A photo of protesters clashing with police in London on Saturday makes the front of several papers. The Sunday Mirror calls the far-right protests “shameful”, saying a “far-right mob” hijacked a demonstration in London.
The Sunday Telegraph also carries a picture of police in riot gear. It reports that ministers are considering plans to make it easier to prosecute people who desecrate war memorials, including with potential prison sentences of up to 10 years. The measures could also cover some of the statues that are currently the focus of some protesters, the paper adds.
On its front page, the Mail on Sunday asks what has become of “the tolerant Britain we love”. But its top story is on the 2m social distancing rule, following warnings there could be millions of job losses in the hospitality sector if the rule is not dropped. The Mail says Boris Johnson is taking “personal control” of the decision over the 2m rule. He has commissioned a No 10 review that will “effectively wrest control” of social distancing guidance from the scientists, the paper adds.
Worries over the state of the UK economy are also mentioned in the Sunday Express. The paper passes on a request from Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who urges people to head to their local High Street and shop safely to help the economy recover. Non-essential shops in England can open from Monday, and Mr Sunak has said “it’s important we all do our bit to help”.
The Sunday People reports a total of 800 families whose relatives have died with coronavirus in care homes have called for a public inquiry. Human rights lawyer Leanne Devine, who represented families following the Hillsborough disaster, tells the paper she has been contacted by hundreds of families “who want the truth”. The government says there will be an opportunity to look back and learn lessons at some point.
The Observer has spoken to the children’s commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, who warns that reduced access to education is being allowed to become “the default” in some schools. She suggests children’s basic right to an education could be at risk and adds it is a “very dangerous place to be”. The paper says there is “growing frustration” among teachers, MPs and unions over “the chaotic return of schools”.
The Sunday Times’ top story is on plans – developed under ex-PM Theresa May – to allow transgender people to change their birth certificates without a medical diagnosis. The paper says it has been leaked information showing the plans have been scrapped. Instead, alternative plans have been put forward including a ban on “gay cure” therapies and new protections for female-only spaces. It comes after a consultation on the Gender Recognition Act, which received more than 100,000 responses.
The Daily Star reports that animal rights groups are “in a flap” after eight of the Queen’s racing pigeons died while in quarantine. The birds had been sent to South Africa to take part in a race but they were put in crates and died. Campaigners want the competition – called the The South African Million Dollar Pigeon Race – to be banned.
“Shameful” is the verdict given by both the Sunday Mirror and the Sun on Sunday on the violence seen at Saturday’s demonstrations.
The Sun captions images of bloodied crowds and embattled police in central London: “Thugs clash in Trafalgar Square” and “fury as yob wees on cop’s memorial”.
The Mail on Sunday’s front page asks: “What has become of the tolerant Britain we love?”
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More than 100 people were arrested following the protests
Inside it devotes several pages to shocking scenes from the day – with commentary by Douglas Murray suggesting the situation is out of control. “Anarchy is breaking out. Where are the brakes on this thing?” he says.
The paper leaves its readers in no doubt about its view of the current debate about historical monuments and statues. “Left-winger” demands that Sir Winston Churchill’s statue be torn down “beggar belief” and warrant the launch of a Mail petition to ensure it never happens.
The Sunday Telegraph leads on a claim that ministers are considering getting tough on protestors who overstep the mark following more violent scenes in the capital yesterday.
“Ten years in jail for protestors who desecrate war memorials” is its headline. Ministers have been forced to act, it says, because of pressure from Tory backbenchers to “get a grip” on a situation generating headlines such as “battle of Trafalgar Square” and “face off in Westminster”.
The Telegraph’s view is that the PM must now take the lead. He must, it says, wrest back from the hands of extremists, a legitimate conversation started in the wake of George Floyd’s death. It argues he must do what he did at the last election – speak for the forgotten middle.
Plans for schools
“PM risking basic right to education” is the lead for Sunday’s Observer.
In an interview for the paper, the children’s commissioner for England, Anne Longfield suggests reduced schooling during the pandemic is becoming “default”, raising questions about whether every child’s basic right to education is being met.
The paper reports on government plans for catch up facilities – but Ms Longfield criticises Boris Johnson for “giving up quite easily” on his earlier commitment to prioritise the return of schools.
Pointing to Nightingale hospitals and the furlough scheme, she argues the government needs to find an equally drastic solution, to enable the reopening of all schools for all pupils.
The front page of the Sunday Telegraph reports that ministers are preparing to announce that all year groups can be welcomed back to primary schools – providing there is a maximum of 15 pupils per class.
The paper concedes teaching unions have dismissed the idea as logistically impossible for many primaries, though it says the move might be welcomed by fee-paying schools, who have lobbied for greater autonomy.
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More secondary school pupils – those in Years 10 and 12 – will return on Monday
“PM takes charge on two metres” is the headline in the Mail on Sunday’s report on the review of social distancing which, it says, will “wrest control from scientists”.
The paper features an interview with leading restaurant boss Richard Caring who accuses Mr Johnson of “weakness and indecision” over relaxing the 2m rule, which he says risks “killing the country”.
The Mail agrees. Welcoming the review as “not before time” it argues that while Covid-19 is a major threat to health, its by no means the only one and that risks from loneliness, unemployment and the economic slowdown were also very real.
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The Sunday Mirror reports that Kate and Gerry McCann have called on the German prosecutor who suggested their daughter Madeleine was dead to provide evidence.
Under the headline “we just want the answers”, it sets out some of the confusion and divisions at the heart of the case.
It details how Hans Wolters has “backtracked” in an interview with the paper – conceding there was no forensic evidence supporting his theory, just his experience based on other previous cases.
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Madeleine McCann was three years old when she went missing in 2007
“Nigel Farage to relaunch Brexit Party” is the claim of the Sunday Express.
The paper says Mr Farage has confirmed he is preparing a relaunch and “watching and waiting” because he believes that Boris Johnson and the Conservatives are losing control of the country, and could go soft on Brexit.
Sources described as close to the leadership are also quoted, suggesting “phones have been buzzing, donations pouring in.” The unnamed individual adds “we’re praying for a by-election in a Tory seat, and currently deciding on who would stand”.
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