Metro

The Metro says the prime minister has had to apologise after admitting he misspoke when trying to clarify the new coronavirus rules in the north east.

The Metro leads on what it calls “chaotic” scenes at UK universities, where locked down students are facing shortages of basics while paying thousands of pounds in tuition fees.

The Metro says Boris Johnson is facing calls to reconsider the 10pm pub curfew – with disgruntled Tory backbenchers preparing for a vote against his “draconian” use of power.

The Metro leads on “Radical” Rishi Sunak’s plans to support workers when the furlough scheme ends after he set them out in the Commons on Thursday. The front page also features a picture of the prime minister’s fiancee Carrie Symonds and their baby on holiday in Italy. 

Metro writes that the founder of Pret has accused Boris Johnson of putting “millions” of jobs in danger with his coronavirus crackdown as the number of cases hit a five-month high.

Metro’s front page also focuses on today’s announcement, which it calls ‘the rule of six months’. It came as a further 4,926 coronavirus cases were reported in the UK – the highest daily figure since May. 

Metro reports that a Conservative MP has been caught taking a 60-mile train journey without wearing a mask – less than two weeks after telling his constituents they “must” wear face coverings on public transport. 

The Metro says the government’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty is expected to warn that “Britain is heading in the wrong direction” in its battle with coronavirus.

The Metro newspaper focuses simply on the figures showing the new surge in cases in the UK. It reports the number of people testing positive in England has risen by 75% in one week. The paper adds that figures also show the number of people getting test results within 24 hours halved and is now at its lowest level since June.

The lead story for the Metro is on the death of a 12-day-old baby following a dog attack in Doncaster. The paper pictures the mother and newborn baby Elon, as well as a photo of the Chow Chow crossbreed dog.