Newspaper headlines: \'Chicken Boris\' jibe as rivals clash over Brexit

Newspaper headlines: 'Chicken Boris' jibe as rivals clash over Brexit

By BBC News Staff
Metro front page
Image caption The Conservative leadership race dominates Monday's papers. The Metro says the "would-be prime ministers tore into each other" over Brexit in the first TV debate.
Daily Mirror front page
Image caption The Daily Mirror focuses on front-runner Boris Johnson's decision not to take part, saying he "chickened out". It claims Mr Johnson refused to appear over fears his record would be exposed.
Daily Express front page
Image caption Mr Johnson faced a string of attacks from his rivals, according to the Daily Express, as the effort to stop him from becoming PM intensified.
Guardian front page
Image caption The Guardian says the contenders used the debate to set out their vision for the future of the UK.
The Times front page
Image caption The Times carries a comment piece by former contender Matt Hancock - who has given his backing to Mr Johnson's campaign. The paper says the health secretary spent the weekend deciding between Mr Johnson and Michael Gove.
Daily Telegraph front page
Image caption The leadership favourite - Mr Johnson - uses his column in the Daily Telegraph to promise every home in the UK will have access to super-fast broadband within six years. He calls the government's current plans to achieve that by 2033 "laughably unambitious".
i front page
Image caption The i focuses on Theresa May's aim to leave a lasting legacy by introducing wide-ranging measures to protect pupils' mental health.
Daily Mail front page
Image caption The Daily Mail leads on its own investigation which it says has found that nine-in-10 cannabis users and growers are being let off without a criminal charge in some areas of England.
Financial Times front page
Image caption India beating Pakistan in Manchester in the cricket World Cup makes the front of the Financial Times. An estimated global audience of one billion tuned in - making it one of the most watched events in world sport.
Daily Star front page
Image caption The Daily Star reports that an innovative way to help solve the energy crisis has been discovered - using Wensleydale to heat homes. It says inventors have found they can turn whey left over from the manufacture of the cheese into gas.
The Sun front page
Image caption And "daft as a brush" is the headline in the Sun, which claims a furniture maker has been ordered to stop sweeping his factory floor with a broom because safety inspectors say it is a health hazard.

Many of the papers give their assessment of the televised debate involving five of the contenders for the Conservative leadership.

"Rivals gang up to stop Boris", is the headline in The Daily Express. The paper says Boris Johnson faced a string of attacks from his rivals as they intensified their efforts to halt his advance on Downing Street.

The Times says the real winner of Sunday night's debate was not the former foreign secretary but Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

It says each of the candidates' proposals for delivering Brexit have well-rehearsed flaws which suggests a general election before 2022 is highly likely.

The paper gives each candidates marks out of 10, with Michael Gove and Rory Stewart scoring joint highest on eight, and Sajid Javid lowest on six.

The Guardian says that while Brexit produced some of the strongest clashes of the debate, the candidates also sought to set out their vision for Britain by making a series of promises on literacy, social care and student debt.

It says Mr Johnson's decision to stay away made Dominic Raab what it calls the "no deal" villain, enabling the other four candidates to gang up on him.

Image copyright PA
Image caption From left to right: Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt, Sajid Javid, Dominic Raab and Rory Stewart

The sketch writer John Crace says Mr Johnson's decision to send along a lectern in his place proved to be an inspired move as it answered the questions much more directly and honestly than he ever would.

The Daily Telegraph leads with a promise by Mr Johnson to deliver super-fast broadband for the whole of the UK by 2025 - eight years sooner than the government's current plans.

As regards the debate, the paper says Mr Johnson was right to sit it out because of the way the other contenders had been allowed to gang up on Mr Raab, the only other "hard" Brexiteer.

It claims analysis showed that Mr Raab was given the least amount of time to answer - a third less than Mr Gove.

Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption Organisers said nearly two million people took part in a mass protest in Hong Kong

A number of papers carry pictures of the huge crowds which flooded the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday in the latest show of defiance against the authorities.

In an editorial, the Financial Times applauds the demonstrators. It says that in a world where might is seen as right, Hong Kong offers an example of moral and political boldness in the face of power.

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An investigation by the Daily Mail suggests that those who grow and use cannabis in some areas of England are being let off.

The paper claims the proportion of users who are charged with possession of the drug has fallen in recent years, sparking fears that cannabis is being unofficially legalised.

Image copyright AFP
Image caption Could another G20 meeting be on the cards?

Britain and Russia are examining the scope for a thaw in relations, according to the Guardian.

One possibility is setting up a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Theresa May at the G20 summit in Japan later this month.

If it went ahead, it would be the first meeting of its kind since the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury last year.

And finally, the Sun leads with its own exclusive story. It highlights the plight of a furniture maker - Michael Northcroft - who has been told by safety inspectors to stop sweeping his floor with a broom because the dust it creates can be harmful.

The Sun's headline? "Read it and sweep".