The continental scorcher has arrived. Germany, Denmark and the Czech Republic are burning through temperature records. Berlin hit 38.6°C. Copenhagen sweated through its hottest June day since records began. Prague? 39.5°C. Unprecedented.
Now the weather front is tracking west. The Met Office has issued an amber warning for much of England. Temperatures could hit 35°C by Thursday. That is not far off the UK record of 38.7°C. The political heat is about to rise too.
Whitehall sources tell me contingency plans are being dusted off. The Cobra emergency committee could be convened as early as Wednesday. Ministers are anxious. Heatwaves mean transport chaos, NHS strain and angry voters. Remember 2019? Trains melted. Roads buckled. The government was caught flat-footed.
This time, Downing Street is trying to get ahead. The Health Secretary has been briefed. 'Prepare for a major incident' is the message being sent to local resilience forums. But the real fear is what happens if the mercury keeps climbing. Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is here. And it is a political liability.
The prime minister's approval ratings are already fragile. A botched response could be fatal. The opposition is circling. Labour's shadow environment secretary is demanding a 'national resilience review'. The Liberal Democrats are calling for emergency funding to insulate homes.
Inside No.10, the mood is defensive. 'We are monitoring the situation closely' is the official line. But privately, aides admit they are scrambling. The heatwave is a reminder that the government's net-zero agenda is popular. But the transition is expensive. And voters are impatient.
The timing is brutal. Parliament is in recess. The Tories are divided over their green credentials. The right-wing faction sees this as an opportunity to attack 'net-zero socialism'. But the data is relentless. Polls show 78% of Britons support stronger action on climate change. The PM cannot ignore it.
So watch the grid. Watch the transport secretary. Watch the NHS. This heatwave is not just a weather event. It is a political stress test. And Westminster is sweating.
More on this as it develops.
