Thursday’s papers are dominated by the news the final two candidates in the Tory leadership race have been whittled down to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss – with the papers’ weighing up the chances of both and looking through their policies.

Most papers feature a picture of Deborah James’ funeral – the cancer campaigner died last month after a long battle. 

Liz Truss goes to the Daily Mail to pledge to hold an emergency budget to immediately reverse the recent national insurance rise and suspend the green levy on energy bills. Truss says the party has been going in the wrong direction on tax and promises to be “a true tax-cutting, freedom-loving Conservatives.” 

Whilst Mr Sunak writes in the Daily Telegraph saying he respects his rival and agrees with her that tax cuts are ultimately needed for economic growth. The paper says the language represents a softening of his criticism of Liz Truss. Sunak argues that growth can only be achieved on a foundation of low inflation and sound public finances.

Liz Truss is pegged as the front runner, according to the front pages. The Financial Times says she starts as the “slim favourite”, while the Telegraph says it is “advantage Truss.” 

The Times highlighted opinion polls suggesting she is nearly 20 points ahead among Tory members. The paper says Rishi Sunak faces an uphill struggle. 

Most papers accept the contest will be brutal. The Independent predicts a “summer of vicious infighting”, while the Guardian says the Tories are braced for “a blue on blue dogfight.” 

The Sun says there will be “blue on blue bloodshed”. The Telegraph says Sunak’s side will target Liz Truss over her decision to vote to remain in the EU and what critics have dubbed her “stilted communication style.” 

The Times says allies of Liz Truss will launch personal attacks on Rishi Sunak – blaming him for high inflation and accusing him of disloyalty to prime minister Boris Johnson. 

The Tory contest is “made in heaven” for Labour, according to the Daily Mirror. The paper describes Liz Truss as “a vacuous chancer who would be out of her depth in a puddle” and Mr Sunak as “the moneybags chancellor who hiked taxes to 1940s levels, while his family avoided their fair share”. 

The i says there is a great deal of anger among Tory Party members that Penny Mordaunt didn’t make it to the final two. The paper says it has spoken to a number of Conservative association chairmen in England and Wales – many of them feel the party’s chances of winning the next general election are damaged with Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss in charge.