Newspaper headlines: 'Colston four walk free' and 'go with your flow'

Several of Thursday's front pages feature photographs of the so-called '"Colston Four" celebrating outside court.

The protesters were cleared of criminal damage yesterday, after standing trial for toppling a statue of the slave trader, Edward Colston, and dumping it in Bristol harbour during a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020.

The Guardian says anti-racism campaigners have hailed the jury's decision as a "huge step" in getting the UK to face up to its colonial past - but the Daily Express says it has prompted fears other monuments will be targeted. Whitehall sources have told the Daily Telegraph that the verdict left ministers "stunned".

A number of papers use their leader columns to make clear their opposition to the acquittals. "Does the rule of law still stand? It seems not," says the Sun. "Once again, the law is an ass," concludes the Daily Mail.

The Express acknowledges that the jury system is a cornerstone of our democracy - but suggests that the 'Colston Four' benefited from a jury who made "political decisions" rather than sticking to the legal points of the case.

The Telegraph describes the verdict as a "monumental error". "For juries to think that statues are on trial and not the defendants in court would be laughable," the paper says, "if its consequences were not so serious."

With the headline "We Have Lift-Off, Britain!" the Mail highlights the government's decision to scrap almost all the testing rules in England related to foreign travel. It says the move will save families hundreds of pounds, make it much easier to book holidays and provide a major fillip to the travel industry.

The Times says the UK's airlines have described the change as a "massive boost" - arguing it marks an important step towards learning to live alongside the virus. The Metro focuses on the decision to scrap PCR tests for people who test positive with a lateral flow device. "Just Go With Your Flow", says its headline.

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The Daily Mirror warns that the NHS is facing what it calls a "perfect storm" with soaring staff absences and a huge rise in Covid patients causing "chaos" in hospitals. The paper claims the situation has been made worse by the government's failure to invest and accuses Boris Johnson of leaving the health service "on its knees, just as we need it the most".

The Guardian points out that health worker absences are double the normal figure for this time of year. It says the NHS Confederation has warned that millions of patients will suffer worsening quality of care unless ministers take "immediate action" to alleviate the staffing crisis.

What's described by the Financial Times as a "growing cost-of-living revolt" is considered by several papers after Boris Johnson was repeatedly pressed on the issue of rising prices and bills in the Commons yesterday.

The Sun urges the prime minister to scrap VAT on energy, arguing he would hardly face critical headlines as the cut is Labour policy too.

The Times says a "better-targeted option" would be to increase the generosity and eligibility of the warm homes discount - but the Mail insists Mr Johnson should start by "axing punishing green levies that put up bills". "If ordinary families feel financial pain," it warns, "they will take it out on the Tories at the ballot box."