‘Boris gives UK both barrels’: how the UK papers covered Johnson’s Covid speech

Boris Johnson’s bleak televised speech setting out months of coronavirus restrictions dominates Wednesday’s front pages, with quotes aplenty and varying degrees of optimism.

The Daily Mail reflects the full force of the prime minister’s speech: “Boris give UK both barrels”. It focuses on his criticism of those breaching the rules and the main image nods to his mention of using the army to support the police.

Daily Mail U.K.
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Wednesday’s @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/17bcfim5EY

September 22, 2020

The Guardian raises the prospect of a second lockdown if the new restrictions are not followed. It notes Johnson suggests “freedom-loving” Britons will be to blame if more draconian restrictions are applied.

The Guardian
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Guardian front page, Wednesday 23 September 2020: Follow new restrictions or risk a second lockdown, Johnson warns pic.twitter.com/rM2LvmXbfU

September 22, 2020

The Mirror paints the crisis in terms of a gamble by the PM, with the headline: “Boris in last chance saloon”. It reports he is banking on early closing times for pubs to avoid a second big lockdown.

Daily Mirror
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Tomorrow’s front page: Boris in last chance saloon #tomorrowspaperstoday https://t.co/IbxL79Sio6 pic.twitter.com/p88t8vsUyk

September 22, 2020

Metro goes with a hint of humour, opting for a simple “Rule of 6 months”, and reminding readers it is shaping up to be a grim Christmas.

Metro Newspaper UK
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Wednesday’s front page:
RULE OF 6 MONTHS#tomorrowspaperstoday #BBCPapers #skypapers pic.twitter.com/iXwks2e7zZ

September 22, 2020

The Times picks a quote from Johnson’s Churchillian speech in perhaps the most upbeat front page. “A struggle humanity will win,” it quotes him as saying, noting the prime minister’s u-turn on getting workers back into the office.

Allie Hodgkins-Brown
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Wednesday’s TIMES: “ ‘A struggle humanity will win’ “ #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/5SfndCmtGL

September 22, 2020

The Telegraph also goes for gravitas and picks a quote warning the fight against Covid is not yet over. It also notes the PM signalling the possible use of the army and the prospect of restrictions until March next year.

The Telegraph
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The front page of tomorrow’s Daily Telegraph:

‘There are difficult months to come. The fight against Covid is by no means over’#TomorrowsPapersToday #coronavirus https://t.co/j2MdrcrZ28 pic.twitter.com/n340ssGDZZ

September 22, 2020

The FT says “Johnson warns of ‘perilous’ time as curbs imposed for 6 months”, focusing on the business reaction and choosing a side image of Johnson in the Commons.

Financial Times
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Just published: front page of the Financial Times, London edition, for Wednesday 23 September 2020 pic.twitter.com/kaUVg6Nexs

September 22, 2020

The Daily Express goes with what might be construed as the PM’s gentle chiding of the nation during his “heartfelt” television appeal. It reports: “The country needs to summon “discipline, resolve and the spirit of togetherness” to save lives this winter. “Our destiny is in our own hands,” is the headline. It chooses an image of Johnson with not one but both fists clenched.

Daily Express
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Tomorrow’s front page: Our destiny is in our own hands#tomorrowspaperstoday https://t.co/PjHGGiNbCJ pic.twitter.com/seLkFEBks2

September 22, 2020