Both the Observer and the Telegraph lead with the new policies of Gordon Brown
Bush gets ready for Iraq U-turn by Brown says the Telegraph
He has been briefed by White House officials to expect an announcement on British troop withdrawals from Mr Brown during his first 100 days in power. It would be designed to boost the new prime minister's popularity in the opinion polls.
The President recently discussed with a senior White House adviser how to handle the fallout from the expected loss of Washington's main ally in Iraq, The Sunday Telegraph has learned.
Details of the talks came as a close ally of Mr Brown called for a quicker withdrawal of British troops. Nigel Griffiths, a former minister, said: "We should get out of Iraq as soon as is practicable. We should consult the Iraqi government - but they cannot have a veto. This cannot be delayed."
The President recently discussed with a senior White House adviser how to handle the fallout from the expected loss of Washington's main ally in Iraq, The Sunday Telegraph has learned.
Details of the talks came as a close ally of Mr Brown called for a quicker withdrawal of British troops. Nigel Griffiths, a former minister, said: "We should get out of Iraq as soon as is practicable. We should consult the Iraqi government - but they cannot have a veto. This cannot be delayed."
For the Observer
Brown's vision for a nuclear Britain
Gordon Brown is to face down sceptics in his party and give the go-ahead for a new generation of nuclear power stations, which will be built across the country.
In a move immediately condemned by environmental organisations, the Prime Minister-elect will give the green light to the plans that will show that he is backing Tony Blair's support of the nuclear industry.
Boosted by a new poll, which shows Brown pulling ahead of David Cameron on the issue of competence to run the country, the Chancellor will signal his support this week for a dramatic renewal of the nuclear power programme that will see the building of up to eight new stations, possibly within 15 years.
In a move immediately condemned by environmental organisations, the Prime Minister-elect will give the green light to the plans that will show that he is backing Tony Blair's support of the nuclear industry.
Boosted by a new poll, which shows Brown pulling ahead of David Cameron on the issue of competence to run the country, the Chancellor will signal his support this week for a dramatic renewal of the nuclear power programme that will see the building of up to eight new stations, possibly within 15 years.
The Independent also leads on the energy theme
Renewable energy: The tide turns
Senior cabinet ministers are pushing for Britain to be the first nation in the world to get much of its power from the tides, as part of a massive new expansion for renewable energy. The Environment Secretary, David Miliband, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain and Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling want a giant £14bn barrage to be built across the Severn.
This would generate about 5 per cent of Britain's electricity without producing any of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
Their move is not meeting any serious opposition within the Cabinet but will spark off a furious row with environmental bodies, which say that the barrage would devastate the estuary's wildlife.
Yesterday Mr Hain told The Independent on Sunday that tidal power was "a huge untapped energy resource" and that "the Severn barrage is a project whose time has come".
This would generate about 5 per cent of Britain's electricity without producing any of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
Their move is not meeting any serious opposition within the Cabinet but will spark off a furious row with environmental bodies, which say that the barrage would devastate the estuary's wildlife.
Yesterday Mr Hain told The Independent on Sunday that tidal power was "a huge untapped energy resource" and that "the Severn barrage is a project whose time has come".
Staying with the change of leadership topic,the paper reports that
Brown backers unite to 'crush' Blairite in deputy leadership race
Supporters of Gordon Brown have launched an "anyone but Hazel" campaign to stop Hazel Blears becoming deputy leader of the Labour Party.
Some MPs believe that Ms Blears, an ardent supporter of Tony Blair, must not be allowed to take over from John Prescott. They say it would make it harder for Mr Brown to make a clean break with the Blair years.
One supporter of the Chancellor said that Ms Blears must be "crushed" and made to come last of the six deputy leadership candidates to send a firm signal that "Blairism is dead".
MPs supporting the five other candidates have begun co-operating to stop her gaining support in a bid to destroy her deputy leadership bid. They say Ms Blears's campaign is being backed by a coterie of "ultra-Blairites" and is run like a "Blairite leadership campaign".
Some MPs believe that Ms Blears, an ardent supporter of Tony Blair, must not be allowed to take over from John Prescott. They say it would make it harder for Mr Brown to make a clean break with the Blair years.
One supporter of the Chancellor said that Ms Blears must be "crushed" and made to come last of the six deputy leadership candidates to send a firm signal that "Blairism is dead".
MPs supporting the five other candidates have begun co-operating to stop her gaining support in a bid to destroy her deputy leadership bid. They say Ms Blears's campaign is being backed by a coterie of "ultra-Blairites" and is run like a "Blairite leadership campaign".
According to the Times
Brown set to sack Hewitt from health
The health secretary, Patricia Hewitt, is almost certain to be sacked by Gordon Brown when he forms his first cabinet in July.
The prime minister-in-waiting has respect for Hewitt and may still offer her another job in the cabinet but health is such an important issue for Brown that he wants to start with a fresh face in charge.
Even Hewitt’s allies believe she will be axed from health and some believe it is likely she will be moved out of the cabinet after six years.
Hewitt came under fire last week over security lapses in an online recruitment system for junior doctors. It was discovered that the troubled system was not matching candidates properly and their personal details found their way onto the internet.
The prime minister-in-waiting has respect for Hewitt and may still offer her another job in the cabinet but health is such an important issue for Brown that he wants to start with a fresh face in charge.
Even Hewitt’s allies believe she will be axed from health and some believe it is likely she will be moved out of the cabinet after six years.
Hewitt came under fire last week over security lapses in an online recruitment system for junior doctors. It was discovered that the troubled system was not matching candidates properly and their personal details found their way onto the internet.
It leads though with the story that
Police hunt arms trail in Downing Street
Police investigating alleged corruption by Britain’s biggest defence company sought access to Downing Street’s computer system to trawl for e-mails sent by and to Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair’s chief of staff.
They suspected that Lord Powell, his brother, an adviser to BAE Systems, the firm at the centre of the inquiry, was lobbying Downing Street aides to have the investigation stopped.
They approached officers investigating the cash for honours scandal, which had access to Downing Street e-mails, to see if they could trace e-mails between the Powell brothers.
They were looking for evidence that individuals might have tried to influence the outcome of the police investigation.
They suspected that Lord Powell, his brother, an adviser to BAE Systems, the firm at the centre of the inquiry, was lobbying Downing Street aides to have the investigation stopped.
They approached officers investigating the cash for honours scandal, which had access to Downing Street e-mails, to see if they could trace e-mails between the Powell brothers.
They were looking for evidence that individuals might have tried to influence the outcome of the police investigation.
Meanwhile the Observer reports
Amid the bombs, Blair remains upbeat on farewell tour in Iraq
From the serenity of the White House Rose Garden to the chaos of Baghdad and Basra the Tony Blair farewell tour rolled into Iraq yesterday with the Prime Minister insistent that good progress was being made in bringing stability to the country.
His comments came only a few hours after a mortar bomb had fallen in the protected green zone near the British embassy and in a weekend when eight American soldiers were killed and 43 Iraqi civilians were found murdered.And when Blair flew into Iraq on a Hercules air transport, the plane had descended sharply to minimise its landing time. Similar precautions were taken when he was transferred to his helicopter which fired flares when close to landing to draw potential missiles. Incoming fire could be heard only five minutes before he touched down
His comments came only a few hours after a mortar bomb had fallen in the protected green zone near the British embassy and in a weekend when eight American soldiers were killed and 43 Iraqi civilians were found murdered.And when Blair flew into Iraq on a Hercules air transport, the plane had descended sharply to minimise its landing time. Similar precautions were taken when he was transferred to his helicopter which fired flares when close to landing to draw potential missiles. Incoming fire could be heard only five minutes before he touched down
The Telegraph turns the heat on the Tories
Cameron falls out over grammar schools
The Tory leader brushed aside objections from senior members of his team to ditch his party's traditional support for selective schools. He also ignored a key policy document calling for a big increase in academic selection. David Willetts, the shadow education secretary, risks inflaming the situation further today by repeating his view that grammar schools served the middle classes and declaring in The Sunday Telegraph that he is "proud" to continue Tony Blair's education reforms by expanding city academies. The row has threatened to engulf Mr Cameron, with more MPs speaking out against his stance on grammar schools and some even describing it as his "clause four moment", referring to Tony Blair's dramatic battle with the Labour Party when he changed its constitution.
As does the Mail
Cameron's U-turn on grammars is outrageous, says Howard
Former Tory leader Michael Howard has attacked David Cameron's 'outrageous' decision to drop the party's long- standing commitment to grammar schools.
Mr Howard, a former grammar school pupil, angrily phoned Mr Cameron's office to protest after he learned of the U-turn.
He was only talked out of denouncing Mr Cameron in public after panicking Tory chiefs warned him it would be an act of treachery.
Mr Howard, a former grammar school pupil, angrily phoned Mr Cameron's office to protest after he learned of the U-turn.
He was only talked out of denouncing Mr Cameron in public after panicking Tory chiefs warned him it would be an act of treachery.
It though reserves most of its fury for Parliament in general
One wife, two mistresses... and a quad bike on Commons expenses
The campaign by MPs to exclude themselves from freedom of information laws is headed by a Tory philanderer who bought a £3,300 quad bike on parliamentary expenses.
David Maclean, the author of new legislation limiting voters' rights to know about their MP's pay and perks, has admitted that his top-of-the-range 250cc all-terrain vehicle was paid for out of taxpayer-funded allowances.
Mr Maclean is separated from his wife Jay and has had a series of extramarital affairs
David Maclean, the author of new legislation limiting voters' rights to know about their MP's pay and perks, has admitted that his top-of-the-range 250cc all-terrain vehicle was paid for out of taxpayer-funded allowances.
Mr Maclean is separated from his wife Jay and has had a series of extramarital affairs
Israel ready to settle scores claims the Observer
Israel launched more air strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza yesterday afternoon, killing at least two Palestinians, as top officials considered a broader strategy for stopping rockets being fired at Israeli towns.
The air campaign that began last Wednesday has plunged the Palestinians deeper into turmoil after nine days of fierce factional fighting verging on civil war between ruling Hamas Islamists and President Mahmoud Abbas's secular Fatah in Gaza.
For the fifth time in seven days, Egyptian mediators announced yesterday a negotiated ceasefire to end fighting between the bitterly opposed Palestinian groups. But even if the ceasefire holds, it was clear this weekend that Israel planned to use the situation to settle political and military scores with both Hamas and militants who had engaged in a steady bombardment of Israeli towns near the Palestinian borders with their mostly ineffectual homemade rockets.
The air campaign that began last Wednesday has plunged the Palestinians deeper into turmoil after nine days of fierce factional fighting verging on civil war between ruling Hamas Islamists and President Mahmoud Abbas's secular Fatah in Gaza.
For the fifth time in seven days, Egyptian mediators announced yesterday a negotiated ceasefire to end fighting between the bitterly opposed Palestinian groups. But even if the ceasefire holds, it was clear this weekend that Israel planned to use the situation to settle political and military scores with both Hamas and militants who had engaged in a steady bombardment of Israeli towns near the Palestinian borders with their mostly ineffectual homemade rockets.
The Independent adds
Israel's top security ministers will meet today to discuss whether to escalate strikes in response to the Qassam rocket attacks on Israel launched from Gaza by Hamas during a week of bloody infighting with the rival Palestinian faction Fatah.
An Israeli soldier was slightly injured yesterday for the first time during four days of attacks against Hamas when a rocket-propelled grenade launched by the Islamic faction hit an army bulldozer in the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza after two Palestinians were killed by an Israeli air force missile nearby.
An Israeli soldier was slightly injured yesterday for the first time during four days of attacks against Hamas when a rocket-propelled grenade launched by the Islamic faction hit an army bulldozer in the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza after two Palestinians were killed by an Israeli air force missile nearby.
The News of the World leads with a picture
you thought you'd never see in the Macca v Mucca divorce war.
It's a case of I Thaw Her Standing There as Sir Paul gets an ice-breaking SMILE from Heather.
He lifts daughter Bea into the air to wave goodbye to Mummy after a friendly meeting at a restaurant.
And today we can reveal the pair have secretly hammered out a TRUCE in their bitter multi-million-pound battle—because they are WORRIED about the effect it's having on their three-year-old.
At their ten-minute summit on Friday at a London bistro they chatted amicably while Bea played—a far cry from past scenes. Just a few months ago nannies were sent to do the handovers because the child's parents couldn't stand the sight of each other.
He lifts daughter Bea into the air to wave goodbye to Mummy after a friendly meeting at a restaurant.
And today we can reveal the pair have secretly hammered out a TRUCE in their bitter multi-million-pound battle—because they are WORRIED about the effect it's having on their three-year-old.
At their ten-minute summit on Friday at a London bistro they chatted amicably while Bea played—a far cry from past scenes. Just a few months ago nannies were sent to do the handovers because the child's parents couldn't stand the sight of each other.
The Maddy affair is never far away from the papers,
The Observer reports that
False tip-offs hamper hunt for Madeleine
Huge rewards offered for finding the missing girl bring problems for police as the family's website appeals for information and gets 75 million hits
It was past nightfall on Friday when a Portuguese police frogman finally secured his line to a half-crumbling ring of stones and lowered himself into a well two miles from the holiday flat where four-year-old Madeleine McCann disappeared 16 days ago.
For 12 hours, a team of senior detectives, helping to mount the largest manhunt in Portugal's history, had been putting in place preparations for the search. Initially, they had intended to move in during daylight hours, hoping that the overgrown field and an abandoned house nearby would prove sufficiently remote from the popular Algarve resort of Praia da Luz to escape attention. But the arrival of an advance police dog unit had been noticed by two local reporters.
The Express leads with the story that
For 12 hours, a team of senior detectives, helping to mount the largest manhunt in Portugal's history, had been putting in place preparations for the search. Initially, they had intended to move in during daylight hours, hoping that the overgrown field and an abandoned house nearby would prove sufficiently remote from the popular Algarve resort of Praia da Luz to escape attention. But the arrival of an advance police dog unit had been noticed by two local reporters.
The Express leads with the story that
MADDY SUSPECT REFUSES LIE TEST
Parents tell of fight to shield Madeleine twins reports the Telegraph
Determined to shield their two-year-old twins, Amelie and Sean, from the horror of their sister's abduction, Kate and Gerry McCann, both 38, told how the toddlers "still think they are on holiday" in Praia da Luz on the Algarve.
Mrs McCann said that every night she and her husband "pray for Madeleine, that she will be returned to us safely as soon as possible".
Mrs McCann said that every night she and her husband "pray for Madeleine, that she will be returned to us safely as soon as possible".
The return of the cup final to Wembley features heavily
90,000 fans knew that football had come home says the Sunday Telegraph
The return of the FA Cup Final to north London had been a long time coming but judging by the goose-bumps generated by the atmosphere inside the new Wembley, it was well worth the wait.
Seven years after the bulldozers moved in on the stadium that Pele once described as "the church of football", 89,826 customers finally had the chance to pay homage to the national game at the gleaming, arched cathedral that replaced it. They were not disappointed.
The two best teams in the country, Manchester United and Chelsea, locking horns in the final of the world's oldest cup competition, provided a fitting opening match. If the game was not exactly a classic, it did at least produce a dramatic finale as Didier Drogba scored the winner for Chelsea with four minutes of extra-time remaining.
Seven years after the bulldozers moved in on the stadium that Pele once described as "the church of football", 89,826 customers finally had the chance to pay homage to the national game at the gleaming, arched cathedral that replaced it. They were not disappointed.
The two best teams in the country, Manchester United and Chelsea, locking horns in the final of the world's oldest cup competition, provided a fitting opening match. If the game was not exactly a classic, it did at least produce a dramatic finale as Didier Drogba scored the winner for Chelsea with four minutes of extra-time remaining.
The News of the World had to bring the dog into it
JOSE MOURINHO'S other Drog put the bite on Manchester United to win the FA Cup for Chelsea.
Didier Drogba scored an extra-time winner to give the Blues a 1-0 triumph at the new Wembley after Mourinho was forced to ‘smuggle' his pet Yorkshire Terrier Leya out of the country.
Didier Drogba scored an extra-time winner to give the Blues a 1-0 triumph at the new Wembley after Mourinho was forced to ‘smuggle' his pet Yorkshire Terrier Leya out of the country.
The Times tells us that
Prince Charles’s aide ‘trades’ on royal name
One of the Prince of Wales’s most senior courtiers has been accused of trading on his royal connections by becoming chairman of a private security company.
Sir Malcolm Ross, master of Prince Charles’s household and an equerry to the Queen, has been appointed chairman of Westminster Group, a security firm with contracts in Iraq, Sudan, Nigeria and other areas of conflict.
The company is seeking to raise millions through a stock market flotation next month. In its prospectus, released to potential investors last week, the company trumpets Ross’s status as “a member of the royal household of the sovereign of the United Kingdom, and since 2006 of the Prince of Wales”.
Sir Malcolm Ross, master of Prince Charles’s household and an equerry to the Queen, has been appointed chairman of Westminster Group, a security firm with contracts in Iraq, Sudan, Nigeria and other areas of conflict.
The company is seeking to raise millions through a stock market flotation next month. In its prospectus, released to potential investors last week, the company trumpets Ross’s status as “a member of the royal household of the sovereign of the United Kingdom, and since 2006 of the Prince of Wales”.
Staying with the royals and the Telegraph reports
Charles 'wants Camilla to be crowned queen'
Amid the joy of Charles and Camilla's wedding announcement, a carefully sounded note of caution suggested that the Duchess of Cornwall would never be queen.
Clarence House went some way to appeasing critics of the couple's previous adulterous relationship by suggesting that the duchess will become princess consort when Charles becomes king. Now a television documentary is to claim that the Prince of Wales is, in fact, determined to make his wife queen when he accedes to the throne. It is understood that he is intent on gaining public support so that by the time of his coronation, both will be crowned at Westminster Abbey.
According to the Indy
Witchcraft casts spell on young
Record numbers of young women are dabbling in witchcraft, fuelling a boom in sales of spell books and other pagan paraphernalia, according to new research.
A study of teenagers and their consumption of books, magazines, kits, film and other media found that there are some 700,000 internet sites for teenage witches. The Pagan Federation claims to have several hundred inquiries a week from young people, and has set up a network for those under 18.
"There has been a noticeable rise in the number of young people identifying themselves as witches," saidDenise Cush, professor of religious studies at Bath Spa University.
The trend is being boosted by American TV series such as Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
A study of teenagers and their consumption of books, magazines, kits, film and other media found that there are some 700,000 internet sites for teenage witches. The Pagan Federation claims to have several hundred inquiries a week from young people, and has set up a network for those under 18.
"There has been a noticeable rise in the number of young people identifying themselves as witches," saidDenise Cush, professor of religious studies at Bath Spa University.
The trend is being boosted by American TV series such as Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Other pressures for youngsters in the Observer
School stress hits new peak as exams loom
Thousands of pupils are suffering from unprecedented levels of 'exam stress' according to experts dealing with the fallout from the UK's testing culture.
Unprecedented numbers of psychologists are now having to help pupils deal with the emotional strain - which can lead to sleepless nights, eating disorders and other illnesses.
Nurses at hundreds of schools in south-east England are being trained to pinpoint the symptoms of stress that build to a peak during the exam period.
Unprecedented numbers of psychologists are now having to help pupils deal with the emotional strain - which can lead to sleepless nights, eating disorders and other illnesses.
Nurses at hundreds of schools in south-east England are being trained to pinpoint the symptoms of stress that build to a peak during the exam period.
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