Johnson and Retail Crisis
The Daily Mail’s sketchwriter, Henry Deedes, describes Gavin Williamson’s and Johnson and Retail Crisis recent media interviews as “a study in political ineptitude” and “a masterclass in ministerial feebleness.” Students protesting in Leeds told the Daily Mirror that Williamson is “shameless” and should resign. According to The Guardian, trade unions and MPs are warning that parents and teachers have lost confidence in his ability to ensure a safe return of pupils to England’s schools.
University vice-chancellors informed The Johnson and Retail Crisis and Retail Crisis Times that while they will honor students’ offers, they cannot guarantee students will be able to attend this year. The Daily Telegraph highlights concerns that Covid-19 remains a significant issue, as universities’ desire to increase student numbers is constrained by limited desk and lab space.
An anonymous administrator in a leading medical school’s admissions office told HuffPost UK that this year’s chaos is unprecedented in their ten-year career. They added Samaritans’ contact details to their emails after several applicants threatened self-harm, emphasizing that while an algorithm may be to blame, “it’s humans having to clear up the mess.”
The Sun’s leader column focuses on students yet to sit GCSEs, arguing that children must return to school next month and remain there throughout the academic year. The paper cites a report from the charity Teach First, which reveals that in 2019, only 45% of disadvantaged children passed their maths and English GCSEs, compared to 72% of their wealthier peers.
On a different note, a surge in stock market values on Wall Street leads the Financial Times. The paper warns that gains concentrated in Big Tech firms like Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft have raised concerns among some investors about the rally’s stability. The Daily Telegraph suggests the rebound indicates traders are still predicting a rapid “V-shaped” recovery in the world’s largest economy. Meanwhile, The New York Times notes that investors are encouraged by signs of the coronavirus abating.
Under the headline “End this torture,” the Daily Mirror appeals for the American woman accused of killing teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn to “do the right thing” and return to Britain to face justice. Harry’s mother, Charlotte Charles, has issued this plea a year after her son’s death. The paper’s leader column calls on the foreign secretary to suspend deportations from the UK to the US until Anne Sacoolas is persuaded or required to appear in court.
Scented candles have taken “an unexpected detour,” according to The Times, which reports on the success of new collections aiming to replicate the smells most missed during lockdown—such as a country pub and Norfolk. Candle sales have surged since March. For those seeking a touch of authenticity, the paper recommends a candle called The Festival, which promises the scent of cut grass, burger vans, cannabis smoke, and a “merest shimmer of distant Portaloo.