BBC News

Newspaper headlines: Record GCSE results and 55 years for Manchester bomb plotter

By BBC News
Staff

Published
1 hour ago
image caption"See you in 55 years, pal", is the Metro's take on the news that Hashem Abedi, brother of the Manchester arena suicide bomber Salman, has been jailed for a record prison term of at least 55 years. He helped his older sibling Salman to plan the atrocity that killed 22 men, women and children and injured hundreds more at an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017. The judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, warned Abedi - who refused to leave his cell at the Old Bailey for the sentencing - that he "may never be released".
image captionThe Daily Express also leads on the 55-year minimum jail term handed to Hashem Abedi. Its headline echoes comments by Paul Hett, whose son Martyn was killed in the bombing, who said that in light of the sentence, he believes the Parole Board will ensure Abedi "never sees the light of day again".
image captionThe i's front page reports on the "joy" at Thursday's GCSE results, after significant grade inflation saw a rise of a quarter in the top grades - a 7 or above, equivalent to an A in the old system. But it was not all smiles, the paper suggests, as almost half a million BTec students may still have to wait until next week for their results. It came as schools minister Nick Gibb apologised for the "pain and anxiety" caused to students after the grading system for A-levels and GCSEs was reversed at the last minute.
image captionThe Daily Star's front page continues to portray the education secretary as a clown, this time accusing Gavin Williamson of knowing six weeks ago that "poorer" children would be more disadvantaged by the computer algorithm used to calculate exam results.
image captionMuch is made of elbows - both proverbial and actual - in the Telegraph's coverage of Thursday's exam results. It says this year's GCSEs were the highest on record after an algorithm designed to calculate them was given the elbow - just as two students, pictured on its front page, give each other a congratulatory elbow bump after opening their results. The paper's splash says that hospital admissions for coronavirus were "inflated" at the peak of the pandemic, as patients admitted for other illnesses were included in outbreak statistics. The revelations emerged as a result of an investigation for the government's Science Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), with the paper quoting one experts who said that admissions data was "the best marker of the impact of the disease".
image captionThe Times' lead story claims that middle class children may have to take gap years after universities minister Michelle Donelan told universities to prioritise children from more disadvantaged backgrounds for admission this year. The paper reports that the government move has support from the watchdog, the Office for Students, as it warns children from these backgrounds must not be "allowed to slip through the net", but others, including the thinktank the Higher Education Policy Institute, are sceptical about its practical implementation.
image caption"Boris carries on camping" is the front page headline of the Daily Mail, which claims an exclusive photograph of the prime minister's summer "staycation" on the Scottish coast, as it criticises him for failing to express a "word of sympathy" for "let down" pupils. The paper suggests Boris Johnson has spent some time camping in a tepee-style canvas tent, pictured on its front page, pitched close to a three-bedroom "hideaway" he and fiancée Carrie Symonds have been staying in.
image captionThe Daily Mirror's top story claims that the BBC's evening TV news bulletins are "doomed" as more people watch news online. via phones and iPlayer. The paper quotes BBC head of news Fran Unsworth who said in 10 years' time, people "probably won't be consuming linear bulletins", adding "I might be wrong about that, but I doubt it."
image captionThe Guardian's main story reports fears that Birmingham could be placed under a local lockdown after a rise in cases there., if the public do not act. The paper says concern over the rate of increase has prompted West Midlands police to "openly discuss" the prospect if a city-wide lockdown and have appealed to residents to follow social distancing rules and avoid gatherings.
image captionThe Financial Times' lead story reports that companies across America are handing top bosses multi-million dollar "retention" bonuses shortly before declaring bankruptcy, much to the chagrin of creditors, who complain the payments are "rewards for failure". But the paper says the practice - which has become commonplace among troubled companies pushed over the edge by the coronavirus pandemic- has its supporters, who claim it limits disruption for groups already facing a "tumultuous future".

Virus hospital admissions 'over-reported'

The Daily Telegraph reports that an investigation for the government's Sage committee has found that hospital admissions for coronavirus were "over-reported" at the peak of the pandemic. It says patients were counted as Covid-19 admissions if they had ever had the disease - even if they went to hospital for other reasons.
The Guardian's main headline says there's been a "sharp rise" in infections - up by 27% in a week in England - to reach the highest level since mid-June. It says people in Birmingham have been urged to act now to avert a city-wide lockdown.
The Times highlights a letter to vice-chancellors from the universities minister, Michelle Donelan - urging them to prioritise admitting students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The paper suggests such a move could force middle-class children to take a gap year, after the chaos over A-Level results left many courses oversubscribed.

'Boris carries on camping'

The front page of the Daily Mail claims to reveal where the Prime Minister has been on holiday throughout what the paper calls the "extraordinary exams fiasco". With the headline, "Boris Carries On Camping!", it says Mr Johnson has been spending time at a remote cottage on the Scottish coast - with a tepee-style tent pitched nearby.
Many of the papers reflect on the record 55-year minimum sentence handed to the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber. The Daily Express has the headline, "Never Let Him See The Light Of Day".
The Metro picks out comments by the judge at the Old Bailey who said he would have given Hashem Abedi a whole life term, but was unable to do so because of his age at the time of the attack.
The Sun's leader column describes the judge as "a credit to our justice system", arguing long sentences for convicted terrorists will help eradicate jihadism in Britain.
The Financial Times uses its leader column to denounce what it calls "Russia's dark culture of political violence", following the alleged poisoning of the prominent Kremlin critic, Alexei Navalny. "There is no certainty the authorities or state-linked actors were responsible", it says, "yet in Russia they must be prime suspects until proven otherwise".
The FT goes on to argue that where the Russian leadership is "undoubtedly culpable" is in allowing a culture of impunity around such violence. Foreign investors, it warns, "should not close their eyes".

Future of BBC news bulletins

With the headline, "Beeb TV News Doomed", the Daily Mirror says the corporation's head of news has suggested the main evening bulletins could be obsolete within a decade, as more people consume reports on phones and the iPlayer.
Fran Unsworth is quoted as saying: "TV journalism will still be around because of the power of pictures to tell a story, but not necessarily in its current form. I might be wrong, but I doubt it."
The former BBC newsreader, Angela Rippon, has told the Mirror that scrapping the bulletins would lead to "information anarchy and chaos".

'Cloud will hang over Class of 2020'

As is common at this time of year, the papers are full of photographs of excited teenagers celebrating their GCSEs - but there's also concern about inflated grades following a record-breaking set of results.
"Prizes For All In Class Of Covid", says the Daily Mail.
According to the Guardian, headteachers are considering challenging the "unusually high" marks, with some reporting "bizarre anomalies" where pupils were unexpectedly upgraded beyond their school assessed grade by the now discredited algorithm used by the exams regulator, Ofqual.
The Daily Telegraph's leader column warns that "a cloud will always hang over the 2020 generation", but puts the blame squarely at the door of ministers. "Given everything else the country is going through", it says, "maintaining rigorous education standards is a battle the government hasn't had the heart to see through."

Britain bounces back

The front page of the Sun strikes a more positive tone by highlighting figures which the paper claims show Britain is "definitely bouncing back" from the nationwide lockdown.
It says High Street and shopping centre activity is picking up, while traffic has almost returned to normal levels, helped by the "ever-dependable White Van Man back out on the road."
The Sun argues it would be "churlish" not to celebrate, but admits to remaining concerned about the future of offices, as well as the cleaners, shop owners and transport employees who depend on their survival for work.
A photograph of Steve Bannon is featured prominently by the Times, after Donald Trump's former chief strategist was charged with fraud. The paper says he was arrested on a boat off the coast of Connecticut, before pleading not guilty at a virtual hearing to defrauding donors who had contributed to a campaign raising funds to build a border wall with Mexico.
The Financial Times says Mr Trump "tried to distance himself from Mr Bannon and his project yesterday", saying he hadn't dealt with him for a very long time, and it was "a very sad thing".

Palace guard bearskin hats 'under threat'

The iconic bearskin hats worn by Buckingham Palace Guardsmen are under threat, according to the Daily Express, which claims to exclusively reveal that the government is drawing up plans to "raise standards even further", two decades after fur farming was banned in the UK.
The animal welfare minister, Lord Goldsmith, is said to be keen to introduce "tough new laws" once Britain has left the EU, which could also see an end to the ermine worn in the upper chamber of parliament.
A spokesman for the British Fur Trade Association has told the paper it "beggars belief" that in the middle of a pandemic and a catastrophic recession, "the government is secretly working on plans to ban the fur in people's wardrobes."
Finally, a number of papers cast their eye over the latest batch of places to be given protected status.
The Daily Mirror picks out a curved playpark slide on the Brunel Estate in central London - described by National Heritage as a "particularly ambitious and inventive creation."
The Daily Telegraph highlights Stockley Park, a 350 acre site near Heathrow Airport, which has become the first business estate to be Grade Two listed.
Historic England says its design shows influences from 17th-century English and French landscapes, but the Telegraph notes that glass-lined offices, acres of parking and a used car dealership make it "an unlikely choice."