The Papers: ‘Meltdown Monday’ and ‘Race for No10 gets personal’

“Blowtorch Britain” is the main headline in the Mirror – alongside a picture of beachgoers diving into the sea in Brighton. However, the paper says people are being told to stay indoors amid “death fears and travel chaos”.

The Telegraph warns of a “heatwave meltdown” and says Britain will grind to a standstill on Monday as trains across the country are cancelled and blanket restrictions imposed on all railway lines. But in an editorial, the paper argues Britain ought to “learn to take the heat”.

It says the current default response to any prospect of illness or discomfort is to close down rather than endeavour to stay open – and calls on government agencies to be more creative in the face of expected events.

The Times quotes the head of a multi-academy trust, which runs more than 50 schools, who says they will all stay open – because to do otherwise would be “unbelievably irresponsible”.

Steve Chalke – of the Oasis schools chain – tells the paper that the decision to shut a school at any time has huge ramifications, economically and socially – and it would be the poorest families who’d suffer, because cleaners or supermarket staff can’t work remotely.

The Independent online says ministers have been urged to take action to make Britain fit to cope with extreme heat – with MPs and government advisers warning that homes, city centres and NHS services need to be adapted.

“It’s super scorchio,” says the front page of The Sun, “Hotter than the Sahara….and India…. and Pakistan… and Algeria and Ethiopia”.

The other dominant story is the latest television debate between the Conservative leadership contenders.

The i says rivalry has ignited between Liz Truss and Penny Mordaunt for second place in the contest, with the latter calling for an end to “toxic smears”.

It says the Foreign Secretary denies being behind attacks on Ms Mordaunt’s stance on gender issues and her ministerial record.

Meanwhile, The Mail carries a story suggesting Ms Mordaunt is facing questions over her judgment for meeting the leader of the Muslim Council of Britain – despite the government introducing a policy of not engaging with the group. It quotes an anonymous government source describing her move as “perplexing”.

“Sunak attacks ‘socialist’ Truss” is The Times’ take on the debate, saying the contest has got ‘nastier’ with the rivals starting to tear each other apart.

Its editorial says the contenders ought to be focusing relentlessly on the economy – and criticises their debate for veering into irrelevancies and misconceptions. Voters, it suggests, deserve direct answers.

The Telegraph says the leadership contenders turned on Rishi Sunak one by one to attack his record as chancellor – with Liz Truss attempting to position herself as the only candidate who could effectively challenge him on the economy.

The Guardian says the “bad tempered” debate exposed deep divisions over economic policy – with current and former cabinet colleagues pitted against each other. The Express describes the encounter as a “showdown” as the race becomes personal.

Finally, the front page of the Metro has a group photograph of the contenders, posing the question, “Who is the weakest Tory link?”