Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Phillip Schofield affair
Sunday’s front pages report on various stories. For the second day running, several of the newspapers lead with coverage of ITV presenter Phillip Schofield’s affair. The presenter admitted he lied about a relationship with a younger male colleague.
“ITV are set to axe This Morning,” says the Sunday Mirror. A source told the paper that ITV’s chief executive, Dame Carolyn McCall, believes the show has been “tarnished beyond repair”. The Mail on Sunday reports the colleague he had an affair with was just 15 when they met for the first time – the paper says the affair started “some time” after he turned 18. The Sun on Sunday says some of the show’s hosts are threatening to quit – with a source saying they are worried the controversy “could be disastrous for their commercial image.”
UK politics latest
The Sunday Telegraph reports that the price of basic food items in supermarkets could soon be capped. A source has raised concerns it could harm smaller retailers who may lose business to bigger chains due to cut-price goods.
The Observer’s front page leads with reports that ministers have 48 hours to decide whether to take “the extraordinary step” of launching legal action against the Covid inquiry, as part of their battle to keep messages from figures including Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak secret.
The paper’s other lead is its own investigation into NHS Trusts sharing personal medical information with Facebook. It reports that in one case, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS trust shared when a user viewed a handbook about HIV medication. The name of the drug and the trust were sent to the company, along with the user’s IP address and details of their Facebook user ID.
The Times reports Boris Johnson is facing new allegations that he breached Covid restrictions at Chequers. The paper says guests included outgoing BBC Chairman Richard Sharp. The Times front page also reports on a promise by Labour that the party will block all new oil and gas projects in the North Sea if they win the next general election.
