Today’s news summary – Paper Talk: Covid inquiry ‘Let People Die’
Many of Tuesday’s newspapers focus on the latest from the Covid inquiry after Sir Patrick Vallance gave evidence yesterday. Sir Patrick served as the government’s chief scientific adviser during the pandemic.
Covid inquiry bombshells
The Daily Mirror’s lead says Rishi Sunak said the government should allow deaths from the virus to “soar” rather than impose new restrictions in autumn 2020. The alleged comments were made during Sunak’s time as chancellor, under the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The allegations were made in Sir Patrick’s diary entry from October 2020, claiming Boris Johnson’s special adviser, Dominic Cummings, had said: “Rishi thinks just let people die and that’s OK”.
The i newspaper also leads on Sir Patrick’s appearance at the inquiry. The paper reports Sunak’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme drove the second wave of Covid infections in the autumn of 2020. The paper says it’s the first time a senior government figure has confirmed the scheme was a driver of transmission.
The Metro says the ‘science baffled Boris’, whilst the Telegraph reports the government’s scientists were given ‘undue’ weight over the UK economy. The Times also reports on the comments that Sunak ‘just wanted to let people die.’
‘We can and will cut taxes’
Several papers look ahead at Wednesday’s Autumn Budget and what the government plans are for the economy.
The Telegraph says Sunak will use the Autumn Statement to kickstart what it calls a “Thatcherite tax-cutting drive”.
The Mail says “Return of tax-cutting Tories” and quotes a Tory source as saying the prime minister told colleagues the party had to “show not tell” on tax cuts, after raising the burden to record levels.
The Times says the government is planning to raise the state pension by 8.5% in line with the normal measure of earnings. There had been suggestions a lower measure might be used, to strip out the effect of bonuses.
Several newspapers feature an image of the new Foreign Secretary David Cameron wearing red ceremonial ermine robes – after starting his new life as a peer. Cameron was made a Lord to enable him to return to the front benches of the Tory government as he is not an MP.
“Oh Lord, it’s him” declares the Mirror. The Express says the Lib Dems have called on the PM’s ethics adviser to launch an investigation into Cameron’s lobbying work.
