The Times is yet another newspaper to splash with the story about 54-year-old Matt Ratana, the London policer officer shot and killed in the line of duty by a handcuffed suspect who was armed with a revolver.
The Times leads with Rishi Sunak announcing a new multibillion-pound package of support for the economy on Thursday in an attempt to avoid mass redundancies in winter, with the new measures set to include wage subsidies for part-time workers.
The Times focuses on the more positive side of the PM’s speech, when he claimed that if the UK pulls together to follow the rules, coronavirus will be a “struggle humanity will win”.
The Times says Downing Street has warned Britain faces a further six months of “very difficult” lockdown measures.
Downing Street has been told that the UK is now six weeks behind Spain, which recorded 239 coronavirus-related deaths on Thursday, The Times reports.
Testing also leads many papers. The Times has spoken to a scientist who has toured the government labs that opened in April and are processing the tests. The scientist says the labs are inefficient – using cumbersome techniques and are running out of staff, as they struggle to cope with demand.
The Times reports that ministers are considering telling pubs and restaurants in virus hotspots around the country to close early, by 22:00 BST. It quotes Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick – who was speaking on ITV on Wednesday night – saying a full announcement on further curbs in the north-east of England would be announced on Thursday. The paper’s main picture is of Prince Philip, who is leaving Balmoral to spend two weeks with the Queen at Sandringham.
The Times reports that coronavirus infection rates amid middle-aged people are now at the same level as people in their 20s. But its top story is on plans by the NHS to record all alcoholic drinks consumed by pregnant women. Charities including the British Pregnancy Advisory Service say it could infringe data privacy rights. But the official NHS advisory body believes it could help identify babies at risk of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
