Newspaper headlines: 'Red wall revolt' and Covid immunity warning

By BBC News
Staff

Published: 3 hours ago

image captionSeveral of the front pages lead with a letter to the prime minister from more than 50 Conservative MPs demanding a "clear road map" for northern areas that have been hit hardest by increased coronavirus restrictions. Backbenchers, who took seats from Labour in last year's election, warned of economic hardship "with no end in sight" without a regional recovery plan, the paper reports.

image captionThe Guardian says the MPs have expressed fears the government's "levelling up" agenda for the north of England is being abandoned. In their letter, the group warns that leaving behind northern constituencies "would threaten to undermine the government's hard won mandate" in last year's election.

image caption"Boris hit by red wall MPs revolt" is the headline for the Daily Mail. The paper says the intervention is a "significant challenge" to Boris Johnson because the Northern Research Group, which co-ordinated the letter, has enough MPs to overturn his Commons majority.

image captionThe group, led by Jake Berry, a former minister and close ally of Mr Johnson, have called for a clear strategy for exiting lockdown restrictions and have urged the prime minister to give priority to infrastructure projects in the north of England, the Times reports. In response a Downing Street spokesman told the paper it was "absolutely committed to levelling up across the country and building back better after coronavirus".

image captionThe Telegraph leads with new research suggesting immunity to Covid-19 may only last a matter of months - potentially hindering the roll-out of a successful vaccine. The study by Imperial College London, which involved 365,000 people, found antibodies in the population fell by more than a quarter in three months. Scientists said the findings suggested a "rapid" decline in immunity, which could mean that even if a successful vaccine was found, it might have to be administered as often as twice a year, the paper reports.

image captionThere is positive news on the front page of the Daily Express, which says there has been a "milestone" in the hunt for a coronavirus vaccine. Hopes of a breakthrough rose last night after early trials of the Oxford vaccine showed a "strong immune response" in older volunteers, according to the paper.

image captionMeanwhile, the row over free school meals rumbles on, after the prime minister defended his refusal to extend them over the half-term holiday. "Can't you feed nation's hungry kids, too?" asks the Daily Mirror, alongside a picture of Mr Johnson serving up food during a visit to a hospital in Reading.

image caption"Britain steps up to the plates" is the Metro's headline. The paper says a "volunteer army" is trying to make sure no child goes hungry this half-term, with cafes, restaurants and takeaways offering free food to families. On Monday, the prime minister insisted he was "very proud" of the government's support for needy families.

image caption"Eatin' mess" is the Daily Star's take, which says Old Etonian Mr Johnson is still refusing to extend free school meals despite saying he understands the campaign by England footballer Marcus Rashford to tackle holiday hunger.

image captionThe Financial Times leads with a story about Chinese fintech group Ant, which it reports is set to raise more than £34bn in its initial public offering - putting the group on track to top Saudi Aramco as the world's biggest market listing. On Monday, the company set the share price in an offering that was 284 times oversubscribed, the paper says.

Several papers lead with the letter from more than 50 Conservative MPs in the north of England, who are demanding a strategy to exit the tightest coronavirus restrictions.

According to the Daily Mail headline, it's a "revolt" by "red wall MPs". It points out that their intervention "is a significant challenge" to Boris Johnson because there are "enough MPs to overturn his Commons majority".

The Daily Telegraph names the former cabinet ministers David Davis, David Mundell and Esther McVey as among the signatories who fear that their communities will be "left behind" - particularly after Chancellor Rishi Sunak shelved his planned three-year spending review next month in favour of a one-year version.

It says they want Mr Johnson to reaffirm that he won't "downgrade pledges to spend big on infrastructure plans for the North".

image copyrightReuters

The Daily Express hails a "milestone" in the search for a Covid vaccine, with older volunteers apparently showing a "strong immune response" to a jab under trial at Oxford University.

People aged over 55 were found to have low levels of side-effects - offering hope that an effective vaccination programme will soon be possible.

The Daily Mirror contrasts an image of Mr Johnson serving hot plates of hospital food with his refusal to extend the free school meals programme during the holidays. "Can't you feed the nation's hungry kids too?" it asks.

In a play on words referring to his public school education, the Daily Star condemns his policy as an "Eatin' Mess". The Metro says a "volunteer army of caring Britons" has "stepped up to the plates" instead.

Huffpost UK presents evidence of the Tory backlash. One former minister concludes the party is on the wrong side of the culture war Mr Johnson sought, while another MP complains they trusted ministers, who made fools of them and left them "desperately fighting the flak back in our constituencies".

The former science minister and policy chief George Freeman predicts the Conservatives will suffer "annihilation" in next year's local elections, unless they change tack.

According to the Telegraph, Mr Johnson is preparing to give councils extra money for holiday clubs to provide children with at least one free meal a day outside term time - a suggestion made by the government's food tsar, Henry Dimbleby.

The paper adds that the scheme could be combined with extra study time for pupils catching up after lockdown, "enabling ministers to argue it was a planned policy, rather than an about-turn".

image copyrightPA Media

image captionSome businesses have stepped in to offer free meals to children over the half-term

The Times uncovers more details of the drama on board an oil tanker whose crew was threatened by a group of stowaways. A recording of the captain's mayday call reveals the stowaways had surrounded the control room before special forces stormed the vessel.

A source tells the paper they turned violent "when they realised that they weren't going to be allowed to get off and disappear into the British countryside".

And the Sun suggests it will be "all fright on the night" this Halloween, after Downing Street announced that trick or treating would be permitted in areas in tiers one and two of the Covid restrictions.

It says "millions of fun-starved kids" can "take part in the ghoulish festivities" - as long as they follow the rule of six and stay out of people's homes.