Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Friday’s papers are being dominated by scrutiny being aimed at Conservative leadership hopeful Penny Mordaunt but supporters of her main rival Liz Truss.
“Knives out for Penny!” – that’s how the Daily Express splashes on the new – after Ms Mordaunt again performed well in the second round of the contest. The paper says there’s now a “determined bid” among Mordaunt’s critics to “wreck” her hopes of becoming PM.
“Mordaunt under the Microscope” – that’s the headline of the Daily Mail. The paper devotes 10 pages to the contest and describes in detail the claims her enemies have made about her.
Lord Frost writes in The Telegraph slamming Mordaunt – he says a government led by her could not succeed.
The Guardian thinks the race to No 10 is becoming “increasingly acrimonious” and that rival Tory camps are aiming their fire at Mordaunt.
The i believe her rivals fear her popularity among the grassroots – who will choose the winner from the final two candidates. The paper carried out polling suggesting the public prefers her to Truss and Sunak – even though she remains relatively obscure among voters.
The Financial Times notes Liz Truss mistimed her entrance at her launch event and failed to remember her way out of the room – symbolising a campaign struggling to find its bearings.
The Times’ editorial looks ahead to the upcoming TV debates, the paper says candidates need to be subjected to forensic scrutiny to establish which of them is genuinely up to the job.
Heatwave sweeps Britain
“Red hot alert” is the Daily Mirror’s headline – the paper reports NHS doctors fear a surge in heat-related illnesses and death as temperatures rocket towards 40C.
The Sun’s front page features a bush fire approaching the holiday home of Rebekah Vardy.
Prince Andrew interview – the movie!
“Andrew drama heads to big screen” is The Times’ headline as it describes how the story of Prince Andrew’s infamous BBC grilling will be turned into a movie.
The Telegraph suggests Hugh Grant is in the frame to play the Queen’s son – though the actor has denied this.
The Daily Mirror thinks Gillian Anderson could play Emily Maitlis. It also says the Pizza Express in Woking – which was cited in one of Prince Andrew’s answers – should “brace for a new global fanbase”.