‘Starmer blasts Musk’ and Canada’s ‘Trudeau quits’

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s response to tech billionaire Elon Musk and those calling for a national inquiry into grooming gangs leads many of the papers.

“Starmer blasts Musk”, declares the Daily Mirror. Sir Keir is quoted as saying that “a line has been crossed” in the rhetoric being directed at members of the government. The Financial Times says the prime minister took Mr Musk “to task” over his “lies and misinformation” about grooming gangs.

The Guardian describes Sir Keir’s condemnation of Musk as part of a “growing chorus” from European leaders. The Times quotes French President Emmanuel Macron, who has accused Musk of attempting to “intervene directly in elections”.

There’s criticism of the prime minister too. The Daily Mail says he “triggered a furious backlash” after claiming Conservative demands for a grooming gangs inquiry were “amplifying what the far-right are saying”. The Daily Telegraph says it was “outrageous” for Sir Keir to “level such accusations”. A No 10 spokesperson tells the paper, however, that Sir Keir was criticising only those Conservatives who declined to hold an inquiry while they were in office, not everyone calling for one now.

Writing in the Daily Express, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accuses Sir Keir of “trying to sweep the past failures of the establishment under the carpet” by denying calls for an inquiry.

“Promising if limited”, is the view of the Sun on the government’s plans to cut NHS waiting lists in England. The Daily Mail applauds the “pragmatism” of the government’s decision to use private providers to reduce waits. But the i warns there are still “huge challenges”, namely the “perennial” winter crisis in hospitals, workforce shortages, and a social care plan that is at least three years from introduction.

Photographs of the outgoing prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, make many of the front pages. “Tearful Trudeau bows out”, is the Daily Telegraph’s caption. “In the end”, says the Guardian, “his boyish charisma was not enough to reassure Canadians facing huge jumps in housing and grocery prices”. The Times says Donald Trump’s victory in November “brought into focus Trudeau’s weakened position”, with the prospect of blanket 25% tariffs on Canadian goods.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Avanti West Coast train services between Liverpool and London were cancelled over the weekend after a trade union told drivers not to walk on the snow. Photographs of the Edge Hill depot in Liverpool on Sunday showed about two inches of snow on top of rails, cables and other equipment. A spokesperson for the Aslef union said the walkways were “unusable”, adding that “this is basic safety stuff”. Avanti declined to comment.

“At long last”, declares the Daily Mail as it toasts Demi Moore’s first major acting award in her 45-year career. Moore picked up a best actress gong at the Golden Globes for her performance in the comic horror film The Substance. The Sun features her acceptance speech, in which she said she almost quit acting before being cast in the film. The Daily Express says the award means “she has been vindicated” and “her resilience speaks to us all”.