BBC News

Newspaper headlines: 'Spring it on!' and 'don't betray our children'

By BBC News
Staff

Published
image captionSome 22 million Britons will be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the spring, the Sun reports. The paper says NHS England chief Sir Simon Stevens has described the pledge as "the biggest chink of hope" for 2021. The paper notes the comments come after the UK recorded 41,385 new infections on Monday - a record high.
image captionScientists have told the government at least two million people a week will need to be jabbed to defeat a third wave of the virus, the Daily Telegraph says. The paper reports a projection as saying one million jabs per week would not be enough to contain surging infections. Elsewhere, the paper says the temporary Nightingale hospitals are being dismantled in some regions - and scientific advisers have warned ministers not to reopen secondary schools in January.
image caption"Don't betray our children", says the Daily Mail as it reports "fury" at the suggestion schools could be shut until February. It says the new term is already being postponed by a week for most pupils - but now teaching unions and scientists are calling for reopening to be delayed entirely. The Mail notes No 10 has said it is reviewing the issue.
image caption"PM under pressure to delay school reopenings" says the Times. It reports that Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove have both warned schools may have to stay closed for longer than planned to curb surging virus cases. But Mr Williamson is reported to be concerned pupils may fall further behind as a result.
image captionThere is a "split" over how to restart schools next month, the Guardian reports. It says plans for a staggered return for millions of pupils now "hang in the balance" as a debate rages on within government. The paper adds that a "rearguard action" by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson flies in the face of predictions reopening schools could take the UK's coronavirus reproduction number - or R - above one.
image caption"Swamped" is how the Daily Mirror reports concerns that hospitals are nearing breaking-point as virus cases flood wards in some parts of the country.
image captionThe value of the UK's trade deals in a post-Brexit boom is estimated by the Daily Express to be worth £900bn. It says the UK will enter a "boom" after 1 January - with billions more in trade deals expected in 2021.
image captionThe Financial Times reports on an investment deal between the European Union and China which it says will provide a boost for businesses in the EU.
image captionAnd the Daily Star reports that isolated British explorers are planning a "wild and boozy" New Year's Eve "mega party" without any coronavirus restrictions.

The debate within government about the reopening of schools in England makes the lead for several of Tuesday's newspapers.

The Guardian says the issue hangs in the balance. According to the paper, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is understood to be mounting a "rearguard action" against senior colleagues who are alarmed by advice that re-opening them next week will make it impossible to keep the reproduction rate of the virus - the R number - below one.

The Times has been told that Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove suggested at a meeting hosted by Downing Street that the reopening might have to be delayed.

It says Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked officials to draw up more "vigorous" plans for mass testing. Teachers could go on the priority list for vaccines, the paper adds.

The Daily Mail reports that a chorus of MPs and experts have cautioned against locking children out of school once more. "Don't betray our children", is its headline.

image copyrightPA Media

The Daily Mirror has a picture of ambulances lined up outside Eastbourne District Hospital in East Sussex - accompanied by the headline: "Swamped".

It says hospitals are struggling to cope in their worst week of the Covid-19 crisis so far.

According to the Telegraph, the Nightingale hospitals are being quietly dismantled as medics say there are not enough staff to run them.

The paper also reports that scientists have warned ministers that vaccines will have to be delivered at a rate of two million jabs a week - double the current target - to avoid a third wave of coronavirus.

The Sun sounds a more cheerful note, highlighting the message from the head of NHS England, Sir Simon Stevens.

The paper says things may look bleak, but 22 million people will be vaccinated by April. Its headline? "Spring it on!"

Another paper looking to the future for its lead is the Daily Express, which says Britain is heading for a post-Brexit boom after securing new trade deals worth nearly £900bn.

It says the latest tie-up with Turkey signed off by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss means that agreements are now in place with 62 countries.

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Finally, there's unease about reports that the government is to extend the Commons Christmas recess by nearly a week.

According to the Mail, Commons sources say MPs are being given extra days to compensate for having their holidays disrupted by tomorrow's special one-day sitting.

But, it goes on, others claim the return to Parliament is being delayed to help contain the spread of coronavirus.

The paper quotes one rebel Tory MP as saying the real reason is because ministers want to avoid scrutiny over lockdown restrictions.

And a survey for the consumer organisation Which? has found that we are increasingly receiving lousy Christmas gifts - and there was no exception this year.

The Express says one unlucky recipient unwrapped a bottle of Baileys past its sell-by date. The paper suspects the sender was among the one-in-five of us who recycles presents.

According to the Telegraph, a woman found herself receiving a plastic bucket, mop and pink rubber gloves - and said she felt insulted.