Newspaper headlines: NHS and High Street 'boost' in Queen's Speech By BBC News

Staff Published duration 19 December 2019

image copyright Reuters

Several front pages look ahead to the Queen's Speech.

The Telegraph reports on a new body to improve patient safety, more doctors and nurses, and the abolition of some hospital parking charges.

The Daily Express says that the prime minister is going "all out to fast-track" the UK's departure from the EU

Many papers analyse the start of the Labour leadership race. The Financial Times suggests Emily Thornberry's entry into the contest poses a problem for Sir Keir Starmer as their candidacies overlap.

The Sun dismisses Sir Keir as a "stone cold loser", describing the promotion of his working class roots as "cringeworthy"

The Daily Mirror has yet to back a candidate, but says Lisa Nandy was "wise" in suggesting the party listen to those who turned their backs on it.

But the Telegraph believes the party's membership will stymie Labour, valuing " ideological purity over winning elections ".

The i looks at the Liberal Democrat leadership contest. It speaks to the party's acting leader, Sir Ed Davey , who is currently the bookies' favourite.

He says the Lib Dems flopped in the election because their Brexit position was not seen as "realistic".

The Times leads with a report that hedge funds have been sent an audio feed of the Bank of England's news conferences up to eight seconds before they are broadcast.

The paper says this gave high speed traders the chance to use market sensitive information to make large profits.

Meanwhile the Telegraph says that a fresh campaign has been launched by MPs to ensure that Big Ben chimes the UK out of the EU on 31 January.

The last attempt was blocked by a Commons committee, chaired by the former speaker, John Bercow.

There's a warning in the FT of a funding crisis in the armed forces . General Sir Nick Carter, chief of the defence staff, is said to have summoned military chiefs to discuss a budget shortfall next year that they fear could threaten operational readiness.

The emergency meeting follows the revelation that the prime minister's adviser, Dominic Cummings, plans to review defence spending.

image copyright Getty Images image caption Homes and roads were flooded in Doncaster in November

The Mirror reports on the anguish of a couple left homeless after their bungalow was badly damaged in the South Yorkshire floods.

Andy and Sara Mott say the hotel they're staying in is shutting over the festive period so they may spend Christmas Day in their car.

The Mirror blames what it calls the "pitiful" response of politicians and insurance firms.

There's a warning on the front of the Telegraph that going vegan could damage your health

Scientists advise that permanently excluding animal products from your diet can risk developing a B12 deficiency.

The Guardian points out that a vegan diet is generally healthy but its followers must take a supplement or risk a condition that causes permanent numbness in their hands and feet.

The author was expecting an enormous turkey - some 30lbs (13kg) in weight. But the train carrying it caught fire and the bird was incinerated. The author sent an urgent message asking after it.

At first Dickens was annoyed, says the Guardian, but a letter found by the National Railway Museum revealed in his own words that Dickens "bore the loss with unbroken good humour".