'Complete failure to protect babies' and 'Sterling mess'

6 minutes ago

News image — The landmark inquiry into Lucy Letby's murders and attempted murders leads several of today's papers. After finding there was a "complete failure to protect babies" under Letby's care, the inquiry chair, Lady Justice Thirlwall, has called for cot cameras or monitors to be used on neonatal units in hospitals, the Daily Express reports. Letby is serving 15 whole-life prison terms for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Express reads: 'Cot Cams After "complete failure to protect babies".' — The landmark inquiry into Lucy Letby's murders and attempted murders leads several of today's papers. After finding there was a "complete failure to protect babies" under Letby's care, the inquiry chair, Lady Justice Thirlwall, has called for cot cameras or monitors to be used on neonatal units in hospitals, the Daily Express reports. Letby is serving 15 whole-life prison terms for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror reads: 'They failed and babies died.' — The "damning" Letby hospital report is also the focus of the Daily Mirror's front page, with Health Secretary Yvette Cooper weighing in on the "reprehensible" treatment of parents who lost their babies. According to the paper, the inquiry found there was a "complete failure" to protect newborns at the Countess of Chester Hospital and parents were kept in the dark for years over the concerns.

The headline on the front page of the Guardian reads: 'NHS faces big changes after "devastating" Letby review.' — The Guardian headlines on the reaction from UK ministers promising "sweeping changes to the NHS" after the "devastating" review into the Letby murders.

The headline on the front page of the Independent reads: 'Three Lucy Letby baby murders could have been stopped.' — "Cot cams" will be installed on all neonatal units, the UK health secretary has said, following the Letby "inquiry bombshell", as reported by the Independent. Hospital managers have apologised for the significant delays in alerting police about Letby, the paper reports.

The headline on the front page of the Times reads: 'Failure to act allowed Letby to kill three babies.' — The Times spotlights the families of the "babies murdered and attacked by Lucy Letby" who have "accused hospital managers of prioritising the nurse 'over a unit full of vulnerable children'" following the inquiry findings. Elsewhere is a picture of British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones posing at the premiere of her upcoming role in the remake of Sense and Sensibility in London on Tuesday night.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Star reads: 'Balloonatic' — "Motorway madness" reads the Daily Star for their reporting of former England footballer Raheem Sterling, who has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and possessing nitrous oxide after crashing his Lamborghini in May. A picture of Sterling on the day of the crash is splashed on the front.

The headline on the front page of the Sun reads: 'Sterling Mess.' — The Sun also reports on the story following the court case at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court, describing it as a "Sterling mess".

The headline on the front page of the Financial Times reads: 'Fresh test for Healey as state pension poised to cross income tax threshold.' — Chancellor John Healey is facing a "fresh test" ahead of the Budget next month, according to the Financial Times, as the state pension is set to rise above the tax-free income threshold for the first time.

The headline on the front page of the i Paper reads: 'Russian spies "recruiting UK teenagers".' — Teenagerss in the UK are being offered "money, guns and training" by Russia to make explosives and poisons, according to an exclusive in the i Paper. The paper describes it as a troubling escalation of a so-called "grey war".

The headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph reads: 'Mayor to control water companies.' — The Daily Telegraph also features a picture of Daisy Edgar-Jones described as "dashing Miss Daisy", during the premiere for her new film adaption of a Jane Austen classic. Elsewhere the paper reveals mayors will be given powers to control and oversee water companies under plans by Andy Burnham.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mail reads: 'Earl Spencer's bombshell new book is stolen.' — Copies of a "bombshell new book" by Earl Spencer, Princess Diana's younger brother, have been stolen from a lorry, the Daily Mail reports. The memoir, Swan Song, details revelations about the "crisis that engulfed the Royal Family after her death", the paper says.

The headline on the front page of the Metro reads: 'Zap the boats storm.' — And the Metro headlines on Reform' UK's "dehumanising" video game called Small Boat Scramble, in which players can send back migrant dinghies to France. The party's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf says it "lets people have a bit of fun with a very serious issue".

Most of the front pages highlight the finding of an inquiry that some of the babies killed by the former nurse Lucy Letby could have been saved if consultants and hospital management had acted after concerns were first raised.

The Daily Mirror describes the report as "damning". The Daily Express says cot cameras will now be used to protect babies in neonatal units.

The Daily Telegraph leads with government proposals to give mayors the power to oversee water companies in England and Wales, in line with Andy Burnham's plans to increase state control of utilities.

The paper says there'll be nine new regional bodies tasked with setting company objectives, and holding bosses to account over bills, shortages and sewage discharges.

The Timesreports that the government is considering sending military support to Saudi Arabia to counter attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.

A defence source says a small team of military advisers was sent to Riyadh this week in response to a Saudi request.

The Guardian says the Telegraph and Reform UK are facing accusations of undermining journalism and eroding trust, after Nigel Farage's party gave the newspaper stories that were about to be broken by other outlets.

The Telegraph published the details of two £36m donations to Reform shortly after The Sunday Times approached the party for a comment about the story. Neither Reform nor the Telegraph has commented.

"Russian spies recruiting UK teenagers" is the front page headline in the i Paper. The paper say analysis by the think-tank The Institute for Strategic Dialogue has found that Moscow is recruiting young British people willing to carry out acts of violence.

They are approached in online groups and offered money, guns and training on making explosives and poisons. The i Paper says at least two attacks have already taken place in connection with one of the groups.

The Daily Mail says several copies of a new book by Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer, have been stolen from a lorry in the Netherlands.

The paper describes the book as explosive and says theories about who broke into the lorry range from a gang of opportunistic thieves to a misguided but highly informed supporter of the Royal Family.

'Complete failure to protect babies' and 'Sterling mess'

Daily Express

Daily Mail

Daily Mirror

Daily Star

Daily Telegraph

Financial Times

Guardian

Independent

Metro

Sun

The i

Times

Letby doctor says inquiry 'grim reading' and he wishes 'we had been brave enough to follow suspicions'

Baby 'cot cams' plan after inquiry finds Lucy Letby crimes could have been prevented

Letby failings go beyond one hospital - the whole system has been found lacking