Headlines: Abramovich's $2.5 billion grip, Ban doctors' strike
3 hours ago
The Daily Telegraph reveals a potential £9 billion price tag for the UK's re-entry into the EU's Erasmus student exchange program (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/12/17/labour-opens-door-to-unlimited-numbers-of-eu-students/). The government's one-year deal comes with a warning: ongoing membership would be far more costly. A government spokesperson defends the £570 million agreement for 2027 as a 'good deal' for taxpayers.
The Daily Mail, however, presents a different perspective, claiming the cost is £6 billion (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15393003/Keir-Starmers-new-bid-suck-Brussels-PM-reverse-Brexit.html). It labels this as Sir Keir Starmer's 'bid to appease Brussels,' with shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel accusing Labour of squandering millions. Minister for EU relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, counters that rejoining Erasmus is a 'victory for young people.'
The Guardian reports on a chilling development: European intelligence agencies have informed them that the Kremlin is orchestrating a campaign of intimidation against Belgian politicians and finance executives (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/17/belgian-politicians-finance-bosses-targeted-russian-intelligence-seized-assets). This campaign aims to prevent the unfreezing of Russian assets, which could be used to aid Ukraine.
According to the i Paper, the British military is gearing up to send a peacekeeping force to Ukraine (https://inews.co.uk/news/uk-peacekeeping-force-getting-ready-to-deploy-to-ukraine-4115098?srsltid=AfmBOoqlI0I-BMN2rpuRxl_-vnnkN8Rq8fXdQylNUdlgpr-1FuNHOFzk). With hopes of an imminent peace deal, the newspaper notes the procurement of equipment and the finalization of troop movement plans.
The Daily Express highlights a call by Kemi Badenoch for Sir Keir to 'show some backbone' and ban doctors' strikes (https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2147638/children-pensioners-will-be-left). Badenoch argues that her party would introduce legislation to prevent doctors from staging walkouts. Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledges his efforts to avoid industrial action.
The Times reports on an unusual export ban: the government has prohibited the sale of a 220-year-old Union flag, flown at the Battle of Trafalgar, to an overseas buyer (https://www.thetimes.com/uk/history/article/union-jack-ship-battle-of-trafalgar-in-britain-fv888f8q2). The three-month ban aims to raise the £450,000 needed to keep the flag in the nation's possession.
