‘Push to scrap free Covid tests’, and months of ‘discontent’

Government ministers will announce plans for new levies on gas bills to fund low-carbon heating, despite rising energy prices, the Times reports.

The paper says the strategy – to be published in the next fortnight, ahead of the COP26 climate conference – will include a carbon pricing scheme that could push bills significantly higher.

But one government source tells the Times the plans are “madness”, with Downing Street failing to appreciate the problem of rising energy prices.

The paper says he has been called on to “save Christmas” from a “triple whammy” of food, fuel and carbon dioxide shortages.

The i weekend says disruption, exacerbated by a global shipping logjam, could last for months, leading to a winter – and spring – of discontent.

The Sun’s leader column says the UK should have ended its reliance on gas imports long ago.

With Russia slowing supply and China buying all the gas it can, the paper says, the West is shamefully at the mercy of its enemies.

Ministers are said to be concerned about the huge costs to the taxpayer.

Under a new system, free tests would be available only for high-risk settings, or people with symptoms.

The Telegraph says there are fears taxes would have to rise for the current provisions to continue.

Notwithstanding possible privacy issues, the paper says, the idea of a “walk me home” service deserves “serious consideration”.

Writing in the Mail, the chief executive of BT Philip Jansen says he came up with the idea because many women are living in fear, and he wants to do something practical to help.

The paper says accounts that promote vaccine misinformation to hundreds of thousands of followers were uncovered by the online misinformation monitor Newsguard.

It told the Guardian it sent its findings to the UK government and the World Health Organisation in June – but the content remained online – and accessible to children as young as nine.

Tiktok said it worked diligently to take action on accounts that spread misinformation.

Foxes thirsty for a sweet-tasting alcoholic component of brake fluid have been apparently severing brake lines in cars to get their fix.

Thirty people in one street have had their cables chewed – costing £60,000 to repair.

One man has secured a tarpaulin to his Volvo to stop the animals.