What the papers say – March 23

The spring statement and the war in Ukraine feature among Wednesday’s front pages.

23 March 2022

The nation’s papers are led by anticipation of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s spring statement.

The Daily Mail and Daily Mirror lead with calls for Mr Sunak to ditch a planned national insurance hike to help ease the nation’s cost-of-living crisis.

However, the Financial Times reports the Chancellor plans to “set aside” a large part of a public finances windfall this year amid concerns over the “cost of servicing government debt”.

The Daily Express carries a promise from Mr Sunak that Britons can look forward to the “security of a faster-growing economy”.

Elsewhere, The Daily Telegraph reports Ukrainian forces have started to recover ground from the Russians.

Meanwhile, The Guardian cites Ukrainian officials in saying Russian artillery has reduced the port city of Mariupol to “ashes”.

The Independent leads with Ukrainian claims that Vladimir Putin’s soldiers have “kidnapped” thousands of children and taken them to Russia.

Unexploded munitions will lead to “years of landmine tragedies” in Ukraine, according to the i.

Metro reports exiled Ukrainians have tried to prevent Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich’s superyacht from docking in Turkey.

The Sun dedicates its front page to an image of one of the “gold loo roll holders” aboard Putin’s own superyacht.

And the Daily Star says Cockneys are being discriminated against due to their accent.