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Newspaper headlines: 'Holidays from 17 May' and 'care home freedom'

By BBC News
Staff

Published
image captionThe next easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions in England is the focus of many of Saturday's front pages. The Daily Telegraph says holidays abroad will "get the green light as planned from 17 May", with a traffic light system of rules for countries. Initially only a "tiny handful" of countries are expected to be on the green list, according to the paper. It says most European countries are expected to be on the amber list - meaning tests and quarantine for travellers.
image caption"Here we go!" declares the Daily Express, which also says Boris Johnson is due reveal his "holiday list". At the moment, people in England face a £5,000 fine for having a holiday abroad. If you want to leave the UK, you must fill in a travel declaration form stating a valid reason.
image captionMeanwhile, the Times reports that ministers are expected to approve further easing of restrictions from 17 May, including allowing people to hug friends and family from other households. But people will still be advised to retain social distancing with strangers, on public transport and at work, it says. The newspaper also quotes a government source as saying: "The data is looking very good. The scientists say we're on track for the next stage, unless something changes dramatically."
image captionThe i newspaper leads with news that from Tuesday care home residents in England will be able to leave their home for a walk or to visit a loved one's garden without having to self-isolate for 14 days on their return. It also claims scientists and No 10 are "increasingly" confident about mass gatherings without social distancing.
image caption"Help Us to Remember the Loved Ones We Lost" urges the Daily Mail, which leads on a campaign to help build a memorial in St Paul's Cathedral in London to honour those who have died with coronavirus.
image captionThe FT Weekend warns that drinkers have downed so many pints since lockdown restrictions were eased that pubs are facing a beer shortage over the Bank Holiday weekend. Separately, it reports that the eurozone slid into a double-dip recession in the first three months of this year, leaving the bloc lagging behind other major economies. Most of Europe faced varying levels of lockdown in the first three months of 2021.
image captionThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have joined a social media boycott by English football's biggest teams and its governing bodies against online hate this weekend, according to the Daily Mirror. Players have been repeatedly targeted by online abuse, often with racist comments. Prince William, as the president of the Football Association, said he would back "the entire football community" in the protest.
image captionFinally, the Daily Star pokes fun at news that the prime minister's personal mobile phone number has been freely available on the internet for the past 15 years - after it was published in a think tank press release in 2006 and never deleted. The paper imagines what messages he may have received in that time.

There's plenty of confidence in Saturday's papers that coronavirus restrictions will continue to be eased in England.

The Times reports that family and friends will be allowed to hug in just over a fortnight in what it calls "the first significant easing" of social distancing rules.

The paper predicts ministers will approve the next stage of the road map from 17 May and that it will include allowing people to have physical contact with other households for the first time in more than a year.

According to the Times, the government has been able to bring its plans forward because of the vaccination roll-out and the fall in infections.

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The Daily Telegraph says 17 May is also the date that foreign travel will be allowed again - as the first step towards reviving the holiday industry.

The paper points out that only a "tiny handful" of countries will be on the approved list to start with and even people who have been vaccinated will need to be tested on their return.

The article holds out the hope of a review in June which could see a much wider range of holiday options without quarantine or tests.

The Daily Express says a "green list" of countries which people can visit will be published next week.

The Daily Mail is asking readers to help pay for a memorial at St Paul's Cathedral for all those who've died from Covid-19. The paper says there are plans for what it calls a "breathtaking new entrance" with an oak portico engraved with the words "remember me".

The Mail describes St Paul's as a "symbol of defiance and reassurance", and asks: "What better place to honour the dead?"

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The actor and director Noel Clarke is facing more allegations of sexual harassment and bullying, according to the Guardian.

The paper, which first reported the story, says six more people have come forward with claims of misconduct, including students at the London School of Dramatic Art.

The school's founder tells the paper he stopped Mr Clarke from taking improvisation workshops - but there is also a denial from Noel Clarke's lawyers that he was ever asked to stop giving classes there.

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The Financial Times reports on what's described as a "culture war" being waged by the government on Britain's cultural institutions.

According to the paper, Sir Charles Dunstone, the founder of Carphone Warehouse, has left his role at the Royal Museums Greenwich after ministers refused to re-appoint a trustee whose academic work recommended "decolonising" the curriculum.

The FT says this dispute is the latest in what it calls "a concerted campaign" to influence board appointments by the culture secretary, Oliver Dowden.

There's no official government response, but the article quotes an unnamed "leading Tory" as saying there was an expectation that board members should have a similar attitude to that of the government.

The Sun leads on a claim by the father of Britney Spears that the 39 year-old singer has dementia. A TV documentary says Jamie Spears cited the condition on forms he used to justify having control of her finances.

The paper adds that angry fans have rubbished his claims - citing her world tours as evidence.