Almost all of the papers lead on the new lockdown rules brought into effect by the government this week. The Times reports that people will be able to play sport with a friend or family member from outside their household – or socialise with them in the open air – for the first time in more than six weeks. The paper says some sporting facilities, including golf courses and tennis courts, will be allowed to reopen, as long as they conform to the new rules.
The i features a summary of some of the key points contained in the government document. These include the advice that people should cover their faces in shops or when using public transport and that visits to small groups of family or friends may be allowed from next month.
The public was urged by the prime minister to use their “common sense” in exiting the lockdown, reports the Daily Express.
The Sun reports that “desperate” grandparents could be able to hug their grandchildren from next month. The paper says government scientists are working on plans to allow over-70s to see members of another household.
As part of this plan, the two households would form a “social bubble”, the Daily Mail notes. But the proposal, it says, throws up “complex” issues that would have to be addressed to avoid a “deadly” spike in coronavirus cases. It says some families could end up with the “heart-breaking” choice of deciding which set of grandparents to form their bubble with.
But the Metro is among the papers to pick up on criticism of the new measures, reporting that loopholes and uncertainty continue to “dog” Mr Johnson’s plan for easing Britain out of the lockdown. The paper says the government’s new rules remain open to interpretation, with even Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab appearing to be unclear on them on Monday.
The Daily Telegraph says the prime minister faced a “host” of questions and confusion over his strategy. Mr Johnson was asked to explain how it was “logical” for people to be able to mix in workplaces but not with family members, and how parents could follow his “back-to-work” mantra if schools were still not open, the paper says.
Mr Johnson has also been warned he is putting blue-collar workers in harm’s way, reports the Financial Times, as he “scrambles” to get manufacturing and construction employees back to work on Wednesday. Labour and union leaders accused the prime minister of trying to “bounce” people back into work without allowing time to establish arrangements for safe workplaces and public transport, the paper says.
The Daily Mirror uses its front page to call on Mr Johnson to put safety first. The paper says it has emerged that coronavirus-related deaths are highest in the working class. It quotes Unison’s Dave Prentis as saying “We’ve got to get this right. If we don’t, more lives will be lost.”
Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Johnson of failing to give the public clear directions on the way through the crisis, the Guardian reports, as the government struggled to answer a “barrage” of questions about its new advice to “stay alert”. The paper says the Labour leader has been broadly supportive of the government’s approach to the crisis until now, but has stepped up his criticism in recent days amid what his party sees as mixed messages about the next steps.
And finally, presenter Scarlett Moffatt has said she has had a close encounter with an alien – and has prepared herself for another “ET drama”, according to the Daily Star. The paper says the I’m a Celebrity winner and her dad Mark have a “safe word” in case they’re abducted.
“Johnson under attack for risking staff safety, in back-to-work dash” is the front-page headline on the Financial Times.
It says the prime minister has been criticised by Labour and some unions for encouraging people working in manufacturing and construction to go back to their jobs, without ensuring their safety on public transport and in their workplaces.
The FT’s leader says Mr Johnson’s approach suggests a “cavalier attitude towards the welfare of blue-collar workers”.
The headline on the front of the Daily Mirror is a direct message to Boris Johnson: “You must protect the workers.”
Its opinion column states that “the fight against coronavirus has tragically become a class war”.
It acknowledges that some employers will be responsible and safeguard their staff. But it goes on to warn that “there will be exploitative bosses who cut corners or do nothing”.
The Daily Telegraph highlights the prime minister’s response to those criticising the new rules as contradictory – that the public should “use good, solid common sense”.
There’s a column by the former Conservative leader, Lord Hague, who argues that Mr Johnson’s latest slogan, “stay alert”, has gone down badly because his original one, “stay at home”, was so good.
He invites readers to consider how people would have reacted if, during the Brexit referendum, “take back control” had been changed to “take back a bit of influence”.
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The Guardian’s headline is “Johnson providing no clear direction on lockdown exit”.
Its leader argues that after several days of “mixed messages and confused assertions”, the prime minister urgently needs to come up with a plan which the country “can understand and unite around”.
The website Huffpost UK examines what it calls the “24 calamitous hours” in which Mr Johnson’s message “unravelled”.
It casts an eye over the social media response to Sunday night’s speech and the government’s subsequent updates.
Among the highlights of the reaction, it believes, is a satirical video posted by the comedian, Matt Lucas. In it, he impersonates the prime minister, saying: “Don’t go to work, go to work. Go outside, don’t go outside… and then we will or won’t, something or other.”
On its front page, the Daily Mail celebrates a more positive aspect of the plan to ease lockdown restrictions – the fact that relatives who don’t live together will be able to see each other once again.
The headline is “We ARE going to meet again”.
The Sun takes the story further, reporting on plans for a “Gran day out”… with “hugs for grandkids from the 1st of June”.
Both the Daily Telegraph and the Sun suggest the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is to announce that the government’s coronavirus furlough scheme is to be extended until September.
It was originally due to run until the end of June.
The Telegraph says during that period the taxpayer will cover 60% of wages, instead of the current 80%.
The Sun reports that staff who return to their jobs part-time will still qualify for payments.
It quotes the Federation of Small Businesses, saying this will be vital to keep many firms afloat.
‘Great lockdown divide’
Under the headline “Great lockdown divide”, the Daily Mail reveals that different parts of England could emerge from the restrictions at different times.
This would depend, it explains, on where the virus flares up, so, for example, Newcastle would not have to tighten its measures if there was a fresh outbreak in Cornwall.
The Daily Express is surprised by a suggestion from the government – that it is considering using waste water to track the spread of Covid-19.
An expert tells the paper that, although the infection can be detected in sewage, it breaks down in water more easily than other viruses, so this may not be the best way to trace it.
There’s a warning in the Times that the battle to contain the dangerous invasive plant, giant hogweed, may have been lost.
The plant, which was brought into Britain in the 19th Century, secretes chemicals which can cause serious burns.
The Times reports that it has spread to most parts of the country.
It explains that scientists think this year’s flooding may have carried seeds downstream to new areas, and the warm weather has helped the species to thrive.
Finally, the Guardian reports that the guitar used by Kurt Cobain during Nirvana’s famous “MTV Unplugged in New York” concert is to go under the hammer.
The performance took place in 1993, five months before the singer died at the age of 27.
The paper says the instrument will be auctioned in Los Angeles next month, and has a starting estimate of $1m.
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