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Image source, Soazig de La Moissonniere/ the President
Emmanuel Macron is known to be a keen boxer
The Times suggests the latest series of Lords defeats on the government’s Rwanda Bill may mean no flights taking off until June at the earliest.
The paper says that even once the legislation receives Royal Assent it could still take the Home Office up to 10 weeks to resolve various logistical and legal issues. Ministers hope to stage two consecutive days of votes in both houses on the issue after Easter to push it through.
The Daily Telegraph reports Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has been easing back into normal life after her abdominal surgery by working from home on her project to improve the lives of very young children. The paper says Kensington Palace has confirmed the princess has been kept up to date with her early years campaign.
Michael Saunders, a former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee – which sets interest rates – tells the i newspaper he thinks falling inflation will mean three rate cuts this year, which the paper says will come as a relief to mortgage holders.
The Daily Mail reports that some economists think there could be as many as five. Inside, it urges Bank of England economists to be “bold” and start cutting interest rates immediately when they meet on Thursday.
The Daily Telegraph says the Work and Pensions Secretary has warned Britain’s approach to mental health is in danger of having “gone too far”. Mel Stride says too many people are self-diagnosing and the problem is pushing up the benefits bill.
He was speaking as he revealed plans to make 150,000 people signed off with mild conditions look for a job – though the scheme is not due to come into force until after the next general election.
The Daily Express reports that Rishi Sunak will put a commitment to the pension triple lock at the heart of the Conservatives’ election manifesto. Campaigners tell the paper it would help win the support of millions of older voters.
The paper says the future of the guarantee has come under “scrutiny” after the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt told peers the pension safeguard and pension age were always under review.
The Daily Mirror in an editorial headlined “Hunt Raids OAP Cash” accuses the chancellor of being “oblivious” to the concern and uncertainty he caused with his comments and it welcomes Rishi Sunak’s commitment.
According to the Financial Times, a gene therapy to treat a very rare disease which attacks the central nervous system of children has become the most expensive drug in the world. Orchard Therapeutics Lenmeldy – a one-time single dose treatment – has been given a wholesale price of $4.2m (£3.3m) in the US. Metachromatic leuko-dystrophy affects an average of 40 newborn babies a year in the US.
And the front page of the Daily Telegraph is dominated by an “action” photo of the French president working out with a boxing punch bag.
The paper says it is one of a number of “intimate portraits” released, which French media says are being used to bolster Emmanuel Macron’s attempts to become more hawkish over the war in Ukraine – and show he’s on “Olympic form” ahead of the Paris Games this summer.