What the papers say – July 19
Boris Johnson being forced into quarantine amid some controversy on Freedom Day dominates the nation’s front pages.
The Daily Express echoes most of the papers, saying Mr Johnson was forced into a U-turn by public backlash after he considered avoiding quarantine.
Tomorrow's front page: 'Backlash forces Britain u turn'https://t.co/MNHv9j2QKH#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/UAPnsyi3r8
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) July 18, 2021
The Daily Star rounds on the PM with a front page headline of “Flip flopping fop’s a flipping flop”.
Tomorrow's front page: 'Flip Flopping Fop's a Flipping Flop'#TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/u9LgnfeGyV pic.twitter.com/sgiGFKtajU
— Daily Star (@dailystar) July 18, 2021
As does the Daily Mirror, commenting on Mr Johnson’s “humiliating climbdown” on his self-isolation, and the contrast of Freedom Day coming alongside the PM’s warning for the nation to be cautious.
Tomorrow's front page: Now he begs: Please be cautious #TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/yQ77ZiTq8k pic.twitter.com/g1zXzHhnwg
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) July 18, 2021
The Independent plays it straight, reporting the 57-year-old has urged the nation to follow the rules “after he is forced into isolation”.
Monday’s INDEPENDENT Digital: “PM says follow rules after he is forced into isolation” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/TXD4WnG6gi
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) July 18, 2021
The i says the PM and the Chancellor Rishi Sunak will be in quarantine “after trying to dodge (the) rules”.
Monday’s i – “PM and Sunak isolating on ‘freedom day’ after trying to dodge rules” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/ZS0jkdAbWp
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) July 18, 2021
The Financial Times also leads on the pair’s enforced isolation.
Just published: Front page of the Financial Times (UK edition) for Monday 19th July pic.twitter.com/CrPqdmddnP
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) July 18, 2021
And Metro calls Mr Johnson’s predicament “Chequers mate”, since he will be forced to spend Freedom Day in quarantine at the PM’s country residence.
Monday's front page
CHEQUER'S MATE!#tomorrowspaperstoday #BBCPapers #skypapers pic.twitter.com/tpycvC3As0
— Metro Newspaper UK (@MetroUKNews) July 18, 2021
In other pandemic angles, a predicted surge in Covid cases is behind Mr Johnson’s call for the nation to remain cautious as Freedom Day arrives, according to The Times.
Monday’s TIMES: “Be cautious, urges PM as Covid predicted to surge” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/JLlgJWmBAm
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) July 18, 2021
The Daily Mail says business leaders and MPs have urged Mr Johnson to end the “pingdemic”, saying the ongoing contact tracing scheme is “bringing Britain to its knees”.
Monday's @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/TrqB8QlMav
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) July 18, 2021
And The Daily Telegraph leads on a “freedom day farce” amid calls for the PM to stop the “pingdemic”.
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'Freedom Day farce as PM urged to end 'pingdemic''
Read more: https://t.co/1fFDSLTaOS#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/b3L647ygf9
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) July 18, 2021
In other news, The Guardian splashes with an expose on a “huge leak” it says uncovers the global abuse of a spy weapon.
Guardian front page, 19 July 2021: Revealed – Huge leak uncovers global abuse of spy weapon pic.twitter.com/rRX5j7xyAG
— The Guardian (@guardian) July 18, 2021