Newspaper headlines: Churchill statue 'entombed' and future of the 2m rule
Many of Saturday's newspapers carry a photo of the boarded-up statue of Sir Winston Churchill on their front pages.
"We've lost our moral compass" is the headline in the Daily Telegraph - a reaction from Winston Churchill's grandson Sir Nicholas Soames to the row about the decision to cover up the former prime minister's statue in Whitehall.
Sir Nicholas condemns those who daubed the bronze sculpture with the word "racist" as "unspeakable" and "cowardly".
The Sun agrees. "We cannot cover up our history" is its take on the situation.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, the Home Secretary Priti Patel also agrees.
Angered after being accused by a group of Labour MPs of gaslighting others from minority communities, the home secretary tells the paper that "we have to learn from our past and look forwards".
She accuses those who have criticised her of being "trapped in their own version of history" and calls for Churchill to be set free.
In a swipe at Sadiq Khan, she says the situation is "a sad reflection on the Mayor of London, because had he stood up for the right thing, called out the minority who were subversive, pulled up the thuggery in the right way, we would not be seeing the boarding up of our national hero".
But the home secretary faces fresh criticism according to the Times.
It reports that police chiefs have accused her of "absolutely disgraceful" interference in her demands for a clampdown on Black Lives Matter protests.
The paper claims relations broke down over Ms Patel's insistence that activists responsible for the removal of a slave trader's statue in Bristol should face prosecution and her rebuke of the police involved for not preventing it.
A letter seen by the Times written by Avon and Somerset's police and crime commissioner backs the decision of the officers involved and states: "It is not for politicians, local or national to influence or second-guess operational policing matters."
The Guardian's coverage of the Black Lives Matter protests focus on the political discord being generated. "Boris Johnson accused of stoking fear and division", is its headline - an accusation levelled by the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine in response to the prime minister's claim that the demonstrations had been hijacked by extremists.
"Pure Trump" is the view of the paper's columnist Jonathan Freedland. He argues that the prime minister doesn't want to face the real issues, so he is distracting us with a "culture war".
But the Express defends Mr Johnson in its leader, comparing him to a Roman emperor beset by angry crowds of "media ranters" and political opponents waiting to metaphorically stone him to death.
It argues that "Boris must learn from history and resist mob rule" suggesting the key will be whether he can deliver on his optimistic and ambitious vision in post-coronavirus Britain.
That's a question several papers consider as they digest the latest figures on the economy. But the views on how to respond to what the Daily Mirror warns could be the "worst crash in 300 years" are poles apart.
The Financial Times acknowledges Mr Johnson is under pressure to relax the 2m rule after the economy slumps, but its editorial urges caution, insisting social distancing measures should only be eased when the coronavirus infection rate falls.
The Daily Telegraph reports Downing Street has been discreetly canvassing business opinion on the 2m rule in the last few days with a view to formally dropping it as a blanket approach, when infection rates drop further.
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The front page of the Times suggests the prime minister will make a public appearance on a High Street next week to urge Britain to "get out and shop".
But the paper also acknowledges that the prime minister faces a dilemma - reporting No 10 is torn between fears over the economy and concerns about a second wave of infection.
For added impact, it reports that a YouGov poll conducted for the paper shows that the Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer is now on an equal footing in terms of popularity as Boris Johnson.
"Downing Street banishes health experts if they dare to disagree" is the headline in today's i newspaper.
It is one of several papers to report that, as the Guardian puts it, "England's chief nurse was dropped from a daily Downing Street coronavirus briefing for refusing to back Dominic Cummings".
The i reports that appearances by scientists at the daily briefings have halved since the start of June and the furore about Mr Cummings' lockdown journey to Durham. Downing Street has denied the claims.
In an editorial, the Sun defends its decision to run an interview yesterday with the former husband of JK Rowling.
Jorge Arantes has admitted slapping the author - who has recently written about her experience of domestic abuse - adding he wasn't sorry about it. The article drew criticism from campaigners, but the paper defends the piece, saying it had spelt out its contempt for Arantes, branding him arrogant, and his confession "sick".
The Sun's front page today provides a more uplifting tale.
The story of 59-year-old John Betts, who spent a record 65 days on a ventilator in Northampton General Hospital after contracting Covid-19. He is pictured finally leaving hospital and heading home after making a good recovery. "Bounce back Briton," is the paper's headline.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror also attempts to cheer with its front page.
It exclusively reveals that plans are being drawn up to reward thousands of key workers for their efforts during the pandemic with a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace hosted by the Queen.