05 January 2021

What the papers say – January 5

05 January 2021

The announcement of a further lockdown in England leads all of the national newspapers on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning the coming weeks will be “the hardest yet”.

The Times writes Mr Johnson’s plunging of the country into lockdown was a “desperate attempt … to prevent the NHS from becoming overwhelmed by the rising flood of Covid-19 cases”.

The Daily Telegraph leads with the “return to full lockdown”, but adds Mr Johnson has set out a timetable for 13 million vaccinations to be distributed by mid-February.

The Guardian writes new figures put the UK on course to surpass 100,000 Covid-19 deaths before the end of the month without urgent action.

And the Financial Times says the move is a U-turn, after Mr Johnson said colleges and schools should now be closed.

The Daily Mirror, Metro and the i call the latest move “Lockdown 3”.

And The Independent writes the measures will be in place until at least the middle of next month.

The Sun calls the latest lockdown “one last push”, while the Daily Mail writes that we’re “back to square one”.

The Daily Express leads on Mr Johnson’s call for the nation to “pull together”.

And the Daily Star mocks up an image of the Prime Minister as Vicky Pollard, calling him “indecisive”.

The best videos delivered daily

Watch the stories that matter, right from your inbox