What the papers say – December 21

Monday’s front pages are dominated by international reaction to the new strain of coronavirus sweeping through the country.

The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph and the i all lead with European countries introducing travel restrictions on the UK in a bid to contain the spread of the new Covid variant.

The Times says Europe has shut the door on Britain, while Metro says the UK has effectively been “put into isolation”.

Meanwhile, The Sun focuses on the impact of France’s decision to suspend all traffic, including freight and passenger transport, from the UK for 48 hours.

The Financial Times, Daily Express and The Independent report on lockdowns potentially remaining in parts of England “for months” as the mutant virus strain runs “out of control”.

Elsewhere, the Daily Mirror leads with Sir Keir Starmer calling on Boris Johnson to apologise for “plunging Christmas into chaos”.

And the disruptions to Christmas also feature on the front pages of the Daily Mail and Daily Star.

PA