What the papers say: Friday's front pages

Fri, 16 Jan, 2026 - 08:23

James Cox

Ireland losing billions in foreign investment due to electricity grid issues, inflation hitting households, and the departure of RTÉ's chief financial officer are among the stories that feature on Friday's front pages.

Ireland has lost of billions of euro in new jobs projects because global companies cannot access electricity and infrastructure, The Irish Times reports.

Soaring inflation is having a big impact on households, the Irish Examiner reports.

RTÉ’s chief financial officer Mari Hurley is set to leave the broadcaster after just 18 months in the role. The Irish Independent leads with this story.

The Echo leads with a story on burglaries in Cork.

Current and former civil servants are paying rents of between €56 and €345 for State-owned properties in Phoenix Park, the Irish Daily Mail reports.

The Irish Daily Star leads with a story on "evil" stepmother Tegan McGhee, who murdered a four-year-old boy in her care.

The Irish Daily Mirror leads with a story on Enoch Burke returning to Wilson's Hospital School after his latest release from prison.

The Herald also leads with the Enoch Burke story. Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott's hat-trick for AZ Alkmaar against Ajax also makes the front page.

In the North, the Belfast Telegraph leads with a story on a Roma family forced to move out of their home after an attack from 'UDA thugs'.

The Irish News leads with a story on siblings fined over their dog barking excessively.

The UK papers are dominated by Robert Jenrick joining Reform UK after he was sacked by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch.

Friday's METRO: 'The secret traitor'#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/sBwYx4tOfi

— Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 15, 2026

Friday's FINANCIAL TIMES: Jenrick joins Reform after Badenoch gives him sack for plotting to defect#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/5yPJZAkJ1A

— Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 15, 2026

Friday's i: Day of poison and betrayal as UK's right-wing feud deepens#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/KNcBX4nvdX

— Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 15, 2026

Friday's GUARDIAN: Sacked Jenrick defects to Reform with fiery attack on 'failed' Tories#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/gGXzFZng1q

— Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 15, 2026

Friday's DAILY MIRROR: Farage's party of Tory failures#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/xZdckxd4lf

— Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 15, 2026

Friday's DAILY EXPRESS: Jenrick joins with Reform with blast at 'rotten' Tories#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/JSTnuoDtAB

— Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 15, 2026

Friday's TIMES: Jenrick defects to Reform after sacking by Badenoch#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/enzKGbPzwS

— Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 15, 2026

Friday's DAILY MAIL: Stop fighting each other and end the Labour nightmare#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Mhmlbw7HS9

— Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 15, 2026

Friday's SUN: TraiTories#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/bonZljcXl6

— Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) January 15, 2026

The New York Times leads with a story on US president Donald Trump threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act to bring the military in to suppress protests over ICE in Minnesota.