The front pages on Thursday are primarily focused on the hope that Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand will be included in the first group of hostages released in Gaza.
The Irish Times and the Irish Examiner lead with the decision by Tánaiste Micheál Martin to prepare legislation to scrap the "triple lock" over the deployment of Irish troops abroad, in a move described by opposition politicians as an attempt to undermine the State’s neutrality.
The Irish Independent claims members of one of Ireland’s most prolific burglary gangs used an Airbnb rental as a base for a crime wave in which up to 20 homes were robbed in under five days.
The cost of keeping the pension age at 66 is the focus of the Irish Daily Mail, as annual increases to PRSI are set to go ahead.
The Irish Daily Mirror says Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand could finally be released 47 days after she was taken hostage by Hamas.
A woman has told the Irish Daily Star that her own brother is now dead to her after he was convicted of her husband’s killing.
The US church run by a former Coleraine pastor at the centre of a $62 million fraud lawsuit has hit out at an investigation into his conduct while in Co Derry, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
The British papers on Thursday focus on the autumn statement, but not all are on board with finance minister Jeremy Hunt’s vision as the UK moves into a general election year.
The Metro and The Sun have already begun celebrating the new year, as newly announced national insurance cuts are set to begin with the calendar change.
Tomorrows Paper Today 📰
HAPPY N.I. YEAR
🔴 Surprise 2% cut from January to give 27m a boost
🔴 Triple lock stays with pension up 8.5%... benefits will rise 6.7%
🔴 Freeze on booze tax and help for renters but growth forecast fails #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/kIiQF5ZCs7Advertisement— Metro (@MetroUK) November 22, 2023
On tomorrow's front page: Pay day for millions of Brits as Jeremy Hunt cuts taxes and boosts incomes - but slaps surprise hike on tobaccohttps://t.co/LdWJaNR5ma pic.twitter.com/1SIHSbWQMc
— The Sun (@TheSun) November 22, 2023
The i and the Financial Times have honed in on the UK’s tax burden, which is set to hit a record high despite the cuts announced in the autumn statement.
Thursday's front page: Tax burden to hit record high despite 2p cut for millions #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/46uVaevwAr
— i newspaper (@theipaper) November 22, 2023
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Thursday 23 November https://t.co/YQYRQaQRdh pic.twitter.com/3diEuBn0G3
— Financial Times (@FT) November 22, 2023
The Daily Mirror criticised the autumn statement by pointing out that, while many will be celebrating cuts to national insurance, millions of Brits will be worse off.
Thursday's front page - 'AUTUMN STATEMENT SWIZZ'https://t.co/a7ZSIvJ2ST#tomorrowsfrontpage pic.twitter.com/kVAQMnpyhb
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) November 22, 2023
The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail seized on words said by the Mr Hunt as he revealed the autumn statement: “These are the biggest tax cuts since the 1980s”.
TELEGRAPH: Biggest tax cuts since the 1980s #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/yOca8AkG1q
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 22, 2023
DAILY MAIL: Let’s hope it’s just the start #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/X7vdfAZJf3
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 22, 2023
The Independent asked “who are they kidding?” as they looked at the good and bad news from the autumn statement.
INDEPENDENT: Biggest tax cuts since 1980s’ Who are they kidding? #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/odvIVQid7Z
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 22, 2023
The Guardian called out the cuts for their timing, saying: “Hunt reveals £20bn in tax cuts as Tories move on to election footing”.
THE GUARDIAN: Hunt reveals £20bn in tax cuts as Tories move on to election footing #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/z4cZCNsHVg
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 22, 2023
The Times kept it simple, reporting “Hunt eases tax burden”.
THE TIMES: Hunt eases tax burden #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/QRp2xdi0YG
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 22, 2023
The Daily Express claimed victory as they say Mr Hunt and prime minister Rishi Sunak listened to the masthead by “pledging to honour the triple lock”.
EXPRESS: We’ve delivered on triple lock to protect you #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/7u1ijH7yEp
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) November 22, 2023
And the Daily Star took a different approach, leading with a story on blind musician Stevie Wonder, who got behind the wheel of a car with pop duo Eurythmics in the car.
Stevie Wonder took me joyriding 👀 #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/6Eqzf8DrCN pic.twitter.com/bBZbzGiwB4
— Daily Star (@dailystar) November 22, 2023
