‘One in, one doubt’ and ‘sick note’ crackdown

The majority of Friday’s papers lead with the UK-France “one in, one out” agreement to tackle migrant Channel crossings. The Daily Telegraph reports French President Emmanuel Macron said British people had been “sold a lie” that Brexit would make tackling the crisis easier. The paper says the deal was unveiled hours after hundreds of people were seen being escorted from French shores without being stopped by police.

The Daily Telegraph headline reads: "Macron: 'Brexit lies' to blame for crisis" — The majority of Friday’s papers lead with the UK-France “one in, one out” agreement to tackle migrant Channel crossings. The Daily Telegraph reports French President Emmanuel Macron said British people had been “sold a lie” that Brexit would make tackling the crisis easier. The paper says the deal was unveiled hours after hundreds of people were seen being escorted from French shores without being stopped by police.

Macron’s comments on Brexit fuelling Channel crossings also lead the i newspaper. Leaving the EU without a returns agreement created an incentive for migrants to make the crossing, which he said was the “precise opposite of what Brexit promised”.

The i newspaper headline reads: "New migrants swap deal to start in weeks as Macron blames Brexit for small boats crisis" — Macron’s comments on Brexit fuelling Channel crossings also lead the i newspaper. Leaving the EU without a returns agreement created an incentive for migrants to make the crossing, which he said was the “precise opposite of what Brexit promised”.

“What a joke” is the Daily Mail’s assessment of the “one in, one out” scheme with France. The “half-baked” deal “was already threatening to unravel”, according to the paper, after the prime minister conceded it was “not a silver bullet”.

The Daily Mail headline reads: "What a joke" — “What a joke” is the Daily Mail’s assessment of the “one in, one out” scheme with France. The “half-baked” deal “was already threatening to unravel”, according to the paper, after the prime minister conceded it was “not a silver bullet”.

The Guardian also leads with the deal, noting that it is the first time such an agreement has been struck between the UK and France.

The Guardian headline reads: "UK and France in 'one in, one out' deal to cut illegal boat crossings" — The Guardian also leads with the deal, noting that it is the first time such an agreement has been struck between the UK and France.

The Daily Express front page also carries criticism of the deal, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer being accused of “caving in”. Opponents say it will do little to stop the flow of boats across the Channel, the paper reports.

The Daily Express headline reads: "'Cave-in' will fail to stop boats' — The Daily Express front page also carries criticism of the deal, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer being accused of “caving in”. Opponents say it will do little to stop the flow of boats across the Channel, the paper reports.

Metro carries comments from shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, who said the deal would not address the “migrant merry-go-round”. It has been reported that the scheme would see up to 50 people a week being returned, though Sir Keir has not confirmed any figures. But with the agreement being signed on a day that hundreds of people arrived in the UK, the paper says there is “instant doubt it will work”.

Metro headline reads: "It's one in, one doubt" — Metro carries comments from shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, who said the deal would not address the “migrant merry-go-round”. It has been reported that the scheme would see up to 50 people a week being returned, though Sir Keir has not confirmed any figures. But with the agreement being signed on a day that hundreds of people arrived in the UK, the paper says there is “instant doubt it will work”.

The UK-France deal is already facing opposition among some EU politicians, The Times reports. In its lead story, the paper reports that the Department of Health is looking to limit GPs issuing “not fit for work” notes. Last year, the NHS issued 11 million “fit notes”, 93% of which declared people “not fit for work” with no alternative plan to get them back in employment, the paper reports.

The Times headline reads: "Crackdown to cure UK of sick note epidemic" — The UK-France deal is already facing opposition among some EU politicians, The Times reports. In its lead story, the paper reports that the Department of Health is looking to limit GPs issuing “not fit for work” notes. Last year, the NHS issued 11 million “fit notes”, 93% of which declared people “not fit for work” with no alternative plan to get them back in employment, the paper reports.

The Financial Times leads with accusations of sexual harassment and gender discrimination at Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of luxury brand LVMH. Maria Gasparovic, a former chief of staff to the company’s global head of distribution, is seeking €1.3m (£1.1m) in damages for unfair dismissal after she raised concerns about misconduct about senior colleagues. Moët Hennessy is suing Gasparovic for defamation, saying that she was fired because she made threatening remarks to colleagues.

The Financial Times headline reads: "Moët Hennessy sexual harassment case shines light on company's culture" — The Financial Times leads with accusations of sexual harassment and gender discrimination at Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of luxury brand LVMH. Maria Gasparovic, a former chief of staff to the company’s global head of distribution, is seeking €1.3m (£1.1m) in damages for unfair dismissal after she raised concerns about misconduct about senior colleagues. Moët Hennessy is suing Gasparovic for defamation, saying that she was fired because she made threatening remarks to colleagues.

Celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo’s relocation to Australia makes the front page of the Sun, which reports the former I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here winner is launching “multiple work projects” there.

The Sun headline reads: "Gino: Get me out of here" — Celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo’s relocation to Australia makes the front page of the Sun, which reports the former I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here winner is launching “multiple work projects” there.

The Daily Mirror says it has seen a leaked letter from the BBC to former Masterchef host Gregg Wallace following his dismissal. In it, the Mirror says a senior member of staff tells him his behaviour is “unlikely to improve”. Wallace denies the allegations against him and has hired a “top lawyer to fight the claims”, the paper reports.

The Daily Mirror headline reads: "You'll never change" — The Daily Mirror says it has seen a leaked letter from the BBC to former Masterchef host Gregg Wallace following his dismissal. In it, the Mirror says a senior member of staff tells him his behaviour is “unlikely to improve”. Wallace denies the allegations against him and has hired a “top lawyer to fight the claims”, the paper reports.

And the Daily Star leads with US President Donald Trump’s praise of Liberian President Joseph Boakai for his “good English”, despite it being the country’s official language. The paper says Trump’s comments would have left the US president feeling “red faced” during their meeting earlier this week.

The Daily Star headline reads: "Trump does dumb's up" — And the Daily Star leads with US President Donald Trump’s praise of Liberian President Joseph Boakai for his “good English”, despite it being the country’s official language. The paper says Trump’s comments would have left the US president feeling “red faced” during their meeting earlier this week.

Many of the papers lead on the UK-France migration deal, which will get under way “in weeks” according to the i newspaper, while The Guardian says the timetable is still unclear. The Daily Telegraph focuses on President Macron’s blaming of Brexit for the rise in Channel crossings. “Brexit lies to blame for crisis” is its headline.

The Daily Mail calls the agreement “a joke” and “half-baked”. Its front page features a picture of migrants on a dinghy with the caption “V for victory”. The Daily Express notes the deal has been “ridiculed” after hundreds of more migrants arrived in small boats. “It’s one in, one doubt” reads Metro’s headline.

The Times reports on a government pilot scheme, in which GPs in England will be told to refer patients to job coaches or the gym, instead of issuing them sick notes. The paper says it’s aimed at fixing what it calls the “sick note epidemic”. It says the scheme will be trialled in 15 regions, and GP surgeries will be given funding to provide the specialist support. 93% of the 11 million “fit notes” issued by the NHS last year were declaring people not fit for work, according to the paper. Health Secretary Wes Streeting is quoted as saying “we simply can’t afford to keep writing people off”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will put reforms of cash ISAs on hold after backlash from building societies, according to the Financial Times. Its report says the plans to cut tax breaks for the savings accounts have not been abandoned, but Reeves wants more time to consult with industry leaders.

The Daily Mirror says the sacked TV presenter, Gregg Wallace, was told by BBC bosses that they didn’t believe he could improve his behaviour. Its report quotes a letter from the head of compliance for BBC TV, Claire Powell, who told the former MasterChef host: “I do not have the confidence you can change”. Gregg Wallace denies the allegations of misconduct.

President Trump has been left “red faced”, according to the Daily Star’s front page. The paper says Donald Trump praised the Liberian President Joseph Boakai for speaking English well – despite it being his country’s official language.