Newspaper headlines: 'Hell on Earth' and Tories' green policy 'retreat'

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By BBC News
Staff
EPA

Splashed across many of the front pages are images of people wearing face coverings and carrying their belongings under a smoke-filled sky.

"Rhodes on fire" says the front page of Metro, pointing out that many tourists have "trekked miles to safety in just flip flops and swimwear" as they try to leave the fire-stricken island.

"Hell on Earth" is the headline in the Daily Express. It says many British holidaymakers have "abandoned their possessions and dashed to safety".

According to the Daily Telegraph, the prime minister is putting pressure on travel firms to make sure that tourists can return to the UK.

One who has managed to flee tells the Daily Mirror "it was horrific".

Another in the Sun compares the scenes to "the end of the world". The paper's headline echoes what people were told when fires began engulfing hotels: "Run for your lives".

The i contrasts the wildfires in Rhodes with the UK government's environmental policies - which it says Rishi Sunak is "reconsidering".

The Conservative chair of the environment committee, Sir Robert Goodwill, tells the paper that, in his words, "what's happening in southern Europe" shows "we don't have time" to ease green policies.

According to the Times, ministers could stop approving low-traffic neighbourhoods and give landlords more time to meet energy efficiency targets.

Small carmakers could also be given longer to convert to electric vehicles - with a government source saying that they "are looking at unpopular stuff that's not really delivering".

The Guardian says that senior Conservatives are urging the prime minister to call an election in the spring next year.

The paper reports that some Tories believe May 2024 could be an "economic sweet spot providing the best window for damage limitation". It says they think that waiting until the autumn or winter of next year could mean "an even bigger wipe-out" for the party.

A Conservative source tells the Guardian that the idea "is gaining traction" but that Rishi Sunak will "take a stronger view" in January.

The Financial Times reports that the heads of the UK's biggest banks are being asked to explain how they will ensure customers' accounts aren't closed for their political views.

In a draft letter seen by the paper, the Treasury says banks must make sure "that customers can access payment accounts without fear of being de-banked for their lawful expression", after Coutts shut the account of the former UKIP leader, Nigel Farage.

According to the Daily Telegraph, three more financial institutions are being investigated over claims they closed customers' accounts because of their views.

It says they are Metro Bank, Yorkshire Building Society and American Express, but the specifics of the cases are not known.

Metro Bank told the paper it was not its policy to close accounts because of an individual's beliefs. The other two have not yet commented.

"I'm blessed my cancer was caught quickly" says the front page of the Daily Mail.

It has an interview with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt about his experience with what he calls "the C word".

He tells the paper that he hopes research, done in the UK, "will turn the tide on the disease", saying he wants the UK to "lead the global fight" against it.