“Red alert: ‘ferocious’ heat wave to send temperatures over 40C” – Guardian leads with weather forecast and photo of firefighters on duty in France. The TV bloodbath for the Conservative Party is also over: “Tory leadership debate reveals deep divisions”. The intro says it’s a “bad temper” show.
“Blowtorch Britain”, says the Mirror, as “record heat is 42C”. The ‘revelers’ shown jumping into the sea in Brighton look happy enough to brave the conditions.
Metro also adds a ‘Monday Meltdown’, while the leadership debate is cleverly managed with a picture of the contenders surrounding their moderator, Julie Etchingham – the superimposed title is ‘Who’s the Tories’ weakest link?’
The Telegraph couldn’t decide between ‘heatwave’ or ‘melting’, thus collecting ‘Melting heatwave brings UK to a standstill’. In the coverage of the debate, all guns are pointed at the former chancellor: “Rivals accuse Sunak of leading the country into recession.”
It is also hot on the surface of the Sun. “Hotter than the Sahara” in fact. “And India… and Pakistan… and Algeria… and Ethiopia,” though probably not all together. The strapline at the top of an aerial beach photo is “Super Scorpio” and the newspaper predicts “Beaches are full as offices and schools are closed.”
Others use the time for their picture on the front page but splash the Tory leadership. Probably the strongest wording is in The Times, where “Sunak attacks ‘socialist’ Truss”. The paper called last night’s debate a “bitter televised showdown”. As for the heat wave, “Schools told to stay open as temperatures soar to record.”
“The rivalry between Mordaunt and Truss No 10 is heating up,” says i. It is not clear whether “kindles” is a reference to time. There’s another beach photo and the furniture says “UK braces for hottest day on record for heat wave”.
Penny Mordaunt has called for an end to ‘toxic stains’… but the Express says ‘No chance! The race for number 10 is getting personal”. And somewhat typical of this paper, there is a call to unite as Britons today, regardless of the risks posed by the heat: “It’s not the end of the world! Just keep your cool and carry on…”
On the Daily Mail front, the attack du jour takes precedence over immediate coverage of the debate: “Mordaunt ignored No 10 ban to meet boycotted group”. Picture-wise, he’s jumping on the now-confirmed Batfleck and J-Lo wedding.
Also managed Nadhim Zahawi (the chancellor) anchors today’s Financial Times headline: ‘Battle looms over plans to shake up City to usher in ‘Big Bang 2.0’. For the photo, it’s Brighton beach again and an unflattering allusion to skin tone – ‘Beyond the pale: health signals for record heat’.
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