What the papers say: Saturday's front pages

Sat, 02 Sep, 2023 - 08:44

Warning over grade inflation, bullied children contacting childline and an interview from John Gilligan are some of the headline's in today's papers.

The Irish Times leads with a report outlining the need for grade inflation to be controlled to protect the integrity of the exams.

The Irish Examiner leads with a quote from the mother of Luke and Grace McSweeney, who died in the crash at Clonmel that claimed the lives of four people.

The Echo reports that bullied children are turning to Childline for help as they return to school after the summer holidays.

The Irish Daily Mail also leads with the funeral of Grace and Luke McSweeney, with a picture of their two coffins carried out from the church.

Both the Irish Daily Mirror and the Irish Daily Mail lead with an interview from John Gilligan, where he reveals in his book he was shot six times, but insists it was not by the Kinahans.

Crumbling schools continue to dominate the front pages of Saturday’s newspapers amid warnings of a growing number of affected buildings.

Hundreds more schools are at risk from the “concrete crisis” according to the Daily Mail, which says thousands of homes and public buildings – including hospital, courts, police stations and leisure centres – could collapse due to flawed construction material.

MAIL: Hundreds more schools at risk #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/0KwmxsK9wh

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) September 1, 2023

The Independent says 156 schools are known to be at risk from crumbling concrete, but that number is likely to rise.

INDEPENDENT DIGITAL: How many more of our classrooms could collapse? #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/4vaovh1EAi

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) September 1, 2023

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan will address Parliament when it returns next week, according to the i weekend, which says hundreds more schools are awaiting safety checks with ministers warned of the risk four years ago.

I WEEKEND: Hundreds more schools await safety checks #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/iT15Mbhhgq

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) September 1, 2023

“What A Mess” is the simple verdict of the Daily Mirror, which says thousands of children will be unable to return to school.

Saturday's front page: What a mess#TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/0rrUGZoDCU pic.twitter.com/fgriiQJScE

— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) September 1, 2023

The Times also says more schools are expected to be closed due to fears over concrete as parents ask when the crisis will end.

THE TIMES: When will this school crisis end, ask parents #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/GZaN127hi4

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) September 1, 2023

The “crumbling concrete crisis” spreading to hospitals is a second story on the front of the Daily Telegraph which focuses on an interview with Home Secretary Suella Braverman, where she says public confidence in the police is being eroded by officers “pandering to politically correct causes”.

📰 The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:

'Braverman: Woke police damaging public trust'#TomorrowsPapersToday

Sign up for the Front Page newsletter 👇https://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/ick48tAspc

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) September 1, 2023

The Daily Star also looks to the return to school as it says the end of the summer holiday will coincide with a September heatwave.

Saturday's front page: Typical!!!#TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/CkEVkywrZg pic.twitter.com/paDqf08LA0

— Daily Star (@dailystar) September 1, 2023

Mohamed Al Fayed’s death leads the front of The Sun, which says he died 26 years after his son Dodi was killed in a car crash alongside Diana, Princess of Wales.

Tomorrow's updated front page following the death of Mohamed Al-Fayed.https://t.co/O1YfoTX5z7 pic.twitter.com/dghE5QwkIP

— The Sun (@TheSun) September 1, 2023

And the Financial Times says almost 2% has been added to the size of the UK economy in the latest revisions by the Office for National Statistics.