What the papers say – May 3
Disquiet in the football world and more on Britain’s return to normality feature prominently in the nation’s Monday papers.
The fan protests which caused the postponement of Sunday’s Manchester United-Liverpool match and the latest on Britain’s emergence from the pandemic dominate the front pages.
The i leads on the seismic football protest under the headline of “Fans’ revolt throws game into disarray”.
The Times leads on the Old Trafford mayhem, and the planned scrapping of the one-metre social distancing rule in Britain from June 21.
The Independent, however, highlights Dominic Raab expressing caution over the easing of restrictions, with the Foreign Secretary saying some social distancing measures could remain in place.
The Daily Express also leads on Mr Raab but picks his more upbeat message that Britain is on the “last lap” in the Covid battle.
Meanwhile, The Guardian features the football protest, under a lead story in which Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross calls on Boris Johnson to quit as prime minister “if he broke donation rules”.
The Daily Telegraph runs a large photo from the football demonstration beside a lead story on hopes for a deal to have Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe released from prison in Iran.
The Daily Mail cheers its campaign to raise funds for a Covid memorial.
The Financial Times reports shares in so-called blank-cheque groups have fallen amid greater caution from investors.
The Daily Mirror warns of an extinction threat to various animal species in a special environmental report, while also leading on the Manchester United protest under a headline of “Fever pitch”.
And the Daily Star leads on the Line of Duty finale.
