Newspaper headlines: \'Baby BoJoy\' and Captain Tom\'s 100th birthday

Newspaper headlines: 'Baby BoJoy' and Captain Tom's 100th birthday

By BBC News Staff
The Sun front page 30 April
Image caption "Good news at last for Britain" is the Sun's take on the arrival of Boris Johnson's first baby with fiancee Carrie Symonds on Wednesday morning, and Captain Tom Moore turning 100 today. The war hero, who has raised almost £30m for the NHS by walking 100 laps around his garden, will be promoted to honorary colonel to mark his milestone birthday.
The Daily Express front page 30 April
Image caption "New dad Boris bounces back to work" is the Daily Express's take on the prime minister's new son. The paper claims an exclusive splash with a "battle cry for Britons" issued by Capt Tom Moore on his 100th birthday, with the headline "together we will beat this enemy", as the NHS fundraiser is pictured with a birthday cake and celebratory drink.
The Metro front page 30 April
Image caption A beaming Mr Johnson is pictured on the front page of the Metro as he arrives back at Downing Street after the birth of his son. Like other papers, the Metro leads with Capt Tom Moore's milestone birthday, which it says will be marked with an RAF flypast and a train named after him will take to the tracks.
The Daily Telegraph front page 30 April
Image caption Mr Johnson's baby news also features prominently on the Daily Telegraph's front page, with columnist Judith Woods describing it as a "balm for the soul in these anxious times". The paper's splash also concerns the prime minister, who its says is expected to "dash" hopes of a major easing of lockdown measures during his first Downing Street press conference since returning to work after recovering from coronavirus.
The Daily Mail front page 30 April
Image caption The Daily Mail's front page reports on two "important deliveries": the birth of the prime minister's son with Ms Symonds; and the arrival of a planeload of protective kit to the NHS frontline, which the paper's new charity, Mail Force, purchased and flew into the UK from China.
The Guardian front page 30 April
Image caption The Guardian focuses on the prime minister's praise for the health service following the birth of his new son at an NHS hospital in London. However, the paper's splash reports hospital leaders have criticised the government's coronavirus testing strategy and dismissed its target of 100,000 daily tests - which No 10 had hoped to hit by today - as a "'red herring' that distracted from their failures".
The i front page 30 April
Image caption "Johnson Junior" is the i's take on the prime minister's baby news. The paper's splash focuses on care homes being the "new front line" of the coronavirus pandemic after official figures revealed the number of people who have died with the virus in the UK has passed 26,000, after deaths in the community, such as care homes, were included for the first time on Wednesday.
The Daily Mirror front page 30 April
Image caption "A national tragedy" is how the Daily Mirror describes Wednesday's grim death toll, with the paper reporting the UK is on course to be the "worst in Europe". It quotes Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who branded the death toll "truly dreadful".
The Daily Star front page 30 April
Image caption The Daily Star turns to beloved British sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps for the headline of its top story, which reports national jubilation after pub chain JD Wetherspoon announced it hopes to reopen its doors to drinkers "in or around June".
The Financial Times front page 30 April
Image caption The Financial Times' top story reports workplaces are to receive detailed guidance on how staff can safely return to work as part of government plans to reopen the economy. Business Secretary Alok Sharma is working to produce the guidance by the weekend, which the paper claims will include advice on curbing access to communal spaces - such as canteens - and the avoidance of face-to-face work.

The Guardian says hospital leaders have launched what it calls a "strident attack" on the government's coronavirus testing strategy.

NHS Providers, which represent trusts, has expressed their growing frustration. It dismisses the daily 100,000 test target - which the paper expects to be missed by a wide margin - as a "red herring".

The Independent examines the wisdom of Health Secretary Matt Hancock, giving himself what it calls this "remarkable statistical rod for his back".

But the Daily Mail suggests that missing the self-imposed target does matter, insisting that it raises "questions of confidence and trust" if a minister makes a promise and fails to keep it.

Both the Daily Telegraph and the Financial Times report that Business Secretary Alok Sharma is looking at how to get Britain back to work safely. The FT says that the minister is aiming to produce 10 papers by the weekend giving advice to employers.

Clear guidance is to be welcomed, the head of the CBI employers' group, Carolyn Fairbairn, tells the FT, while noting that the hospitality sector has little hope of renewed activity until the Autumn.

Image copyright Downing Street
Image caption Boris Johnson arrives back in Downing Street after the birth of his son on Wednesday

But the suggestion by the head of Wetherspoons, Tim Martin, that his pubs could re-open in June is reported in several papers. The Daily Star splashes the idea on its front page with the headline "12 pints of lager and a pack of crisps, please!"

The FT quotes Mr Martin as saying it was "complete cobblers" to suggest he had firm plans.

The Times puts forward the prediction that air passengers could wait for up to four hours to board planes as they undergo medical checks. Analysts have forecast that the flight experience could be "very uncomfortable" for up to five years, with travellers paying inflated ticket prices and facing a greatly reduced schedule.

The i examines research that suggests the lockdown could have cut the number of pollution related deaths by 1,700. The paper reports that nitrogen dioxide levels have fallen by 36%. Lauri Myllyvirta of the Centre for Research on Clean Air and Energy says: "It's a bit like the entire continent suddenly deciding to stop smoking for a month."

But an expert from Imperial College tells the Times that the "interpretation of the findings is open to question".

'Infectious joy'

And finally, pictures of a smiling Boris Johnson back in Downing Street after the birth of his son appear on many of the front pages.

The Daily Telegraph describes his "crumpled features" being "illuminated with...infectious joy," which it suggests "felt like a balm for the soul".

The Times suggests that despite the pandemic the child is "lucky" and "Britain in 2020 is an excellent place and time to enter the world."

Image copyright PA Media
Image caption Captain Tom initially set out to raise £1,000 for the NHS but has since raised nearly £30m

Many papers also feature the fund-raising veteran Tom Moore, who is 100 today and has been made a colonel.

The Sun declares "Britain celebrates two morale-boosting birthdays".

The Daily Express says he has a rousing birthday message for the UK that "together we will beat this enemy."