What the papers say – July 17

A range of stories feature on Wednesday’s front pages.

July 17 2019

Boris Johnson and a celebrity-backed plea over free TV licences for over-75s make headlines on Wednesday.

The Times reports that Mr Johnson is planning to hold an early general election while Jeremy Corbyn is still around.

The Times 17/7/2019
Ursula von der Leyen, Germany’s defence minister, will succeed Jean-Claude Juncker on 31/10 — also the Brexit deadline — after the European parliament elected her by 9 votes last night. Photo : Patrick Seeger/EPA #thetimes #tomorrowspaperstoday @thetimes pic.twitter.com/IGMaLP4gt7
— The Times Pictures (@TimesPictures) July 16, 2019

The Guardian says Mr Johnson has been accused of ignoring advice over his so-called vanity projects as London mayor and leaving taxpayers with a nearly £1bn bill.

The Guardian front page, Wednesday 17 July 2019: Johnson accused over £1bn vanity projects pic.twitter.com/SsnUnFnKhy
— The Guardian (@guardian) July 16, 2019

Politics also leads the i, which says the UK is heading for a no-deal Brexit under the new prime minister, and claims Mr Johnson’s team is considering plans to suspend Parliament before the Halloween deadline to leave the EU.

I: UK heading for no deal Brexit under new PM #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/yorG2JGSoD
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 16, 2019

Sterling plunged to a two-year low as a risk of a no-deal Brexit mounts, the Financial Times reports.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Wednesday 17 July https://t.co/OHo0HTK5et pic.twitter.com/vGXmOPyIKm
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) July 16, 2019

The Daily Mirror and the Daily Express both feature the ongoing backlash over plans to end free TV licences for over-75s, and report that Dame Helen Mirren is leading a group of celebrities calling on ministers and the BBC to continue funding the concession.

Tomorrow's front page: I'm 101... please don't take my TV licence away#tomorrowspaperstoday https://t.co/pZQtWLqPw7 pic.twitter.com/VwFWnEvW3J
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) July 16, 2019

EXPRESS: Dame Helen - hands off free TV licences #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/klqPSeSMP9
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 16, 2019

In other news, The Daily Telegraph reports that councils have begun charging householders to dump waste at rubbish tips.

TELEGRAPH: Families face new rubbish tip ‘tax’ #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/FYS9KaRzvt
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 16, 2019

The Daily Mail leads on its campaign to end what it calls a dementia care bills “betrayal”.

Wednesday's @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/T1uKlQbMG2
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) July 16, 2019

And The Sun leads on the story of a toddler being bitten by a bat in his cot.

Tomorrow's front page: A toddler woke up screaming in the middle of the night - after being bitten by a bat in his cot https://t.co/mrrVIAXn5W pic.twitter.com/cMjd19O9Us
— The Sun (@TheSun) July 16, 2019

Elsewhere, the Metro carries comments from the friend of a YouTube star who was killed in an electric scooter crash.