What the papers said in the week ending 5 June 2021
There is a degree of uncertainty as variants of Covid-19 are contributing to increased numbers of infections in patches of the UK, but the push toward relaxation of restraints is continuing. In the rest of the world, the pandemic is still causing illness, deaths and destroyed lives.
There are encouraging green shoots of hope that a more ethical approach is gaining ground:
- The G7 conference looks to introduce a fairer tax system: Global tax deal could get green light before G7 summit in Cornwall | Tax avoidance | The Guardian
- G7 aims to reach historic deal on corporate tax abuse this weekend | G7 | The Guardian
- MPs are gathering a lobby to reverse cuts which have been made in budgets to help other nations: Tory rebels expect to defeat government on overseas aid cuts | Conservatives | The Guardian
- Cities are planning for a greener future: Glasgow to plant 18m trees as city readies for Cop26 climate summit | Glasgow | The Guardian
Family values and Christian principles are given headlines and space for consideration from the decision of the Roman Catholic Church to offer the venue for the marriage of our Prime Minister. Catholics question why Boris Johnson was able to marry in church | Boris Johnson | The Guardian
There remain many matters to be concerned about:
Errors in procedures in hospitals are rare, but do happen and are devastating for the individuals and families involved: Family accuses East Surrey hospital of letting woman ‘waste away’ | NHS | The Guardian
Older people are finding it especially difficult to retain a place in the workforce Tribunal claims for ageism at work soar since Covid lockdown | Discrimination at work | The Guardian
Errors of rapidly conceived policy and practice during the pandemic have left scars and a need to learn from the mistakes: The shameful failures that threw care home residents to Covid | Letters | The Guardian
Leading economies are still using energy sources which are damaging to the environment: G7 nations committing billions more to fossil fuel than green energy | G7 | The Guardian
It is felt that young people – styled ‘Generation Z’ – have been most disadvantaged by the societal changes associated with the pandemic ‘A sacrificed generation’: psychological scars of Covid on young may have lasting impact | World news | The Guardian
- This is arguable – others will feel that young people have time and resilience on their side. All sorts of people have struggled and experienced loss and trauma, including the old and very old
Analysis reveals that it has been the votes of old people which have determined changes of fortune amongst the political parties in areas of the country traditionally loyal to Labour: Labour can win by shaping policies to stem the growing gap between rich and poor | Larry Elliott | The Guardian
Alarm is being raised that personal details stored on NHS computers may be misused. Changes are happening which may make this more likely as data is made available to researchers, sometimes in the commercial sector, for a price. Objections are being raised and individuals can opt out The Guardian view on medical records: NHS data grab needs explaining | Editorial | The Guardian
- Make your choice about sharing data from your health records – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Proposed changes will undermine the legislature Plans to restrict judicial review weaken the rule of law, MPs warn | Law | The Guardian
Verbal and other attacks on Jewish people have become more prevalent: Charity records ‘horrific surge’ in antisemitic attacks | Antisemitism | The Guardian
Inequalities associated with the pandemic leave older members of the African and African Caribbean communities more vulnerable: One in four elderly black people in England still not vaccinated | Vaccines and immunisation | The Guardian
Other matters:
China is encouraging people to have more children in response to fear of a shift to an aged-dominated population: China announces three-child limit in major policy shift | China | The Guardian
Bespoke offices and workshops are being created in gardens as people work at home: Home working drives demand for ‘shoffice’ space in UK gardens | Working from home | The Guardian
The sale of used books is to bring royalties to authors for the first time: Authors to earn royalties on secondhand books for first time | Booksellers | The Guardian
Lower crime figures are associated with the fact that people are spending more time in their homes: Urban crime plummets during lockdowns in cities around world | Science | The Guardian
Steven Waller acquired a back injury twelve years ago which has meant he has been unable to be out and about. He is using the time to create a model of his beloved Middlesbrough in his bedroom. ‘Michelangelo of Middlesbrough’ hailed for 27,000-hour model project | Middlesbrough | The Guardian
David Jolley
