What the papers say- May 6
Many of Wednesday’s papers lead with the news that a Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) adviser has stood down from his role after breaching social distancing rules.
The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail report that Professor Neil Ferguson, the man behind the nation’s strict lockdown measures, has resigned after breaking social distancing restrictions to “meet his married lover”.
Tomorrow’s Telegraph front page: “Lockdown professor steps down after breaking rules to meet married lover”#TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/Pvv376ayS2
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) May 5, 2020
Wednesday's @DailyMailUK#MailFrontPagespic.twitter.com/C0KE5WoTyM
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) May 5, 2020
The Metro says Prof Ferguson warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson days before the lockdown was implemented that “Britain faced up to 500,000 dead” without strictly-enforced social distancing measures.
Wednesday's front page:BOFFIN QUITSOVER AFFAIRIN LOCKDOWN#tomorrowspaperstoday#BBCPapers#skypaperspic.twitter.com/aJVG5FGv4M
— Metro Newspaper UK (@MetroUKNews) May 5, 2020
Prof Ferguson “deeply regrets” undermining “the continuing need for social distancing”, according to The Sun.
Tomorrow's front page: The scientist who sent Britain into lockdown quit after breaking social distancing rules to see his married lover https://t.co/5u4OSx0xb5pic.twitter.com/4SVapfQz3m
— The Sun (@TheSun) May 5, 2020
Elsewhere, The Guardian, i and Daily Mirror all lead with a story on the UK’s coronavirus death toll becoming “the worst in Europe”.
Guardian front page, Wednesday 6 May 2020: UK coronavirus death toll is now the worst in Europe pic.twitter.com/x3JGh6k4wM
— The Guardian (@guardian) May 5, 2020
Highest death toll in Europe. Wednesday’s @theipaper front page #tomorrowspaperstoday#bbcpapers#skypapers#covid19pic.twitter.com/RTcH7Oe9ZT
— Tim Alden (@timaldi) May 5, 2020
MIRROR: From bad to worst #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/qS9XZiGeX5
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) May 5, 2020
The Times reports that Chancellor Rishi Sunak is preparing plans to “wind down” the Government’s furlough scheme by July amid concerns the nation has become “addicted” to the wage subsidies.
State aid for workers to be cut by chancellor#tomorrowspaperstoday@hendopolispic.twitter.com/jecbo6ETHC
— The Times Pictures (@TimesPictures) May 5, 2020
The Financial Times leads with Virgin Atlantic’s decision to “cut almost a third of its 10,000 workforce and close its Gatwick operations” in an attempt to survive the pandemic.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Wednesday 6 May https://t.co/pJBPFFhSxJpic.twitter.com/NC6EhbJhky
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) May 5, 2020
The Independent says the NHS contact-tracing app could be susceptible to “malicious false alerts” that could cause “people to isolate unnecessarily”.
INDEPENDENT DIGITAL: NHS tracing app ‘open to malicious false alerts’ #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/ilmr86i3fq
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) May 5, 2020
Chinese-backed hackers are “targeting” British pharmaceutical firms involved with developing a Covid-19 vaccine, according to the Daily Express.
Tomorrow's Front Page: https://t.co/v5NT7z5KGl#TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/0IzlByBry6
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) May 5, 2020
And the Daily Star says Coronation Street writers will “tackle coronavirus in upcoming episodes”.
Tomorrow's Front Page: https://t.co/ygYw3Xemvs#TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/m6rAR3JN1U
— Daily Star (@dailystar) May 5, 2020