What the papers said in the week to 29 August 2021
A week in which the combined effects of Covid-19 and Brexit have produced conditions of shortages akin to wartime. There is scarcity of produce – and lack of manpower to harvest and to transport goods: UK food firms beg ministers to let them use prisoners to ease labour shortages | Food & drink industry | The Guardian
- UK plunges towards supply chain crisis due to staff and transport disruption | Retail industry | The Guardian
- Food industry proposes ‘Covid recovery visa’ after warnings of surplus pig cull | Farm animals | The Guardian
- ‘The anxiety is off the scale’: UK farm sector worried by labour shortages | Business | The Guardian
- Problems too in staffing care homes – but from a different twist of the Covid-19 story Volunteers may be required in staffing shortfall at English care homes | Care workers | The Guardian
And lack of little bottles for blood samples is leading to changes of practice which avoids all but the most necessary blood tests GPs and hospitals to limit blood tests in England due to bottle shortage | NHS | The Guardian
Concerns:
Relaxation of discipline is welcomed by many, but there is fear that it will encourage further infections with Covid-19. Spread is predominantly among younger people and deaths are now more common amongst younger people Covid claims 100 lives a day on average across the UK, statistics show | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- UK braces for Covid surge as people head to bank holiday hotspots | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- A return to pre-lockdown benefits will be difficult for the most vulnerable to live with Planned cut to universal credit could push more than 2m people into debt | Universal credit | The Guardian
- Government spokesmen are keen to see fewer people dependent on benefits
- Labour politicians are proposing a thorough review of the benefits system and a move toward greater equality Labour to pledge shake-up of universal credit as part of wider ‘new deal’ | Universal credit | The Guardian
A Children’s Society survey finds that 10-15 year olds in this country are more likely to be unhappy than ten years previously (6.8%), more likely to worry about their appearance and more worried at schools. What is sad for these young people is a worry for their parents and grandparents Number of UK children unhappy with their lives rises – report | Children | The Guardian
Studies involving 13,000 Londoners reveal an association between higher levels of Nitrogen Dioxide in the air and the prevalence of severe mental illness and hospitalisation for these diseases. Air pollution linked to more severe mental illness – study | Air pollution | The Guardian
LED lights have been touted as environmentally friendly but this is now contested: a number of people find symptoms are exacerbated by them LED streetlights are far from eco-friendly | Letters | The Guardian
Another ‘greening’ policy which would see grass verges and more to be allowed to grow wild, is seen to have some undesirable consequences. Weeds in pavements may be trip hazards to people of any age. They are also unsightly and carry messages of neglect and carelessness Council accused of taking ‘rewilding’ too far as weeds take root in Brighton | Brighton | The Guardian
Golf courses are green, but they take up a lot of space and are used by only a small proportion of the population of towns and cities. Is this a good use of a precious resource? London golf courses could provide homes for 300,000 people, study says | Planning policy | The Guardian
When people in positions of authority and responsibility are accused of serious misconduct, the matter has to be dealt urgently and with care: in the case of Father Alan Griffin the Church of England has been found wanting C of E admits to failings over allegations against priest who took his own life | Anglicanism | The Guardian
Good news:
We have been diverted and inspired by accounts of athletic excellence in Tokyo Tokyo 2020 Paralympics briefing: GB’s gold rush and a TikTok star shines | Paralympics | The Guardian
- Remember that taking part is what is most important
We remember the dedication of women objecting to nuclear warheads at Greenham Common forty years ago ‘We owe them a huge amount’: march to honour Greenham Common women | Greenham Common | The Guardian
The dreadful situation in Afghanistan has mobilised generous responses from ordinary people Hundreds of Britons offer to host Afghan refugees after fall of Kabul | Refugees | The Guardian
‘Sleep on it’ has been wise advice for generations. Modern research supports the health-giving power of sleep – something now being recognised and acted on by firms keen to have their staff in the best of health ‘Sleep is venture capital’: employers wake up to benefits of a nap | Sleep | The Guardian
This week we have lost
Icons of pop culture:
- Don Everly – a life in pictures | Music | The Guardian
- Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts dies aged 80 | Charlie Watts | The Guardian
And sport: Ted Dexter obituary | Cricket | The Guardian
Extremes of weather may harvest a memorable autumn
Hopes of autumn glory as season arrives early in parts of southern England | Autumn | The Guardian
David Jolley
