Newspaper headlines: Health chiefs back jab and Sturgeon in peril

BBC NewsStaff
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News imagePA Media Nicola Sturgeon with Alex SalmondPA Media
The papers say Nicola Sturgeon is under pressure after a Holyrood committee is reported to have ruled that she misled an inquiry over the handling of complaints against her predecessor Alex Salmond

Many of the morning papers examine the finding by a Holyrood committee that Nicola Sturgeon was, as the Times calls it, "guilty" of misleading their inquiry

The Scottish Sun dubs it an "inquiry bombshell". The i suggests the first minister is "in peril" - stressing that she is "the pivotal figure in Scottish independence".

The Scotsman reports that pressure for her to resign "will likely now intensify", while the Daily Telegraph insists she's "facing a fight for her political career". But the Daily Record says "it is unclear whether the act was deemed a resignation-worthy offence".

Online, the Spectator thinks the MSPs findings are not of paramount importance and that "much will hang on the verdict rendered by the court of public opinion". A view shared by the New Statesman, which says the vote is a "sideshow" and its main consequence "will be felt on the campaign trail."

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News imageRed line

The Daily Express and Daily Mail share similar headlines: both declaring that the AstraZeneca "jab is safe" and that there'll be "no delay to freedom". The Sun goes with the pun "Needle Glum Needle Glee!"

According to the Telegraph, GPs have reported that the clotting concerns have led to a 10% increase in no-shows at vaccine appointments, while a doctor from Suffolk writes to the Times reporting four cancellations yesterday at his clinic on this basis.

The Guardian says there is "huge frustration" among NHS staff running vaccination centres that ministers' boasts about the rollout have put undue pressure on them to reach what they call their "moving" targets. And the Daily Mirror warns of public anger if Boris Johnson has "raised false hopes".

The Guardian reports that the UK government is to take what it calls "unprecedented action" to force Northern Ireland to speed up the provision of its abortion services. Concerns have been raised by figures which suggest that more than 100 women have travelled to England for terminations during the pandemic. The paper suggests the Northern Ireland secretary will seek new powers so he can direct the nation's health department to commission more services.

News imageScience Photo Library Nurse and womanScience Photo Library
Abortion laws in Northern Ireland changed last year after legislation passed at Westminster

And the Express, the Times and the i are among several papers to examine some unlikely cleaning products from the past. English Heritage suggests that bread, milk and damp tea leaves can help with your spring clean. The bread is for the walls; the skimmed milk for the floors. The Times headline is: "Proud of your heritage? Then milk it".