Nothing to cheer - except the front pages

There isn’t much to cheer us up on the covers of today's newspapers … except, perhaps, the front pages themselves. There is certainly a strong and varied range of covers on the autumn statement. 

The pick, and bleakest, of the bunch is The Independent which will jump off the news-stands. Promoting one of its greatest assets, cartoonist Dave Brown, to the front is a bold move. The yellow titlepiece is brave too ... a cross between a Watchmen cover (hat tip to @MrJamesMcMath) and the front of a Gothic Batman comic. 

The Times also uses its cartoonist, the equally excellent Peter Brookes, on the front. A simple and direct message illustrating the Chancellor missing his targets. Bold, if not quite as bold as the Independent.

I really like the Daily Telegraph's approach too, combining the snow picture with Osborne's grim assessment that there is a long, hard road ahead. The blurbs are wiped away, the titlepiece imposed on the photo and Benedict Brogan's analysis is promoted to the front.

The Guardian also uses an excellent picture, by the Press Association, of a hysterical Osborne and David Cameron with a smart and pertinent headline.

The Daily Mirror decides Stuart Hall’s arrest is far more important but uses a variation of the giggling Cameron and Osborne. It’s headlines are, as you’d expect, more broadsword than The Guardian’s. 'The grin reapers: Six more years of cuts and they think it’s funny'. Good tabloid stuff.

On the other hand, the FT wins the bizarre front page headline of the day award by a country mile. 'G-Dawg splashes out tax cuts like P Diddy with Dom Perignon in his blingiest giveaway'. Really?

  

The Daily Mail presents a more traditional front … one that makes it clear the paper is struggling to offer even lukewarm support to the Chancellor.

The Daily Express also offers a no-nonsense headline and makes sure, of course, that the weather is still prominent.

The Sun, like the Mirror, decides Stuart Hall means more to its readers. And, on a pretty bleak day, tries to offer a little light relief with the Australian radio hoaxers.

And finally the Daily Star ignores all that economic stuff and goes with its exclusive interview with Frankie Dettori on his drugs shame.

In the regions things are a little more uplifting. This wrap from the Eastern Daily Press, celebrating the Light Dragoons' return to Norfolk, is a great example of what regional newspapers do so well. 

Overall, though, a day of pretty grim content ... but all neatly wrapped up in some first rate pages. Well done the designers.

Thanks as always to

 Nick Sutton @suttonnick 

#tomorrowspaperstoday