The Times carries new allegations that Mr Johnson said he would rather let coronavirus “rip” rather than impose a second lockdown last year. The paper says the PM made the remark in September as he argued there was “no evidence” lockdowns worked and “described them as mad”. No 10 describes the new claims as “gross distortions of his position”. Elsewhere, the Times reports the Duke of York “has gone into business” with a ex-Coutts banker who quit amid allegations of sexual assault.