What the papers say – January 31
Not surprisingly, on the last day of Britain’s membership of the EU, Brexit dominates the nation’s front pages on Friday.
The Daily Telegraph adopts a jubilant tone, with a picture of Boris Johnson under a Churchillian headline of “This is not an end, but a beginning”.
Tomorrow’s Brexit Day @Telegraph front page:
“This is not an end but a beginning”#TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/lrO93HOX9s
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) January 30, 2020
The Daily Mail hails it as a “new dawn for Britain”, The Sun says the nation’s course will change for the better, and the Daily Express is also euphoric.
MAIL: A new dawn for Britain #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/FAAUZSDK6I
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 30, 2020
EXPRESS: Yes, we did it #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/lCjAdgdnti
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 30, 2020
The Times looks at business, leading on Mr Johnson’s desire for a “Canada-style” trade pact with Brussels.
PM want Canada-style trade deal with Brussels#TomorrowsPapersToday@hendopolispic.twitter.com/LlPyYMdsCU
— The Times Pictures (@TimesPictures) January 30, 2020
The Independent carries the word for “goodbye” in a multitude of European languages, but ponders whether it is “inevitable” Britain will one day rejoin the EU.
Tomorrow’s @Independent front page #tomorrowspaperstoday To subscribe to the daily edition: https://t.co/ozdV9Zd9Sipic.twitter.com/A0yew8jIDP
— The Independent (@Independent) January 30, 2020
Metro opts for a simple “Thank EU and goodbye”, while the i calls it the UK’s “leap into the unknown”.
METRO: Thank EU and goodbye #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/nLId3sXLE9
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 30, 2020
Friday's front page of i
UK's leap into the unknown
>> 47 years of European membership come to an end>> Brussels mourns loss of pragmatic friend>> New chapter in British history – with a nation in search of its identity#TomorrowsPapersToday#BrexitDay#BrexitEvepic.twitter.com/gAwhBI7TeC
— Oly Duff (@olyduff) January 30, 2020
And The Guardian strikes a distinctly downbeat tone, with a headline of “Small Island” over a story about “the biggest gamble in a generation”.
Guardian front page, Friday 31 January 2020: Small island pic.twitter.com/P1xYAy0h9d
— The Guardian (@guardian) January 30, 2020
And the Financial Times plays it straight and perhaps sums all other papers up with a headline: “Britain bows out of the EU with a mixture of optimism and regret”.
FT: Britain vows out of the EU with a mixture of optimism and regret #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/eHDUqm1Yiz
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 30, 2020
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror leads with the coronavirus and the evacuation flight taking Britons from Wuhan.
Tomorrow's front page: Killer flu: 150 Brits in quarantine#TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/AbnKPwk3FWpic.twitter.com/2sIRhOASNf
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) January 30, 2020
And the Daily Star‘s front page heralds a “truly historic” day for Britain – the end of Dry January.
Tomorrow's @dailystar front page
– Tonight is a truly historicmoment for our great nation…
– Ozzy Osbourne: I don't have long to live
– Save our #AlastairStewart#TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/U4YUbmyhL5
— Daily Star (@dailystar) January 30, 2020