Top story: ‘Divisive’ plan, say some Tory MPs
Hello, Warren Murray with you again on the other side of the chocolate egg mountain.
Keir Starmer is likely to oppose Covid status certificates, the Guardian has been told, as Boris Johnson promised they would not be introduced earlier than mid-May. A senior Labour source said ministers had not adequately explained how it would work, its purpose and the cost to the taxpayer. Forty Tory MPs have pledged to oppose certificates as “divisive and discriminatory”, potentially wiping out the government’s majority. Under the scheme, only people who can prove they have had a coronavirus vaccine, a recent negative test, or antibodies from an infection in the last six months would be allowed into some settings such as theatres and sports stadiums. Starmer has said he thinks the idea runs against British instinct.
Johnson has suggested that Covid status certificates and mass weekly testing could be key to further easing of restrictions, as he gave the green light for pubs, shops, hairdressers and gyms to reopen across England from next Monday. The PM said this next step out of lockdown was “fully justified” by the success of the vaccine rollout and the drop in cases and hospitalisations. Hopes that foreign holidays may be allowed from 17 May were dampened as Johnson said he did “not wish to give hostages to fortune” and was nervous about “the virus being reimported” from abroad given the surge in cases across Europe. Keep up with the latest Covid-19 developments at our live blog.
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Body found in student search – Police searching for missing London student Richard Okorogheye, 19, have found the body of a man in Epping Forest, Essex. Police said the body had been discovered in a pond and identification efforts were under way. Okorogheye, a student of computer science at Oxford Brookes University, has not been seen by his family since 22 March, when he left his home in Ladbroke Grove, west London. He took a bus and a taxi to Loughton in Essex where he was last seen on CCTV near Epping Forest. He has sickle cell disease and had been shielding at home during the pandemic. The Met said Okorogheye’s family were being supported by officers and kept aware of developments.
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‘That should have stopped’ – The Minneapolis police chief, Medaria Arradondo, has told the Derek Chauvin murder trial he “vehemently disagrees” there was any justification for the former police officer to keep his knee on George Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. “Once Mr Floyd had stopped resisting, and certainly once he was in distress and trying to verbalise that, that should have stopped.”
It is highly unusual for a police chief to give evidence against one of his own officers. Arradondo, his city’s first black police chief, fired Chauvin shortly after Floyd’s death. Dr Bradford Wankhede Langenfeld, the emergency room doctor who tried to save Floyd’s life, has told the trial he most likely died of asphyxiation. He saw no evidence Floyd was killed by a heart attack or a drug overdose as Chauvin’s defence has claimed. Chauvin, 45, has denied charges of second- and third-degree murder, and manslaughter. The trial continues.
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Northern Ireland roils – Violence has continued in Northern Ireland where tensions have soared among loyalists over post-Brexit trading arrangements. A car was set alight in Sperrin Park in the Waterside area of Derry on Monday night while there were reports of violent incidents in Carrickfergus, near Belfast. On Sunday night five police officers sustained injuries after being pelted with petrol bombs and masonry in Belfast. In all, 32 police were injured in incidents in Derry and Belfast over the Easter weekend. In County Antrim a series of police drug seizures against the renegade South East Antrim UDA is thought to have contributed to disturbances in Newtownabbey. There is also anger over a decision not to prosecute 24 Sinn Féin politicians who attended a large-scale republican funeral during Covid-19 restrictions.
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Be like Captain Tom – The family of the late Captain Sir Tom Moore are asking Britons to embark on their own 100-something challenge for charity. Moore would have turned 101 on Friday 30 April and people are being encouraged to meet their challenge that weekend and donate the money to his foundation or another charitable cause.
Captain Tom decided to support the NHS during the pandemic by doing 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday. He aimed to raise £1,000 but it ended up being nearly £40m. Hs daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore suggested people could build 100 sandcastles, write a 100-word poem or tell 100 people: “Tomorrow will be a good day.” As for Captain Tom’s family, they plan to continue his legacy by walking their own laps to raise as much money as they can.
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Stars a little brighter tonight – The number of stars visible in the skies above Britain increased in this year’s annual count, indicating a lessening of light pollution during lockdown. CPRE, the countryside charity, said 30 or more stars in the Orion constellation were seen by 5% of participants, the highest figure since 2013 and indicating truly dark skies. The results, recorded on an interactive map, are published during International Dark Sky Week, which aims to raise awareness of the impact of light pollution, which is implicated in the decline of insects, especially moths, while also changing the behaviour of other animals.
Today in Focus podcast: Backlash over race report
A new report into racial inequality in the UK has been condemned by campaigners and was called a “green light for racists” by Doreen Lawrence. Aamna Mohdin examines what it says and why the response has been so damning.
Lunchtime read: The teachers sexually harassed by pupils
“I’ve had threats of rape. I’ve had someone say: ‘I’m going to seek out your daughter and rape her.’ You’re called a slag and a slut. Sometimes it’s banter and they all think it’s funny. Sometimes it’s anger directed at you.” After the disclosures on Everyone’s Invited, teachers highlight the toxic culture of sexual harassment and abuse they face from pupils.
Sport
Jürgen Klopp has said Liverpool are not on a “revenge tour” against Real Madrid in the Champions League as the chance of reaching another final provides all the motivation his team requires. Jesse Lingard scored for the sixth time in his eighth appearance for West Ham before creating another two goals in a rollicking win at Wolves that sent the Hammers fourth in the Premier League. Michy Batshuayi scored in the 86th minute, two minutes after coming on as a substitute, to earn Crystal Palace a point with a 1-1 draw at Everton.
Jordan Spieth has warned the world of golf he believes there is a “next level” he can find after ending a four-year wait for a tournament win. In the 61st professional meeting of two old snooker rivals, Stephen Hendry beat Jimmy White 6-3 in the first round of qualifying for the World Championship. The Leinster prop Tadhg Furlong believes an extra week’s rest following their last-16 walkover last Friday can work to their advantage as they seek to storm “fortress” Exeter on Saturday. Rebecca Welch became the first female referee to take charge of a Football League match in England in Harrogate Town and Port Vale’s League Two clash on Monday. And North Korea’s sports ministry has said it will not participate in the Tokyo Olympics this year to protect its athletes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Business
Asia-Pacific markets have been mixed after a Wall Street rally that reflected some optimism about the economy recovering from the pandemic. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost early gains and fell nearly 0.2% in morning trading. South Korea’s Kospi edged up 0.1% while Shanghai slipped 0.1% and Hong Kong was closed for Easter. The FTSE looks like opening lower while a pound is worth $1.389 and €1.176 at time of writing.
The papers
“Johnson pledges return to a ‘semblance of normality’” – our Guardian print edition’s front page lead today. Running down the side: “Khan looks at feasibility of legalising cannabis” as the London mayor considers a new approach to tackling drug-related crime.
“Cheers – we’re opening for business” says the Express, welcoming the next step out of lockdown. “Book your table now” enthuses the Metro, while the Mirror has “Lockdown easing confirmed: We’re open Monday”. “Lockdown eases up next week for pubs and shops”, the i sums up. But others of a libertarian bent find reason to glower. “Call this freedom?” shrills the Mail – an incomplete list of its grievances: “weekly tests, no foreign travel, jab passports”. The Telegraph chimes in that there is “No end in sight as Johnson says normal is some way off”.
The Times suggests normal is in sight, though, if you squint: “PM hopeful of foreign holidays by next month”. It has a Covid passports story down the side – the Financial Times covers that topic thusly: “Johnson set for clash with Tories after backing Covid passports”.
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• An item in Thursday’s briefing email incorrectly claimed that LeBron James is a part-owner of RedBird.
