The Papers: PM's 'year of proof' and 'fight' with judges over Shamima Begum

Sir Keir Starmer will attempt to fix relationships with voters and "woo MPs" with a push to cut cost of living in 2026, the Guardian reports, ahead of a speech by the prime minister in the coming days. His reported plans are accompanied by Sydney's dazzling fireworks display "as the world rings in the new year".

Another message from Sir Keir that "2026 will be better" leads the Daily Mirror, as the PM promises to deliver change after a "tough year". Above, Queen Camilla meets with the Hunt family, whose family members were murdered in 2024. The paper reports that their story inspired Camilla to open up about her experience of an indecent assault as a teenager.

The Daily Mail enters the new year by leading on "Digital IDs for babies" that it says are a "sinister new plan" ministers have been privately discussing. Newborns could be allocated digital IDs "along with the 'red book' of health records given to parents", the paper writes, as part of an expansion of the digital ID scheme introduced by Sir Keir.

The Independent features Sydney's world-famous fireworks in its top slot while mentioning that "images of a menorah were projected on the Harbour Bridge" to pay tribute to Bondi Beach attack victims. The lead story focuses on the HS2 project being accused of spending "£37m of taxpayers' money buying up homes" on an axed part of the line.

Smiles and sunshine feature on the front page of the Daily Telegraph as British national Molly Taylor-South enters the New Year early in Sydney. Elsewhere, the home secretary vows to "fight European judges" over Shamima Begum. The European Court of Human Rights has reportedly formally challenged Britain's decision to strip Begum of her citizenship in 2019, the paper writes, after she "ran off to Syria" to join the Islamic State group.

Parents could lose support for their children living with "moderate mental health and development needs" due to cost-cutting plans, the Times reports.

The "big freeze begins" across the UK in the new year, as the i Paper informs readers of health and travel alerts. Yellow weather warnings have been issued for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the paper reports, while the Health and Security Agency reminds people to "check on vulnerable friends".

Dame Esther Rantzen asks the public to write to peers who oppose the assisted dying bill to "stop millions more suffering", the Daily Express reports. Last year, MPs narrowly backed proposed legislation which would introduce assisted dying in England and Wales, in an historic House of Commons vote.