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“Red alert: ‘ferocious’ heatwave set to send temperatures beyond 40C” – the Guardian leads with the weather and a picture of firefighters on duty in France. The Conservative party’s TV bloodletting is wrapped up as well: “Tory leadership debate exposes deep divisions”. The intro says it was a “bad-tempered” show.

“Blowtorch Britain” says the Mirror, as “42C record heat is on”. The “revellers” shown jumping into the sea at Brighton look happy enough to brave the conditions.
Tomorrow’s front page: Blowtorch Britain #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/N3fnEZYqvK pic.twitter.com/zyMev7LKzv
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) July 17, 2022
The Metro alliterates also with “Meltdown Monday” while the leadership debate is handled cleverly with a picture of the contenders flanking their moderator, Julie Etchingham – the overlaid headline is “Who is the weakest Tory link?”.
Tomorrow's Paper Today 📰
— Metro (@MetroUK) July 17, 2022
MELTDOWN MONDAY
🔴 Britain's hottest day is forecast
🔴 It's set to top 40C for first time
🔴 Unprecedented red health alert #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/2axLyBlAks
The Telegraph couldn’t decide between “heatwave” or “meltdown” thus throws together “Heatwave meltdown brings UK to a halt”. In debate coverage, all guns are trained on the ex-chancellor: “Rivals accuse Sunak of leading country into recession”.
📰The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) July 17, 2022
'Heatwave meltdown brings UK to a halt'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/bLXcRrSH6E
It’s hot as well on the surface of the Sun. “Hotter than the Sahara” in fact. “And India … and Pakistan … and Algeria … and Ethiopia” though presumably not all added together. The strap across the top of an aerial beach pic is “Super scorchio” and the paper predicts “Beaches full as offices and schools shut”.
On tomorrow's front page: Millions of Brits set to stay at home over next 48 hours as Britain’s sweltering heatwave peaks.https://t.co/lXj6SCkFtQ pic.twitter.com/oZVPfAQdUu
— The Sun (@TheSun) July 17, 2022
Others use the weather for their front-page pic, but splash on the Tory leadership. Strongest wording is probably in the Times, which has “Sunak attacks ‘socialist’ Truss”. The paper calls last night’s debate a “bitter TV clash”. On the heatwave front it has “Schools told to stay open as temperatures climb towards record”.
TIMES: @RishiSunak attacks ‘socialist’ @trussliz #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/tAyfV96WNc
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 17, 2022
“Mordaunt and Truss No 10 rivalry ignites” says the i. Whether “ignites” is a weather reference is unclear. There’s another beach pic and the furniture says “UK braced for hottest day ever as heatwave hits”.
Monday's front page - Mordaunt and Truss No10 rivalry ignites#tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/SKHyhBJCpP
— i newspaper (@theipaper) July 17, 2022
Penny Mordaunt called for an end to “toxic smears” … but the Express says “No chance! Race for No 10 gets personal”. And somewhat typically of this paper, there is a plea to rally together as Britons today whatever the risks posed by the heat: “It’s not the end of the world! Just stay cool and carry on …”
Front page: End to smears? No chance! Race for No 10 gets personal #TomorrowsPaperToday
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) July 17, 2022
Full story here: https://t.co/RXW8mRfcwr pic.twitter.com/xZ31DK8aco
On the Daily Mail’s front, the attack line du jour takes precedence over immediate coverage of the debate: “Mordaunt flouted No 10 ban to meet boycotted group”. Picture-wise it jumps on the now-confirmed nuptials of Batfleck and J-Lo.
MAIL: @PennyMordaunt flouted No10 ban to meet boycotted group #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/ctoU25gRhq
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 17, 2022
Also-ran Nadhim Zahawi (the chancellor) anchors the Financial Times’ top story today: “Battle looms over plans for City shake-up to prime ‘Big Bang 2.0’”. For the pic, it’s Brighton beach again and an unflattering allusion to skin tone – “Beyond the pale: health alerts for record heat”.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, international edition, Monday 18 July https://t.co/6Q9t2QUpIq pic.twitter.com/Wg4wbPkh7b
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) July 17, 2022