The Daily Record’s front page features a victim of the so-called “Magic Circle” scandal. Mark Redwood-Thomson waives his right to anonymity to tell the paper about the abuse he suffered as a child from lawyer John Watt. Former prosecutor Watt was jailed for 10 years for sexually abusing four young children more than four decades ago – allegedly as part of a “Magic Circle” of paedophiles working in the justice system. Mr Redwood-Thomson was interviewed in a BBC Scotland Disclosure investigation, to be broadcast tonight.
A ballot of UK firefighters which saw 88% back industrial action is the lead in The Herald. The Fire Brigades Union has announced that if an improved pay offer does not materialise in the next 10 days, a series of strike dates will be announced.
The Scotsman also leads with the firefighter strike, saying that the FBU ballot had a turnout of 73% and that, should it go ahead, the strike will be the first in 20 years. Pay is set at a UK level and the current pay offer sits at 5%, a figure which was rejected in November.
The Times says Scottish government ministers are drawing up plans to deploy soldiers across Scotland to cover emergency calls if the firefighter strikes go ahead. It says Scottish Fire and Rescue has supported a pay increase for firefighters and recognises their tight to strike.
Brexit is on The National’s front page as MSP Angus Robertson highlights the impact on Scotland of leaving the European Union. As part of a special edition on the third anniversary of Brexit, the paper reports on what it calls a “conspiracy of silence” about the harmful impacts of the break from Europe.
The Scottish Sun’s headline “Nic’s trouble with women” covers the continuing row over the placement of transgender prisoners in Scottish jails. The paper claims the first minister “was ridiculed over a TV interview where she said trans women are women but some should not be in female jails”.
The same interview makes the front page of the Scottish Daily Express which claims Ms Sturgeon is “making up rules on the hoof”. The paper, like several others, pictures the Princess of Wales as she attended an event to promote her early years campaign.
The princess makes the front of the Daily Telegraph, where the main story is a report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which says Britain is expected to be the only G7 nation to see its economy shrink this year. The prime minister and the chancellor are resisting calls to cut taxes, says the story, with Jeremy Hunt stating last week that inflation needs to come down first. “Economy to shrink after tax raid, says IMF” is the paper’s headline.
“No time to lie” says the Metro’s headline, which reports that The Kremlin has denied claims from Boris Johnson that Vladimir Putin threatened to kill him in a missile strike. The former PM was speaking in a documentary about the Ukraine war.
A report outlining the struggles of patients trying to access the NHS is the Scottish Daily Mail’s lead. The paper says one in four people are unable to see their GP and one in five is waiting for care, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The Courier’s lead reports on a devastating fire in Kinross, saying residents “watched in horror” as flames “swirled like a fireball” as the blaze took hold in Smith Street on Saturday. No one was hurt.
A dramatic crime scene is described on the front of the Evening Telegraph after a man wearing a baseball cap, with his face covered, entered a restaurant and attacked another man sitting near a soft play area.
The Glasgow Times reveals the cost of Christmas and New Year celebrations at two Glasgow prisons, claiming that inmates at Barlinnie and Low Moss jails tucked into lavish meals with all the trimmings that cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds.
The Evening Express urges families who receive a council tax reduction not to miss out on £125 gift cards sent out in December to help with the cost of living. The gift card scheme providing an £840,000 cash boost for Aberdeen businesses has been hailed as a success for putting “money into the hands of those that need it most”.
The P&J’s top story is about a woman who targeted vulnerable people in their own homes and who stole £200 from one woman while she waited for an ambulance. Marianne Downie admitted assault and robbery charges at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
An announcement that The Who will play Edinburgh Castle is the big picture on the Evening News front page, but the top news story warns of a major road closure as part of a regeneration project.
And the cost of living crisis hits rock bottom, says the Daily Star. It claims people are cutting back on toilet paper to save money.
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