INFORMING BRITAIN PRESS PREVIEW (WEDNESDAY'S PAPERS): WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2026 | TOMORROW'S PAPERS TODAY AT INFORMING BRITAIN

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Welcome to your official rundown of headlines on a selection of Newspapers' Front Pages for Wednesday 18 February 2026.
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Browse through #IBPapers on ​𝕏, and #IBPapers on BlueSky, to keep up with the latest from Informing Britain Papers on Social Media.
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This is a selection of newspaper publications from United Kingdom, and around the world.

All papers are from within United Kingdom, unless otherwise stated.
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If the leading story is available, links will be provided.
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​This page will be updated as the headlines come in.

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Daily Express: "'MILLIONS ARE CRYING OUT FOR REWARD OF HARD WORK'"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Steph Spyro / Katie Harris

The Labour Party was branded the "silent killer of aspiration" as the job-less rate hit 5.2%.
One Tory claimed "millions are crying out for the reward of hard work".

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Glasgow Times: "RAPE CRISIS CENTRE AT A STANDSTILL"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Nicole Mitchell

Three Rape Crisis centres have come together to write to the Scottish Government expressing "profound alarm" at its decision not to uplift funding for frontline services.

FULL REPORT: GlasgowTimes.co.uk/news/scottish-news/25863122.three-rape-crisis-centres-write-government-funding

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​Daily Star: "RAMSAY: TOUGH CHILDHOOD MADE ME BETTER DAD"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Ed Gleave

Fiery chef Gordon Ramsay says his horror upbringing with a violent, alcoholic father has made him a better dad but he feels guilty about his wayward brother.

FULL REPORT: DailyStar.co.uk/showbiz/gordon-ramsays-wife-reveals-words-36738241

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Lancashire Telegraph: "FAMER STABBED NEXT DOOR'S DOG TO DEATH"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Nat Goodlad

Billy Wilkinson, a farmer of Haggs Hall Fields in Blackburn, used a penknife to stab a Border Terrier belonging to the neighobouring farm to death.

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The Independent: "SECRET FILES SHOW PLAN TO END PRISON SCANDAL WILL FAIL"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Amy Clare Martin

Damning prison projections uncovered by The Independent reveal the Government’s action plan to tackle the scandal of indefinite jail terms will leave hundreds of prisoners to rot.

FULL REPORT: INDEPENDENT.CO.UK/news/uk/crime/ipp-sentence-prison-projections-lord-thomas-b2917606.html

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Daily Mirror: "NO LAUGHING MATTER"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Alexander Brown

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage unveiled his top team yesterday, full of Conservative Party turncoats who have already trashed Britain once.

FULL REPORT: MIRROR.CO.UK/news/politics/whos-who-nigel-farages-shadow-36735004

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The Yorkshire Post: "'TREASURY HOLDS BACK GROWTH IN THE REGION'"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Kit Sandeman

The Treasury control over transport infrastructure spending is holding back economic growth in Yorkshire, a report by an influential Think Tank has found.

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Morning Star: "LABOUR TOGETHER SCANDAL KNOCKING ON AT SARWAR'S DOOR"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Matt Kerr

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar's claim that he did not know the minister at the centre of the Labour Together was rubbished as "not credible" by The Scottish National Party yesterday.
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FULL REPORT: MorningStarOnline.co.uk/article/labour-together-scandal-threatens-engulf-sarwar

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The Guardian: "ONE IN NINE NEW HOMES 'BUILT IN AREAS OF FLOOD RISK'"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Helena Horton

One in nine new homes in England built between 2022 and 2024 were constructed in areas that could now be at risk of flooding, according to new data.

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The Times: "LABOUR MAY DROP YOUTH WAGE PLEDGE TO BOOST JOBS"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Oliver Wright / Max Kendix / Jack Barnett

Ministers are considering ditching The Labour Party's manifesto pledge to pay young people the same national Minimum Wage as older workers after suggestions that the policy is fuelling record youth unemployment.

FULL REPORT: TheTimes.com/uk/politics/article/labour-minimum-wage-business-warning-0tm2fjk3n

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Scottish Daily Mail: "PRESSURE PILES ON ANDREW AS FOURTH POLICE FORCE PROBES EPSTEIN CLAIMS"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Inderdeep Bains

Pressure mounted on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as another police probe was launched into claims linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s activities in the United Kingdom.
The latest line of Inquiry will heap further pressure on the former Duke Of York, who features heavily in the tranche of documents.

FULL REPORT: DailyMail.co.uk/news/article-15568649

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​The Bolton News: "BLOCK ON 'DANGER DRIVERS'"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Zach Harrison

Local residents have welcomed drastic measures to block 'dangerous drivers' on Walker Avenue at its junction with Cotefield Avenue and Lynsted Avenue in Great Lever of Bolton, Greater Manchester.

FULL REPORT: TheBoltonNews.co.uk/news/25851244.neighbours-welcome-drastic-measures-shut-great-lever-road

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Daily Mail: "PRESSURE PILES ON ANDREW AS FOURTH POLICE FORCE PROBES EPSTEIN CLAIMS"
LEAD STORY CORRESPONDENT: Inderdeep Bains

Pressure mounted on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as another police probe was launched into claims linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s activities in the United Kingdom.
The latest line of Inquiry will heap further pressure on the former Duke Of York, who features heavily in the tranche of documents.

FULL REPORT: DailyMail.co.uk/news/article-15568649

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