What the papers say – January 2
Upbeat messages about post-Brexit Britain are overshadowed by dire warnings over the worsening Covid crisis on the front pages on Saturday.
For the second day in a row, the Daily Express heralds the dawn of a bright new era for the country, under a headline of “Brexit Britain to bounce back”.
EXPRESS: Brexit Britain to bounce back #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/SFNtIfLS11
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) January 1, 2021
However, the Financial Times says Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has rained on Boris Johnson’s Brexit parade by vowing to return Scotland to the EU.
Just published: front page of FT Weekend, UK edition, Saturday 2 January https://t.co/idnb10A9vWpic.twitter.com/eDL1JgAy7X
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) January 1, 2021
The Times reports on a boost to vaccine production as Covid infections continue to rise, saying two million Oxford jabs will be made available every week.
The Times 2/1/2021Viral style Carina Tyrrell, a global health expert and former Miss England, has told how she helped to deliver the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine. Photo : James Linsell-Clark/SWNS#tomorrowspaperstoday#thetimes #buyapaper @thetimespic.twitter.com/WIF2bjA1d2
— The Times Pictures (@TimesPictures) January 1, 2021
The Guardian gives a grim snapshot of the pandemic situation, saying the Government’s hopes for a “new year easing of the Covid pandemic are unravelling” as school closures and packed hospitals show.
Guardian front page, Saturday 2 January 2021: No 10 U-turn on schools as pressure grows over Covid pic.twitter.com/avjOUkEMSx
— The Guardian (@guardian) January 1, 2021
The i echoes that message with a grave warning of heavy pressure to come on the NHS as the third wave of the coronavirus looms as far worse than those that came before it.
Saturday's front page: NHS warning to British public#TomorrowsPapersToday#iweekendpic.twitter.com/TTTCzUJlB7
— i newspaper (@theipaper) January 1, 2021
Education is the theme for The Independent, which reports on a “new U-turn” by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson in keeping all London primary schools closed for the start of the new term.
Tomorrow's @independent front page #tomorrowspaperstoday To subscribe to the Daily Edition https://t.co/koJc3LN1axpic.twitter.com/Ny5yqI015c
— Thair Shaikh (@ThairShaikh) January 1, 2021
The Daily Telegraph, however, says this decision has come due to “union pressure” on behalf of teachers on Mr Williamson.
Tomorrow’s Telegraph front page: 'Teachers demand all schools stay closed' #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/yywfi4R7wu
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) January 1, 2021
The Mirror turns a blowtorch on New Year’s Eve partygoers for risking the further spread of Covid-19, calling them “Raving mad”.
Tomorrow's front page: Raving mad #TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/ksoaT0DpMnpic.twitter.com/Cs79EMSNHt
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) January 1, 2021
And the Daily Star uses television icon Mr T to call for an end to bureaucracy it says is slowing the distributions of vaccines, quoting him in a headline of “Stop your jibber jabber, fools!”
Tomorrow's front page: 'Stop your jibber jabber, fools!'https://t.co/1vfZOYN8yo#tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/nRfYpjPDTa
— Daily Star (@dailystar) January 1, 2021
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail leads on British GPs defying the Government by continuing to administer second jabs of the Pfizer vaccine now rather than later.
Saturday's @DailyMailUK#MailFrontPagespic.twitter.com/mOWbYTiAmF
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) January 1, 2021
And TV’s Ant McPartlin is to be married again, according to The Sun.
Tomorrow's front page: 'Ant McPartlin is to marry his girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett, The Sun can reveal' pic.twitter.com/HQZIX2RIgR
— The Sun (@TheSun) January 1, 2021