Newspaper headlines: 'It's the back of Trump' and 'vaccine pivot'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-55727367

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All of Wednesday's front pages carry a mention of Joe Biden's inauguration in Washington later as the 46th US president. "At last, it's the back of Donald Trump", reads the headline in the Metro. Mr Trump is departing "after four long years as America's most controversial leader," it says.

Joe Biden is pictured on the front of the Daily Telegraph as it reports he will sweep away some of Donald Trump's most controversial policies hours after he is sworn in. It says Mr Biden will get straight to work by targeting his tax cuts, Covid policy, limits on immigration from mainly Muslim nations and departure from the Paris Climate Agreement.

The Daily Star chooses to sum up Donald Trump's presidency with a headline that reads: "Well, that was a weird dream". It describes the last four years as a "bizarre nightmare" that is "all over now".

The lead in the Financial Times focuses on comments from senior Republican Mitch McConnell, who has blamed Donald Trump for provoking the mob assault on Washington's Capitol building. The Senate leader worked in lockstep with the president for most of the past years but broke ranks on the eve of Joe Biden's inauguration, notes the FT.

Theresa May has accused Boris Johnson of abandoning the UK's "global moral leadership" during his Downing Street tenure, says the Daily Mail. In an article to mark the start of Joe Biden's inauguration, she accuses her successor as PM over cuts to overseas aid and a threat to break international law during the Brexit trade talks.

The i mentions the "next president" on its cover. But the Covid pandemic is the focus for its lead - reporting the government is planning a "pivot" on the UK vaccine rollout after the over-50s get the jab. It says ministers want to immunise people who are most likely to pass on the virus including teachers, police and office workers using public transport.

And the Daily Mirror leads on an appeal from Metropolitan Police Chief Dame Cressida Dick and teaching unions for their workers to be "rushed to the front of the coronavirus vaccine queue". Ministers are being urged to vaccinate the key workers to protect them - with one teacher telling the paper the jab is "key to reopening schools".

The Guardian says the government is set to announce a U-turn over plans for daily mass testing of teachers and pupils in England for Covid. The paper says the move to pause the programme comes only five weeks after it was unveiled as a "milestone moment" that would help fully reopen schools after the February half-term.

Boris Johnson has warned senior ministers that the UK must not be allowed to drop its guard in the fight against coronavirus, reports the Daily Express. On the day the country recorded another 1,610 deaths - its biggest single day figure - the PM stressed sticking to lockdown rules is "as important as ever", it says.

The Times says UK ministers are increasingly concerned about the pace of the coronavirus vaccine rollout after a reduction in the supply of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. It also carries news of a letter to the paper from some of Britain's biggest musical stars that accuses the government of failing performers with its Brexit deal by not reaching an agreement over tour visas.

Donald Trump features on many of the front pages - as the last few hours of his presidency slip away.

The Daily Star depicts him in a straitjacket, describing the past four years as "a horrible dream" in which "the fabric of democracy was ripped apart by a narcissistic loon".

The Guardian says Mr Trump will "skulk off" to Florida for Joe Biden's big day - as the curtain falls on what the Independent describes as "the most tumultuous presidency in living memory".

'New Trump party'

The Daily Mail describes Mr Trump as "a capricious, narcissistic affront to human decency", who "revelled in orchestrating mayhem".

The Sun points out that "he started no wars", "brokered some Middle East peace deals" and had a degree of economic success. But all of it, says the paper, was overshadowed by his incessant stupidity, ignorance, boorish arrogance and monumental vanity.

"At last, it's the back of Donald Trump" reads the headline on the front of the Metro.

Well, perhaps not quite, according to reports in the Wall Street Journal, which claims Mr Trump has in recent days been discussing setting up his own political party. People close to him have told the paper he would want to call it the "Patriot Party" and would use it to continue exerting influence after he leaves the White House.

There's continued scrutiny of the government's Covid-19 vaccine roll out.

The Times says ministers are increasingly concerned about a shortage in the supply of Pfizer's jabs - caused by the firm upgrading its factory in Belgium.

A government source suggests the delays may endanger the target of vaccinating 15 million people across the UK by mid-February.

The i claims the government is considering "flipping" its entire vaccine strategy - by prioritising those people who are more likely to spread the virus.

The paper says phase two of the roll out could see workers immunised ahead of people deemed more vulnerable, if evidence suggests it would stop Covid being spread through the general population.

The Daily Mirror says there are growing calls for key workers such as police and teachers to be given jabs. The paper urges Boris Johnson to "sort it out" saying it's right to keep safe the millions of workers who risk their lives doing essential jobs.

Easter mixing?

With some MPs pushing for details on when the lockdown may be eased, the Daily Express says Boris Johnson has warned the UK would "pay the price" if it let its guard down too soon.

But the Sun claims Mr Johnson has begun "top-secret planning" to allow millions of people to meet up with loved ones over Easter - even if it is only outdoors.

Civil servants are understood to be building what it calls "a detailed unlocking framework".

A government source tells the paper: "It's way too soon to start talking about when - but the work is being done, quietly, on the how."

Meanwhile, the Guardian reports that another Covid strategy change may also be afoot. It claims the government is to halt plans for the daily mass testing of school children and pupils.

Proving critics wrong

Finally, the Daily Telegraph reports on news which it says has left traditional French chef's "spluttering into their beurre blanc".

A vegan restaurant has become the first eatery of its kind in France to win a coveted Michelin star.

In a country famed for its meat and cheese, the paper says the venue's head chef was "laughed out of the bank" when she first tried to get a loan for the venture.

But it says she proved them wrong - raising the money through crowdfunding, before "hitting classic French cuisine where it hurts" with her accolade.

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