Wednesday’s front pages lead with two main stories: The latest from the race between Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss for the Conservative Party leadership. The second lead is England’s win against Sweden in the semifinals of the Euros 2022. 

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England roar in Euros 2022 

“Abba some of that!” – that’s the headline on the front page of the Metro, whilst the Daily Mail thinks the Lionesses were “Roarsome” and the Daily Express declares “It’s coming home.” 

It’s estimated that more than 14 million people tuned in to watch the semi-final against Sweden, according to the Times. The paper says it’s a record for women’s football in Britain. Beth Mead – the tournament’s top scorer – kept her incredible run, “Swede dreams are Mead of this” is the headline on the back page of the Daily Star. 

Rishi Sunak U-turn on VAT cuts on energy bills 

The Times calls the U-turn a “significant change of strategy” as Rishi Sunak has pledged to scrap VAT on energy bills next year. The paper says it comes as he attempts to overhaul Liz Truss’s lead in the race to become the PM. 

“A screeching U-turn” reads the Daily Telegraph’s headline – a quote from a source on the Truss campaign. 

The Guardian points out that Sunak had previously rejected the policy, whilst the i claims he is now “on the ropes.” The Daily Express leads with Liz Truss and her plans for policing, the paper says she will “demand the police up their game” and “cut serious crime” by 20% if she becomes prime minister. 

The Financial Times, The Sun and the Metro use their front pages to feature an image of Liz Truss as the host of yesterday’s leadership debate fainted off camera during the live broadcast. 

The Daily Telegraph’s Tim Stanley uses his sketch to describe the moment as “one of the strangest, most shocking moments in television history” and criticises TalkTV for leaving viewers “in the dark” about what happened for 25 minutes. 

The Daily Mirror carries an interview with Mick Lynch. Around 40,000 RMT members will strike today over pay, jobs and conditions. Mr Lynch accuses both Sunak and Truss of being extremists who want to “crush unions” in a “Tory war on workers.” 

The Metro has a very different take on the strikes. The paper warns that millions of commuters hit by today’s strike will face “triple misery” next month after unions announced a London Underground walkout in August that will be sandwiched between two more train strikes.