A round-up of the week’s news and comment
OUR TOP STORIES
The first indication of how the costs of the lockdown – along with post-lockdown schemes, such as ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ – will be covered came on Sunday, when it was reported that the Chancellor is planning tax hikes for the wealthy, a rise in corporation tax and reductions in pension tax relief – Sunday Times
Also on Sunday, scientists revealed that up to 124,000 tons of unrecyclable face masks is likely to be dumped each year in the UK alone, which is the equivalent weight of 10,000 London buses. This is alongside 57,000 tons of plastic packaging which cannot be recycled. ‘This stuff is toxic,’ said the founder of the 2 Minute Beach Clean project, ‘and will end up in the food chain’ – Mail on Sunday
It was reported on Monday that the organiser of an anti-lockdown protest in London is to be fined £10,000 for breaking restrictions on gatherings. Organisers of a ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest on Sunday and an Extinction Rebellion protest on Wednesday did not receive the same treatment – Guardian
On Tuesday, the new director-general of the BBC threatened to axe some of its many left-wing ‘comedy’ shows in an effort to win back respect from the public. Tim Davie also warned his staff that they need to do more to ‘represent every part of this country’ – Mail
Warnings of a ‘second wave’ of coronavirus deaths were dismissed on Wednesday by a virologist and oncologist at the University of Warwick. He said that the increase in cases is due to better testing finding symptomless people who are highly unlikely to die – Mail
Reports on Thursday revealed that a record had been set the day before as at least 409 migrants crossed the Channel from France to Britain. More than 5,000 are known to have arrived so far this year, shining a light on the emptiness of the government’s rhetoric around a ‘hostile response’ – Times
On Friday, a train passenger who claimed to have a medical condition was pepper-sprayed by a police officer after refusing to wear a mask. A video was widely shared on social media – Telegraph
OUR COMMENT CHOICE
Following last week’s row over the BBC’s anti-patriotism, Peter Hitchens asked ‘why are arguments about the love of country always held between BBC-type Britain-hating pinkoes, embarrassed by their own nation, and shouty jingoes, who never think about what patriotism really means?’ – Mail on Sunday
In an article for the Telegraph, Norman Tebbit berated Boris Johnson for his scruffiness, noting that this ‘will only feed rumours that he’s finding the job such a heavy burden that he wants a way out’.
Ben Lawrence wrote that the BBC ‘must not peddle its youth obsession when replacing Jane Garvey on Woman’s Hour’ – Telegraph
IN THE NEWS TODAY
Following a series of rumours through the week, former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has been confirmed as British trade envoy – Telegraph
