Newspaper headlines: 'Christmas general strike' and 'Hancock forced out'

BBC NewsStaff
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"It's beginning to look a lot like... a Christmas general strike" says the front page of the Daily Mail, after Border Force staff at some major airports became the latest group of workers to announce industrial action over the festive season.

They're involved in a row about pay, conditions and jobs.

The Times says airlines are being told by officials to cancel up to 30% of flights on strike days to prevent what the paper calls "chaos in airport arrival halls".

This stance has been welcomed by the Daily Express, which says it's good to see the prime minister "talking tough" - but the paper says it wants to see his "words translated into action".

The Guardian reports that unions are urging ministers to take part in negotiations - saying if they want to resolve these disputes, then they must address what's causing them.

The Daily Telegraph says government plans to bring in the Army to help cover striking public sector workers have sparked "fury".

The paper says senior military figures believe soldiers shouldn't - as it says - "be ordered to give up Christmas".

A defence source tells the Telegraph the "first lever" the government reaches for "every time there is any difficulty", such as flooding or strikes, is the Armed Forces - as opposed to it being the "last resort".

Most of the papers cover the announcement from former Health Secretary Matt Hancock that he won't stand as an MP at the next general election.

Both the Daily Mirror and the Daily Express refer to his stint on the ITV1 show "I'm a Celebrity", with the headline "Get me out of here".

Some of the papers pick up on comments by a government health advisor that girls should be taught that their fertility is time-limited.

The Daily Telegraph says Professor Dame Lesley Regan believes more effort should be invested in educating young generations so they can take charge of the issue.

The Daily Mail focuses on her view that social media could play a greater role in this.

News imageReuters Prince Harry and MeghanReuters

"Heir we go again" says the Daily Mirror, ahead of Thursday's release of a new documentary about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The paper says the trailers make it clear that race will be explored in the show, and that media intrusion is another likely subject.

The Times says the average pay for professional authors has fallen by 60% to £7,000 a year - despite a rise in book sales.

The findings, from the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society, has prompted a warning that soon writing could be a "preserve of the wealthy".

The best-selling writer Miranda Dickinson says even though she has started writing more - she's recently had five books published in 18 months - her income has declined.

She says readers are interested in so many stories but she fears the shrinking pay will mean "fewer and fewer new writers will be able to enter the industry".

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