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Newspaper headlines: Cameron's grilling and race to stop India variant

By BBC News
Staff

Published
image captionThe Financial Times leads on former Prime Minister David Cameron's appearance before two parliamentary committees to answer questions about his lobbying for Greensill Capital. During his quizzing by MPs Mr Cameron said his efforts on behalf of the company were to benefit the economy rather than preserve the value of his share options in the company. He also acknowledged that he received a "generous" pay package, which was "far more than I earned as prime minister".
image caption"Sleazy jet" is the Metro's headline as it reports that Mr Cameron took flights to his holiday home in Cornwall on a private jet belonging to Greensill founder Lex Greensill. The former prime minister says he cannot recall how many times he used the jet, the paper reports. It adds that Mr Cameron refused to say how much he stood to make from Greensill, which collapsed several months after his lobbying efforts.
image captionThe Guardian says Mr Cameron was told his "reputation is in tatters" during the four-hour grilling by MPs. The paper says the former PM refused to apologise for his behaviour in launching what was described as a "barrage" of lobbying messages. The paper also carries a picture of two men who were released by immigration officials after a protest in Glasgow.
image captionRising cases of the India Covid-19 variant in the England also gets coverage with the Daily Mirror describing a "jabs blitz 'to save summer". The paper says Boris Johnson is facing demands to vaccinate all adults in areas where cases are rising.
image caption"Race to stop Indian strain" is the headline on the Times. It says cases have doubled inside a week. The paper also reports on doubt over Portugal holidays with the Portuguese government extending the "state of public calamity" on the mainland.
image captionThe i newspaper says England has a 50:50 chance of meeting its 21 June date for ending the national lockdown, according to an expert, as it says that "surge vaccinations" could be used in areas where cases rocket.
image captionBut the Daily Telegraph quotes the prime minister saying the Indian variant will not "stop reopening". It says Mr Johnson is considering speeding up the delivery of second vaccine doses for vulnerable people in the worst hit areas. The paper's lead story is on a "climbdown" by the NHS over plans to use online and telephone "screening" for GP appointments. It says it has been announced that every patient will now have the right to see their doctor face to face.
image captionThe Daily Mail leads on comments made by the Duke of Sussex on a podcast in which he claimed he had no choice but to leave the Royal Family in order to "break the cycle" of "genetic pain and suffering". "Just how low can Harry go?" is the mail's headline.
image captionThe Sun describes it as a "bitter swipe" at his father, Prince Charles. It quotes Prince Harry as saying the Prince of Wales "treated me the way he was treated". During the podcast appearance the paper says the duke described royal life "as a mixture of The Truman Show film and being in a zoo".
image captionThe Daily Express is sympathetic saying that "Harry bares his soul" as it reports that he wanted to leave the Royal Family in his 20s. Its lead story is on the possible acceleration of the vaccine programme to combat the Indian Covid strain.
image captionThe Daily Star calls on people to "Do your bit for Britain" as it reports that economists estimate we each need to buy 124 pints to save our "beleaguered pub industry".

"Race to stop Indian strain" says the front page of the Times as the government considers how to prevent the Indian variant of coronavirus spreading further in the UK.

The Daily Express says the vaccine rollout could be "accelerated". The paper says this would include administering second jabs to millions of people in the at risk categories in hotspot areas earlier than planned.

The Daily Telegraph's headline says the prime minister has promised to "push ahead" with Monday's relaxation of coronavirus restrictions despite a spike in cases of the Indian variant.

The Sun says "no need to panic" as "experts are confident risk" from the new strain is "low".

David Cameron's appearance before MPs - to answer questions regarding his lobbying of ministers on behalf of the now collapsed firm Greensill Capital - features in many of the papers.

Describing his performance the Times says the former prime minister "did little to redeem his battered reputation" and the Financial Times says he "suffered ritual humiliation".

The i's assessment is Mr Cameron's "slick show failed to hide his arrogance and bluster".

The Daily Mail says it was an "undignified sight", calling him "as slippery as a bar of soap in a hot bath" when MPs tried to pin him down.

image copyrightPA Media
image captionDavid Cameron's performance in front of MPs has been described as a "ritual humiliation"

The papers do not reflect the moving situation in Gaza but many say Israel's military commanders were drawing up plans for a ground invasion of the territory.

The Daily Mail says 10,000 Israeli soldiers were massing on the border last night, while the Daily Express says 16,000 reservists have been called up.

The Times says Israel and Hamas ignored the pleas of world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, "as attacks intensified and preparations were finalised".

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The Guardian says Boris Johnson is being asked to explain why he took a helicopter to travel from London to the West Midlands to promote a local bike hire scheme earlier this month.

The paper quotes the Labour MP and member of the transport select committee, Ben Bradshaw, saying if the prime minister wants to "convince people he is committed to protecting our environment, this is not the way to do it".

A spokesman for the Conservative Party says it's long been the case that party leaders use a variety of transport to during election campaigns, and pointed out achievements such as the UK producing a record amount of electricity from renewable sources.

Prince Harry's latest interview features on the front pages of many of the papers.

The Times says the Duke of Sussex appears to have reopened the "rift" between himself and Prince Charles with the way he talks about his upbringing.

The Sun says Prince Harry felt his father "passed his pain on to him" and was determined to "break the cycle" when raising his family.

The Daily Express says the duke is "baring his soul" but the comments have prompted the Daily Mail to ask "Just how low can Harry go?"

image copyrightPA Media
image captionThe "Chris Whitty effect" is being credited with the rise of school leavers applying for medical degrees

The Times says the pandemic has seen the number of school leavers apply for medical degrees increase by a fifth in the past year.

The paper says the admissions service Ucas has credited the rise to the chief medical officer for England, and dubbed it the "Chris Whitty effect".