The Papers: Salutes to ‘hero’ Capt Tom and ‘game-changer’ jab

image caption“The best of us” – this is how the i newspaper pays tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore, who died aged 100 after contracting coronavirus. The paper calls him a “war hero and optimist” who inspired the nation with his multi-million pound fundraising efforts for the NHS during the first lockdown.

image captionThe Sun pictures the World War Two veteran both as a young man in wartime and walking around his garden during his fundraising challenge last year, wearing his medals. The paper’s headline gives him the nickname “Captain Marvel”.

image caption“We’ve lost a national treasure,” Metro declares in its headline, across a full-page image of Capt Sir Tom giving the thumbs-up.

image captionThe Daily Mirror calls him a “hero of our time”, adding that his death left the nation united in mourning. It reports that the Queen led the tributes, saying she “recognised the inspiration he provided for the nation”.

image caption“We never walked alone with you by our side” reads the Daily Express headline in a nod to Capt Sir Tom’s number one hit single. The paper urges its readers to give the fundraiser a round of applause at 20:00 GMT on Wednesday to pay their respects.

image captionThe top half of the Daily Mail front page features a picture of Capt Sir Tom draped in the Union Jack and dressed in a dinner jacket, next to a headline about the “last salute” for a “hero who walked into our hearts”. The paper’s main story says the Oxford vaccine is a “game-changer” after studies showed it can reduce the spread of Covid as well as preventing illness.

image captionA single dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine can stop two-thirds of onward infections, the Daily Telegraph reports. It says the trial results raise hopes that restrictions could be reduced by Easter.

image captionThe Times says the results “boost hopes of freedom” but also support the UK’s vaccination strategy, amid criticism of the 12-week delay to the second dose. The paper says the study shows that the longer gap between doses actually improves results.

image captionA leaked report on Labour’s strategy to win back its lost northern constituencies urges the party to rebrand with greater use of the union flag, veterans and “dressing smartly”, the Guardian says. The paper reports that leader Sir Keir Starmer is rated as the party’s biggest positive force but some voters are concerned about him “sitting on the fence”.

image captionAnd the Financial Times addresses the impact of Brexit, saying ministers will call on the EU to de-escalate a looming “crisis” in Northern Ireland – as tensions over disruption to trade with Great Britain have led to “sinister” threats to border staff. It says Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has admitted the issues are more than “teething problems”, as the prime minister had said last month.