What the papers said in the week ending 29 January 2022
The main headlines have again been captured by accusations, denials and diversions over alleged breaches of covid regulations by people in high places. It is a sad, unhappy state of affairs and one which shows problems run deep The Guardian view on the PM and the police: this show needs to end | Editorial | The Guardian
The Russia/Ukraine situation gives real fear of an international armed conflict
There is refreshing encouragement:
From the honesty and dignity of Lord Agnew – resigning in protest of the behaviour of his government Minister quits in Lords over government handling of Covid loans fraud | Conservatives | The Guardian
And the ONS has corrected false information given by a senior politician about the number of deaths in England arising from Covid-19: 137,133 not 17,000 ONS debunks ‘spurious’ Covid deaths claim shared by David Davis | Coronavirus | The Guardian
It is good to learn that British Sign Language has gained legal recognition: British Sign Language to become recognised language in the UK | Deafness and hearing impairment | The Guardian
There must be mixed feelings about news that more women are ‘child-free’ at 30 Record numbers of women reach 30 child-free in England and Wales | Parents and parenting | The Guardian
But we live uneasily with information that:
- Minority groups and faiths are not receiving fair treatment: The Guardian view on Tory Islamophobia: the rot starts at the top | Editorial | The Guardian
- People in the most difficulty are being dealt with most harshly The Guardian view on benefit levels: the only way is up | Editorial | The Guardian
- And 20% of the nation is deemed to be living in poverty: UK poverty statistic is truly shocking | Letters | The Guardian
- Prices of the basic necessities are rising: From milk to crisps: why the price of basic food items is rising | Inflation | The Guardian
The story of the torture and murder of one man who was different weighs heavy on us all as it reveals how some of our young people think and behave. It is a shared shame: Man was tortured, robbed and left for dead in Cardiff park, jury hears | UK news | The Guardian
We have learned:
- People with dementia who see their own GP regularly do better in every way than those who pass through the hands of a number of doctors: Dementia patients who see same GP have better quality of life, study finds | Dementia | The Guardian
- It seems likely that what works for people with dementia will apply to others who have other problems. Let us hope that Practices will adopt this.
- We learn that established antibody profiles determine how we will cope, or not cope, with covid-19 Long Covid: doctors find ‘antibody signature’ for patients most at risk | Long Covid | The Guardian
- Subtle changes in the lungs may explain some symptoms of Long Covid Long Covid study finds abnormality in lungs that could explain breathlessness | Long Covid | The Guardian
- Best way to combat the spread of covid nationally and internationally is to give at least one jab to as many people as possible: UK Covid efforts should target unvaccinated, says expert | Coronavirus | The Guardian
There is relief for residents of care homes and their families as visiting restrictions have been relaxed: ‘Absolutely fantastic’: families’ joy at opening up of English care homes | Social care | The Guardian
What can be done?
- More lay magistrates are to be recruited to help counter the huge backlog in justice: Campaign seeks to recruit 4,000 lay magistrates in England and Wales | UK criminal justice | The Guardian
- Better use could be made of the land nearest to our homes: UK could grow up to 40% of its own fruit and vegetables by using urban green spaces | Vegetables | The Guardian
- We can visit places nearer home: Visitors flock to Barnard Castle and other historic sites in England | Heritage | The Guardian
- While Green Belts are being eroded on some places, Green Corridors are being created in others: Bath ‘green corridor’ will be first of 20 to improve access to nature | The National Trust | The Guardian
- We can reduce our energy consumption by prudence Green energy measures saving households £1,000 a year – analysis | Energy | The Guardian
- We can give time to hobbies, which sometimes yield more than personal interest: ‘I owe it to the kids’: coin found by detectorist dad sold for £648,000 | Devon | The Guardian
- We can be driven remotely without carrying responsibility for what the car does: Self-driving car users should have immunity from offences – report | Self-driving cars | The Guardian
- We can turn an invasion of an alien species into an opportunity for an expanded dining experience: King crabs invade UK waters threatening native species | Wildlife | The Guardian
We have to consider the benefits but also the long term hazards of ideas to cope: Making tough choices for better NHS care | Letters | The Guardian
We cannot:
Use the mobile phones we have grown to love when the 3G network is discontinued: Vodafone to switch off UK 3G network by end of 2023 | Mobile phones | The Guardian
Drive without a licence or insurance: Man driving for more than 70 years tells Notts police: ‘I’ve never had a licence’ | Nottingham | The Guardian
David Jolley
