Unsurprisingly, the story dominates the news.
Boris Johnson’s backing of advisor Dominic Cummings covers the front pages of the UK papers on Monday.
Cummings has been under serious scrutiny this weekend following news that he violated the government guidelines by travelling over 200 miles to stay near his family home in Durham while he was experiencing symptoms for Covid-19, while there are also other allegations of travel levelled against him.
Monday’s papers are even more interesting as The Daily Mail, which usually backs Johnson, has led with the line: “What planet are they on?”
“For the good of the government and the nation, Mr Cummings must resign. Or the prime minister must sack him. No ifs. No buts.”
DAILY MAIL: What planet are they on? #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/pmeEE0G4gM
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) May 24, 2020
The Guardian, which along with the Daily Mirror, broke the story of Cummings’s lockdown breaches, leads with: “No apology, no explanation.”
GUARDIAN: No apology, no explanation: PM bets all on Cummings #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/DChMNeL0Cf
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) May 24, 2020
The Daily Mirror did not shy away on its front pages, calling Cummings a “cheat” and Johnson a “coward”.
MIRROR: A cheat & A coward #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/4EXoZJGjhE
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) May 24, 2020
The Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, quotes Johnson’s defence of Cummings.
TELEGRAPH: ‘He has acted responsibly, legally and with integrity’ #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/pcbfSqmPKH
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) May 24, 2020
The Times also offers Johnson’s defence of Cummings as it’s front-page headline.
THE TIMES: Cummings acted like any father, insists PM #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/5vfo7fPX00
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) May 24, 2020
The Sun focuses on the plan to reopen schools but manages to meld the two stories with a pun.
THE SUN: Backed….To School #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/VRY0TIntaK
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) May 24, 2020
The i goes with “Chaos in number 10” and states that a number of Tory MPs have called for Cummings’s resignation.
I: chaos in number 10 as Cummings clings on with PM‘s support #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/I9xAPFdcbA
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) May 24, 2020
The Independent runs with “No Answers” along with a list of questions for the Prime Minister.
INDEPENDENT DIGITAL: No answers #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/mhaqhfqoz3
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) May 24, 2020
The Daily Express says that Johnson stands by his man.
EXPRESS: Defiant Boris stands by his man #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/m75YShvlnv
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) May 24, 2020
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