This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-66038105
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Newspaper headlines: Hancock before Covid Inquiry and doctors to strike | Newspaper headlines: Hancock before Covid Inquiry and doctors to strike |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A number of the papers lead with Matt Hancock's appearance before the Covid Inquiry on Tuesday. The Metro reports that the "shamed" former health secretary, who resigned in 2021 after being caught kissing an aide in breach of lockdown rules, told the hearing that the UK's pandemic preparations had been too concerned with the "consequences of disaster". He said the plans had always assumed it would not be possible to stop a virus spreading, so had focused on questions like how to procure enough body bags or find space for the dead instead of how to suppress an outbreak. | A number of the papers lead with Matt Hancock's appearance before the Covid Inquiry on Tuesday. The Metro reports that the "shamed" former health secretary, who resigned in 2021 after being caught kissing an aide in breach of lockdown rules, told the hearing that the UK's pandemic preparations had been too concerned with the "consequences of disaster". He said the plans had always assumed it would not be possible to stop a virus spreading, so had focused on questions like how to procure enough body bags or find space for the dead instead of how to suppress an outbreak. |
| The Daily Express quotes Hancock saying he is "profoundly sorry" for the failings in the pandemic planning and that he wants to be "brutally honest" about them so as to make sure the country is better prepared for future outbreaks. | The Daily Express quotes Hancock saying he is "profoundly sorry" for the failings in the pandemic planning and that he wants to be "brutally honest" about them so as to make sure the country is better prepared for future outbreaks. |
| "Sorry is not enough," reads the headline in the Daily Mirror. The paper says bereaved relatives of those who died during the pandemic "refused to accept" Hancock's apology, with one quoting saying, "Talk is cheap." | "Sorry is not enough," reads the headline in the Daily Mirror. The paper says bereaved relatives of those who died during the pandemic "refused to accept" Hancock's apology, with one quoting saying, "Talk is cheap." |
| The Daily Telegraph leads with the news that senior doctors have voted in favour of a 48-hour walk out from 20 July, just two days after the end of a planned five-day strike by junior doctors. The paper says the action will leave the health service able to provide only the most urgent and emergency care and quotes Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, calling the situation "uncharted territory for a post-pandemic NHS". | |
| The Times says that water companies are drawing up plans to increase bills by up to 40% to pay for the cost of tackling the sewage crisis and the consequences of climate change. The paper says the news has "alarmed ministers" and that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will raise the matter at a meeting with officials from industry regulator Ofwat on Wednesday. | The Times says that water companies are drawing up plans to increase bills by up to 40% to pay for the cost of tackling the sewage crisis and the consequences of climate change. The paper says the news has "alarmed ministers" and that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will raise the matter at a meeting with officials from industry regulator Ofwat on Wednesday. |
| A "withering" report by the Committee on Climate Change, a public body tasked with advising the government on addressing climate change, has said the UK is missing its net zero targets on almost every front, according to the Guardian. The paper says the report found there had been insufficient progress in areas ranging from home insulation and behaviour changes to transport emissions and the installation of new wind and solar farms. | A "withering" report by the Committee on Climate Change, a public body tasked with advising the government on addressing climate change, has said the UK is missing its net zero targets on almost every front, according to the Guardian. The paper says the report found there had been insufficient progress in areas ranging from home insulation and behaviour changes to transport emissions and the installation of new wind and solar farms. |
| The Sun carries a "poignant" text sent by the partner of Nicola Bulley, whose disappearance in January sparked a weeks-long police search, an hour after she is now known to have drowned. "Have you got lost?" it reads. The paper says Paul Ansell broke down as he told the inquest into Bulley's death that she had been an "amazing" mum. A coroner ruled on Tuesday that Bulley's death had been an accident and that she had not had "any desire" to take her own life. | The Sun carries a "poignant" text sent by the partner of Nicola Bulley, whose disappearance in January sparked a weeks-long police search, an hour after she is now known to have drowned. "Have you got lost?" it reads. The paper says Paul Ansell broke down as he told the inquest into Bulley's death that she had been an "amazing" mum. A coroner ruled on Tuesday that Bulley's death had been an accident and that she had not had "any desire" to take her own life. |
| Vladimir Putin has admitted that the Russian state paid billions of dollars to fund the operations of the Wagner paramilitary group, the Financial Times reports. The paper says that, "after years of denials", Russia's president confirmed the group had been "completely financed" from the Kremlin, adding that he is moving to subsume Wagner into the official military following the mutiny over the weekend. | Vladimir Putin has admitted that the Russian state paid billions of dollars to fund the operations of the Wagner paramilitary group, the Financial Times reports. The paper says that, "after years of denials", Russia's president confirmed the group had been "completely financed" from the Kremlin, adding that he is moving to subsume Wagner into the official military following the mutiny over the weekend. |
| The i reports that Russia sent a presidential plane to Washington DC on Tuesday night to return some of its diplomats to Moscow. It says it comes amid geopolitical tensions after the mutiny and attempts by Western governments to signal that they are not pursuing regime change in Russia. | The i reports that Russia sent a presidential plane to Washington DC on Tuesday night to return some of its diplomats to Moscow. It says it comes amid geopolitical tensions after the mutiny and attempts by Western governments to signal that they are not pursuing regime change in Russia. |
| And the Daily Star says an expert has warned that 99% of dogs would benefit from a holiday to improve their mental health. | And the Daily Star says an expert has warned that 99% of dogs would benefit from a holiday to improve their mental health. |
| A number of the papers lead with Matt Hancock's appearance before the Covid Inquiry on Tuesday. | |
| "Body bags a higher priority than virus" is the Metro headline. The paper reports that Hancock told the hearing the UK's pandemic preparations had assumed it would not be possible to stop a virus spread, so had focused on dealing with the "consequences of disaster" instead of how to suppress an outbreak. | |
| Writing in the i, Jane Merrick describes his testimony as "blisteringly frank and honest". The Daily Express carries Hancock's apology: "I'm profoundly sorry for each death." But the Daily Mirror says his remarks drew "fury" from grieving families, with some turning their backs on him while others shouted "killer". | |
| "Seven days of NHS chaos as senior doctors walk out" is the Daily Mail's headline after consultants in England voted in favour of a 48-hour strike over pay. The paper says patients face the worst disruption in the history of the NHS because the walkout will follow five days of industrial action by junior doctors. The Daily Telegraph reports that the consultants want a 35% pay rise, but also says an increase of 4.5% percent last year has taken their average annual pay to £128,000. | |
| The Times reports that water companies are drawing up plans to increase household bills by as much as 40% to cover the cost of meeting strict pollution targets. The paper says the rises are due to be announced next year and could see average annual bills in England go up from about £450 to £680, plus inflation. It adds that the news has "alarmed ministers" and that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will raise the matter at a meeting with officials from industry regulator Ofwat on Wednesday. | |
| A number of Wednesday's papers cover Matt Hancock's testimony before the Covid Inquiry | |
| Photos of Nicola Bulley - who drowned after falling into the River Wyre while out walking earlier this year - feature on the front pages of a number of papers after an inquest concluded her death was accidental. The Sun carries a "poignant" text sent by her partner, Paul Ansell, an hour after she is now known to have drowned. "Have you got lost?" it reads. | |
| "A slice of history?" asks the Guardian, as it reports the discovery of a 2,000-year-old still life fresco of a dish resembling a pizza. The art was found during an excavation of Pompeii's archaeological park, which is close to Naples, the birthplace of pizza. The Times says the dish - which appears to be a round piece of bread - is covered in what looks like dried fruit or nuts. But the Guardian points out that two essential ingredients - tomato and mozzarella - are missing. | |
| The start of the second Ashes Test at Lord's is the talk of the sports pages. "We won't back down" is the message from the England captain, Ben Stokes, in the Daily Telegraph. There's plenty of scrutiny of what the Times calls the hosts' selection "gamble" - with fast bowler Josh Tongue chosen ahead of Moeen Ali. The Daily Star says his inclusion has set "tongues wagging" - but the hosts want to release their "Atomic POM" on the Australians. The Daily Express is equally bullish, saying: "Give the Aussies a Tongue lashing." | |
| GESTAPO'S MOST WANTED TARGET: Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two | GESTAPO'S MOST WANTED TARGET: Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two |
| THE STRANGEST ESCAPE: In June 1962, three prisoners escaped from the maximum security US jail, Alcatraz | THE STRANGEST ESCAPE: In June 1962, three prisoners escaped from the maximum security US jail, Alcatraz |