Newspaper headlines: George Floyd's legacy and EU 'to welcome British tourists'

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Boris Johnson as the despatch boxImage source, UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

The row over government lobbying continues on Thursday's front pages.

The Times reports that Boris Johnson rejected advice to change his mobile phone number amid concerns about him being contacted by people who could potentially influence policy decisions.

According to the paper, top civil servant Simon Case is said to have recommended the move last year, but the prime minister was reluctant to change it.

The Guardian says Mr Johnson is regularly texted by business leaders and politicians. But officials have denied he was told to change his number.

The i leads with an appeal by George Floyd's sister for Britain to fight racism in his name, a day after the white former police officer, Derek Chauvin, was convicted of his murder.

The paper says LaTonya Floyd urged people in the UK to "always use George Floyd as an example". She tells the paper that police knowing they can wear handcuffs and go to jail will serve as a wake-up call for people in uniforms around the world.

For its lead, the Daily Mail says funeral directors have called on ministers to change Covid rules on cremations and burials in England.

It says they expect at least another 80,000 families to be affected by the restrictions between now and the 21 June - the prime minister's earliest stipulated date for easing lockdown fully in England.

The National Association of Funeral Directors tells the Mail that now the simple comfort of holding hands in care homes is permitted - and given the success of the vaccine programme and wide availability of testing - the government should reassess the restrictions at funerals to minimise the suffering of bereaved people.

A government spokesman tells the paper that the restrictions have sought to balance the needs of the bereaved with the need to contain the virus.

The Daily Express reports that a snooker event held under the government's pilot scheme of allowing a limited number of spectators into large venues has resulted in none of them testing positive for Covid.

Image source, PA Media

It says the World Snooker Championship event at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre recorded no follow-up cases of the virus so far.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the travel industry has been told that Covid passports will be made available as early as next month, in time for the summer holidays.

According to the paper, the Department for Transport wants an official certification scheme to be in place by the 17 May, the earliest date that foreign travel for leisure purposes can resume in England.