in primary schools across the country to provide continuity of education for younger children. The centres would be integrated into existing schools as part of what Labour claims will be a “modernised childcare system” available from the end of parental leave to the end of primary school.
Wednesday newspaper round-up: First-time buyers, inheritance tax, Man U, Anglo American
The Conservatives will promise to cut the up-front cost of a home for first-time buyers as a pre-election giveaway to win over younger voters. In what is expected to be a central element of the party’s campaign, Michael Gove told The Times that it would “definitely” have a new offer in place before polling day. - The Times.