Newspaper headlines: Omicron 'red alert', and Arthur failings probe
By BBC News
Staff
- Published
"UK 'red' alert over Omicron ability to hit double jabbed" is the headline on the front of the i weekend, with the paper saying public health officials have given the variant the highest alert level for its capacity to evade immunity. The paper adds that more than half of the known Omicron cases in England had been in people who were fully vaccinated.
Ministers are being urged by some of their own scientific advisers to tell people to work from home rather than wait for data on the Omicron variant, the Guardian reports. Experts have warned of a potentially "very significant wave of infections" that could overwhelm the NHS, adds the paper, which cites the latest minutes of a committee of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage).
Hospitality chiefs have blamed mixed government messaging for a wave of cancellations that have hit venues, according to the FT Weekend. The paper quotes industry trade group UK Hospitality as saying that festive bookings are 30% below expectations for this time of year. The trade group estimates that about 10% of bookings have been cancelled since the latest variant was identified, the paper adds.
The Daily Mail continues the coverage of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, who died after being tortured by his father and stepmother. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has described the case as "appalling" and said it is essential to look at what else could have been done to save the boy. A review is now under way into the authorities' contact with Arthur before his death.
Also leading on Arthur's death, the Daily Express quotes a former police chief who says the stepmother who beat and killed the six-year-old should never be released from prison. Emma Tustin was convicted of murder and sentenced to a minimum of 29 years. Thomas Hughes, Arthur's father, was convicted of the boy's manslaughter and jailed for 21 years.
Elsewhere, the Daily Telegraph says a review of hate crimes will call for pestering women in the street or in pubs to become an offence. This includes making lewd comments under plans to criminalise "public sexual harassment", the paper adds. But, according to Whitehall sources, the Law Commission will reject demands for misogyny to be made a hate crime amid concerns it would be ineffective, the paper reports.
The Times's lead story says that Chancellor Rishi Sunak is planning to cut income tax by 2p in the pound or slash VAT rates before the next election. Another option under consideration will be to cut inheritance tax, according to the paper. It adds that Mr Sunak is eager to shed his reputation as a "high-tax, high-spend" chancellor after the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror reports that Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood is embroiled in an "advert row" with the BBC. It comes after his famous catchphrase "fab-u-lous" appeared in an advert for bed retailer Dreams. BBC stars are not permitted to "mimic their on-air roles" in promotional work, the paper notes.
And the Daily Star says taller actors are encroaching on roles traditionally taken by actors who have dwarfism in Christmas plays and pantomimes.