What the papers say – October 8
Thursday’s papers are dominated by reaction to seemingly imminent tighter pandemic restrictions in the North.
Fears for the hospitality sector ahead of new measures to control the spread of coronavirus are splashed across the front pages.
The Financial Times says Boris Johnson will follow Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s lead and impose restrictions on pubs and restaurants in the north of England, while The Guardian reports hospitality venues in virus hotspots “face stricter curbs”.
The Government will close pubs in the north from Monday, according to The Times, while The Daily Telegraph says the move will proceed “despite mounting Labour opposition”. The Daily Star refers to the situation as “pub chaos”.
The Sun reports the Prime Minister “faces a rebellion” from MPs and local leaders in the north over new restrictions, with the Daily Mail saying ministers were being pressured to rethink lockdowns after a major study showed stricter measures “have NOT helped in 19 of 20 northern towns”.
The Health Secretary praises the country for its sacrifices during the pandemic in the Daily Express, which runs with the headline “It’s very tough but we have to stick with it”.
The Daily Mirror asks “Why aren’t local lockdowns working?” as Metro cites Labour as saying the measures “are failing”.
The Government is planning to offer extra money to support businesses in virus hotspots in exchange for “tighter restrictions”, according to i.
And the chief executive of the NHS has warned of the strain the health service faces after a “disturbing” rise in Covid-19 hospital admissions, according to The Independent.
