It is a month before Tony Blair departs No 10 and yet he continues to dominate the front pages.
No more so than in the Sunday Times where in an interview,he telles the paper that
NEW anti-terrorism laws are to be pushed through before Tony Blair leaves office giving “wartime” powers to the police to stop and question people.
The disclosure coincides with a rare attack by Blair on Britain’s judges for emasculating his antiterrorism legislation. In an article for The Sunday Times, he condemns those who say “civil liberties come first” before the security of the population. “I believe this is a dangerous misjudgment,” the prime minister writes.
Blair also takes a tilt at critics of military action in Iraq and Afghanistan, claiming that “pandering” to a “sense of grievance” among Muslims “will only encourage it”.
The prime minister’s article, and the new terrorism powers, come after last week it was revealed that three terror suspects who were subject to control orders have absconded.
Blair also takes a tilt at critics of military action in Iraq and Afghanistan, claiming that “pandering” to a “sense of grievance” among Muslims “will only encourage it”.
The prime minister’s article, and the new terrorism powers, come after last week it was revealed that three terror suspects who were subject to control orders have absconded.
The Telegraph meanwhile leads with
Revealed: Queen's dismay at Blair legacy
The queen has been left "exasperated and frustrated" at the legacy of Tony Blair's 10 years in power, friends have disclosed
She has been "deeply concerned" by many of New Labour's policies, in particular what she sees as the Prime Minister's lack of understanding of countryside issues, her closest confidants reported.
Royal sources said that the Queen also believes privately that Mr Blair and his Government have meddled unnecessarily in Britain's heritage, including the reform of the House of Lords.
Her other worries are said to relate to concerns from military leaders that the Armed Forces have become "overstretched" by foreign commitments, notably in Iraq and Afghanistan. She suspects that Mr Blair has spent too much time cosying up to America - at the expense of dealing with her beloved Commonwealth.
Royal sources said that the Queen also believes privately that Mr Blair and his Government have meddled unnecessarily in Britain's heritage, including the reform of the House of Lords.
Her other worries are said to relate to concerns from military leaders that the Armed Forces have become "overstretched" by foreign commitments, notably in Iraq and Afghanistan. She suspects that Mr Blair has spent too much time cosying up to America - at the expense of dealing with her beloved Commonwealth.
According to the front of the Mail on Sunday
Revealed: Blair's secret stalker squad
The Government has established a shadowy new national anti-terrorist unit to protect VIPs, with the power to detain suspects indefinitely using mental health laws.
The revelation is set to reignite the row over the Government's use of draconian measures to deal with terror suspects amid accusations they are abusing human rights.
The Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC) was quietly set up last year to identify individuals who pose a direct threat to VIPs including the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Royal Family.
The revelation is set to reignite the row over the Government's use of draconian measures to deal with terror suspects amid accusations they are abusing human rights.
The Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC) was quietly set up last year to identify individuals who pose a direct threat to VIPs including the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Royal Family.
No 10 under pressure as cash-for-honours inquiry reopened says the Independent
Tony Blair and his closest aides face fresh questioning in the cash-for-honours affair after prosecutors instructed detectives to return to the case, even though they formally ended their investigation last month. The development will increase pressure on the Prime Minister, Downing Street staff and Lord Levy, Mr Blair's chief fundraiser.
In a sign that the Crown Prosecution Service is taking the case extremely seriously, police have been told to find key pieces of evidence to strengthen the case. The move will unnerve Downing Street staff, who have been privately expressing confidence that nobody will be charged in the affair.
Mr Blair, who has spoken to the police already, may face a further interview with detectives, but this time under caution, when he leaves office next month. Lord Levy and Ruth Turner, a key Downing Street aide, are among those who may also be questioned again.
In a sign that the Crown Prosecution Service is taking the case extremely seriously, police have been told to find key pieces of evidence to strengthen the case. The move will unnerve Downing Street staff, who have been privately expressing confidence that nobody will be charged in the affair.
Mr Blair, who has spoken to the police already, may face a further interview with detectives, but this time under caution, when he leaves office next month. Lord Levy and Ruth Turner, a key Downing Street aide, are among those who may also be questioned again.
Even the Observer gets in on the act
Why Tony Blair took a blue pencil to Campbell's diaries
Alastair Campbell has toned down his diaries about life in Number 10 after being asked by friends of the Prime Minister not to reveal that Tony Blair swears like the proverbial trooper.
When the diaries hit the bookshops in July, Blair's clean image will be preserved after Campbell was 'prevailed upon' to tone down his accounts of the prime ministerial language. This means they will not include the time Blair used the c-word to describe a senior Labour figure from the Eighties. He also regularly swore when he felt things were not going in the direction he desired.
When the diaries hit the bookshops in July, Blair's clean image will be preserved after Campbell was 'prevailed upon' to tone down his accounts of the prime ministerial language. This means they will not include the time Blair used the c-word to describe a senior Labour figure from the Eighties. He also regularly swore when he felt things were not going in the direction he desired.
It leads though with
Revealed: UK schools dividing on race lines
A remarkable picture of how Britain is 'sleepwalking' towards US-style segregation of schools along racial lines is highlighted today by government figures that reveal many towns are developing schools that are overwhelmingly white, Asian or black.
A majority of pupils in many areas of the country - particularly in deprived former mill towns in the north of England - have little contact with children from different ethnic backgrounds, even though they live in close proximity.
A majority of pupils in many areas of the country - particularly in deprived former mill towns in the north of England - have little contact with children from different ethnic backgrounds, even though they live in close proximity.
The Telegraph reports
Tories may allow schools to select by race
David Willetts, the shadow education secretary, has told colleagues he wants to enable the most popular city academies to choose pupils not by ability but by a range of other criteria.
The most controversial of those would allow schools in ethnically diverse areas to take 50 per cent of pupils from the black community and 50 per cent from the white.
The race quota would be welcomed by inner-city schools eager to improve integration. But it would be bound to infuriate traditional Tories still reeling from David Cameron's decision to rule out building more grammar schools. Instead, the Tory leader pledged a vast expansion in Tony Blair's city academies programme.
The most controversial of those would allow schools in ethnically diverse areas to take 50 per cent of pupils from the black community and 50 per cent from the white.
The race quota would be welcomed by inner-city schools eager to improve integration. But it would be bound to infuriate traditional Tories still reeling from David Cameron's decision to rule out building more grammar schools. Instead, the Tory leader pledged a vast expansion in Tony Blair's city academies programme.
The Mirror perhaps touches the boundries of journalism with its latest installment on the Madeleine story
MY LIFE WITH THE SUSPECT
EXCLUSIVE: MY LIFE WITH THE SUSPECT BY MURAT'S EX WIFE THE SEARCH FOR MADELEINE DAY 25
EXCLUSIVE: MY LIFE WITH THE SUSPECT BY MURAT'S EX WIFE THE SEARCH FOR MADELEINE DAY 25
THE startling likeness between Madeleine McCann and Robert Murat's daughter hits you at once.
As little Sofia Murat stares into the camera wearing a yellow "Madeleine ribbon", she bears a haunting resemblance to the missing four-year-old.
Murat, 33 - the man named by Portuguese police as their prime and only suspect - said as soon as Madeleine went missing that she looked incredibly like his own child, who is the same age.
Until now not a single picture has been made public to bear that out. But today - as the Sunday Mirror's exclusive picture shows - the two ARE incredibly similar.
As little Sofia Murat stares into the camera wearing a yellow "Madeleine ribbon", she bears a haunting resemblance to the missing four-year-old.
Murat, 33 - the man named by Portuguese police as their prime and only suspect - said as soon as Madeleine went missing that she looked incredibly like his own child, who is the same age.
Until now not a single picture has been made public to bear that out. But today - as the Sunday Mirror's exclusive picture shows - the two ARE incredibly similar.
Madeleine search: McCanns welcome new police appeal says the Indy
The parents of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann welcomed a fresh police appeal for help yesterday, insisting that the sighting of a man on the night of her disappearance was "significant" and "relevant".
Portuguese police said they are looking for a white man, aged 35 to 40, with short hair, seen carrying "what appeared to be a child in his arms"in the Praia da Luz resort in Portugal on 3 May.
Officers have known about the sighting for three weeks but have not previously made it known that they were following it as a line of inquiry, due to Portuguese laws which keep a lid on how police investigations are progressing.
Gerry McCann and his wife Kate appeared on the steps of their apartment yesterday afternoon after a meeting with senior officers and tried to smooth over tensions between Madeleine's relatives and local police.
Portuguese police said they are looking for a white man, aged 35 to 40, with short hair, seen carrying "what appeared to be a child in his arms"in the Praia da Luz resort in Portugal on 3 May.
Officers have known about the sighting for three weeks but have not previously made it known that they were following it as a line of inquiry, due to Portuguese laws which keep a lid on how police investigations are progressing.
Gerry McCann and his wife Kate appeared on the steps of their apartment yesterday afternoon after a meeting with senior officers and tried to smooth over tensions between Madeleine's relatives and local police.
The paper leads with
Caution: Some soft drinks may seriously harm your health
A new health scare erupted over soft drinks last night amid evidence they may cause serious cell damage. Research from a British university suggests a common preservative found in drinks such as Fanta and Pepsi Max has the ability to switch off vital parts of DNA.
The problem - more usually associated with ageing and alcohol abuse - can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's.
The findings could have serious consequences for the hundreds of millions of people worldwide who consume fizzy drinks. They will also intensify the controversy about food additives, which have been linked to hyperactivity in children.
The problem - more usually associated with ageing and alcohol abuse - can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's.
The findings could have serious consequences for the hundreds of millions of people worldwide who consume fizzy drinks. They will also intensify the controversy about food additives, which have been linked to hyperactivity in children.
Lebanon gives rebels last chance to yield reports the Observer
Senior officials in the PLO and Hamas were yesterday attempting to broker an end to the bloody siege of a Lebanese refugee camp, which began last week when the Lebanese army engaged members of Fatah al-Islam, an al-Qaeda-inspired group, after a bank robbery in the city of Tripoli.
The efforts came as Lebanese government officials said they were giving mediators the opportunity to persuade the militants to surrender, before ordering the army to move in.
The efforts came as Lebanese government officials said they were giving mediators the opportunity to persuade the militants to surrender, before ordering the army to move in.
On the brink of a bloodbath is how the Times describes it
This weekend the Lebanese army surrounds the camp; about 20,000 civilians are still inside; and the several hundred Fatah al-Islam extremists, their bodies strapped with bandoliers and bombs, remain defiant.
So far the fighting has killed at least 70 people and injured many more; more than 30 soldiers have died – and four reportedly had their heads cut off. “They [Fatah al-Islam] will fight to the last drop of blood,” claimed one supporter. “They are religious people who love to be martyrs for Islam.”
It is Lebanon’s worst internal violence since the civil war that ended in 1990. Is it a bloody, isolated inci-dent? Or is it part of a wider drive by Al-Qaeda and its allies to spread death and destruction further through the Middle East? THE leader of Fatah al-Islam is a fugitive Jordanian citizen of Palestinian origin who denies links with Al-Qaeda but embraces similar jihadist ideology.
So far the fighting has killed at least 70 people and injured many more; more than 30 soldiers have died – and four reportedly had their heads cut off. “They [Fatah al-Islam] will fight to the last drop of blood,” claimed one supporter. “They are religious people who love to be martyrs for Islam.”
It is Lebanon’s worst internal violence since the civil war that ended in 1990. Is it a bloody, isolated inci-dent? Or is it part of a wider drive by Al-Qaeda and its allies to spread death and destruction further through the Middle East? THE leader of Fatah al-Islam is a fugitive Jordanian citizen of Palestinian origin who denies links with Al-Qaeda but embraces similar jihadist ideology.
The Express reports on its front page on the
THE GREAT DUSTBIN GRAVY TRAIN
THE Government quango blamed for axing weekly dustbin collections was hit by a “fat cats” row last night – as it emerged that its boss earned more than Tony Blair.
Jennie Price was paid a staggering £212,000 last year as chief executive of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) – the body which advised councils to introduce fortnightly collections in the winter to avoid a public backlash over smells.
Meanwhile the Observer is the paper that leads the way with Diana this morning
Channel 4 in row over Diana crash pictures
Graphic images of the car crash that killed Diana, Princess of Wales, are to be made public for the first time next week in a Channel 4 documentary that has been condemned as 'grossly intrusive' and bound to cause distress to Princes William and Harry.
One photograph shows Diana receiving oxygen from a French doctor, Frederic Mailliez, who had been travelling in the other direction and who had not yet realised the identity of his famous patient. It is clear that the princess has been thrown forward into the footwell behind the driver's seat. At the front of the car, a passing student is shown trying to help Trevor Rees-Jones, Diana's bodyguard.
One photograph shows Diana receiving oxygen from a French doctor, Frederic Mailliez, who had been travelling in the other direction and who had not yet realised the identity of his famous patient. It is clear that the princess has been thrown forward into the footwell behind the driver's seat. At the front of the car, a passing student is shown trying to help Trevor Rees-Jones, Diana's bodyguard.
There is a Diana story in the Express
CASH CRISIS THREATENS THE DIANA ANGELS
NURSING teams for terminally ill children set up in memory of Princess Diana face a cash crisis – just as her sons are set to recognise their good work.
Four out of the eight teams established as a permanent reminder of Diana’s work with youngsters face an uncertain future on the eve of the 10th anniversary of her death.The crisis comes as Princes William and Harry invite nurses and more than 100 sick children to a party to watch rehearsals for the July 1 Diana memorial concert at Wembley.
For the News of the World its lead is
The Earl and the Hooker
THE last lover of the Earl of Shaftesbury has uncorked the full astonishing story of the champagne toff's craving for sex that led to his brutal murder.
Penniless escort girl Nadia Orch, 36, revealed how her steamy affair with the bed-hopping aristocrat drove his furious wife Jamila M'Barek to plot his killing with her psycho brother Mohammed.
As the evil pair began 25-year sentences for strangling the Earl and dumping his body in an Alpine ravine, Nadia told the News of the World how the 66-year-old Lord:
SEDUCED her at a posh fireworks party in a French Royal Palace before going off like a rocket in their hotel room.
CRAVED sex with her so many times a day he had to hire a NANNY to look after her three children.
CHEATED on her with a hooker in a hotel lift in between romps.
SWILLED down so much champagne, wine and vodka that he trembled in bed.
Penniless escort girl Nadia Orch, 36, revealed how her steamy affair with the bed-hopping aristocrat drove his furious wife Jamila M'Barek to plot his killing with her psycho brother Mohammed.
As the evil pair began 25-year sentences for strangling the Earl and dumping his body in an Alpine ravine, Nadia told the News of the World how the 66-year-old Lord:
SEDUCED her at a posh fireworks party in a French Royal Palace before going off like a rocket in their hotel room.
CRAVED sex with her so many times a day he had to hire a NANNY to look after her three children.
CHEATED on her with a hooker in a hotel lift in between romps.
SWILLED down so much champagne, wine and vodka that he trembled in bed.
The Mail reveals that
Mandelson's partner linked with Lord Browne
Former BP chief executive Lord Browne has struck up a 'close friendship' with Peter Mandelson's partner, Brazilian Reinaldo Avila da Silva, it has been revealed.
The peer, who was forced to resign from the oil giant last month after lying to a court about his relationship with rent boy Jeff Chevalier, has socialised a deux with Reinaldo.
The disclosure of the close links between multi-millionaire Lord Browne and Reinaldo follows reports that 53-year-old Mr Mandelson has become close to Italian fashion designer Marco Coretti.
The peer, who was forced to resign from the oil giant last month after lying to a court about his relationship with rent boy Jeff Chevalier, has socialised a deux with Reinaldo.
The disclosure of the close links between multi-millionaire Lord Browne and Reinaldo follows reports that 53-year-old Mr Mandelson has become close to Italian fashion designer Marco Coretti.
Whilst the Mirror reports that
CALUM AT IT AGAIN
SLEAZY Calum Best tried to lure a model into bed with a series of obscene text messages behind his famous lover Lindsay Lohan's back.
After getting Dani Gabric's number while Lindsay was in the loo at a restaurant, he sent her a stream of explicit messages.
In one he claimed the Hollywood actress he has been dating for a month was not really his girlfriend... but someone who was hassling him "stalker-style".
And in another he said bluntly: "Hello there you f***ing sexy young lady. We have to meet tonight and finish what we started. Please."
After getting Dani Gabric's number while Lindsay was in the loo at a restaurant, he sent her a stream of explicit messages.
In one he claimed the Hollywood actress he has been dating for a month was not really his girlfriend... but someone who was hassling him "stalker-style".
And in another he said bluntly: "Hello there you f***ing sexy young lady. We have to meet tonight and finish what we started. Please."
The Times reports that
Dentists refuse to treat bad teeth
DENTISTS on the National Health Service are turning away people with bad teeth because they say they are only paid enough to treat patients with a good dental health record.
One surgery admitted that people who have not had a dental appointment for three years will be refused treatment. Others are employing more subtle methods to reject patients.
Dentists’ leaders say the NHS dental contract, introduced in April last year, has had a perverse effect because dentists earn the same for giving a patient one filling or 10.
One surgery admitted that people who have not had a dental appointment for three years will be refused treatment. Others are employing more subtle methods to reject patients.
Dentists’ leaders say the NHS dental contract, introduced in April last year, has had a perverse effect because dentists earn the same for giving a patient one filling or 10.
Whilst the same paper reveals
Mortgage rate blunders cost borrowers thousands
HOMEOWNERS are being overcharged by up to £50,000 in a mortgage scandal involving some of Britain’s biggest banks and building societies.
Evidence drawn up by an independent financial auditor reveals a catalogue of mistakes made by Nationwide, Alliance & Leicester and Abbey that led to some customers being overcharged interest for up to 15 years.
The blunders centre on repayment mortgages – the most popular type – as their complexity makes it hard to spot mistakes.
Last night Jim Cousins, a Labour MP on the Treasury select committee, described the evidence as “extremely worrying” and called for random checks on mortgage providers to determine the extent of the problem.
Evidence drawn up by an independent financial auditor reveals a catalogue of mistakes made by Nationwide, Alliance & Leicester and Abbey that led to some customers being overcharged interest for up to 15 years.
The blunders centre on repayment mortgages – the most popular type – as their complexity makes it hard to spot mistakes.
Last night Jim Cousins, a Labour MP on the Treasury select committee, described the evidence as “extremely worrying” and called for random checks on mortgage providers to determine the extent of the problem.
Hollywood can wait: Beckham is back for England reports the Indy
David Beckham was delighted by his unexpected recall to the England football squad yesterday - but his wife's reaction was more likely to have been a frustrated: " Oh, Goldenballs!"
The woman who gave him that nickname is due to present a prize at the MTV Movie Awards in California a week on Monday.
This will be Victoria Beckham's first major television appearance in the US and a huge step in the couple's much-hyped attempt to win over Hollywood.
She will appear alongside movie royalty such as Bruce Willis and Cameron Diaz at the awards, and was expected to walk the red carpet alongside her husband.
The woman who gave him that nickname is due to present a prize at the MTV Movie Awards in California a week on Monday.
This will be Victoria Beckham's first major television appearance in the US and a huge step in the couple's much-hyped attempt to win over Hollywood.
She will appear alongside movie royalty such as Bruce Willis and Cameron Diaz at the awards, and was expected to walk the red carpet alongside her husband.
Mac: I need Becks to save my job says the News of the World
STEVE McCLAREN has admitted he recalled David Beckham in a desperate bid to save his own neck.
The beleaguered England boss knows he will be sacked if his side fail in next month's vital Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia.
So McClaren has been forced to eat humble pie and bring back the Real Madrid superstar he ruthlessly dumped out of his England squad nine months ago.
The beleaguered England boss knows he will be sacked if his side fail in next month's vital Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia.
So McClaren has been forced to eat humble pie and bring back the Real Madrid superstar he ruthlessly dumped out of his England squad nine months ago.
YOU'RE SIRED! is the People's lead story claiming that
MAN-EATING Apprentice star Katie Hopkins is having an illicit affair with a married boss from the Met Office.
Supersnob Katie, 31, stripped off for a romp in A FIELD this week with colleague Mark Cross while his unsuspecting wife waited to meet him after work.
Only two days earlier the bitchy blonde on Sir Alan Sugar's hit BBC reality show was snogging passionately in public with Mark, 43.
And last Sunday randy design manager Mark even went round to Katie's home and spent TWO HOURS there before returning home to his loyal wife Ruth.
Supersnob Katie, 31, stripped off for a romp in A FIELD this week with colleague Mark Cross while his unsuspecting wife waited to meet him after work.
Only two days earlier the bitchy blonde on Sir Alan Sugar's hit BBC reality show was snogging passionately in public with Mark, 43.
And last Sunday randy design manager Mark even went round to Katie's home and spent TWO HOURS there before returning home to his loyal wife Ruth.
Finally to the Independent which says
Marriage: The wife is new, but the look's the same
When Nigel Havers announced his engagement to the beautiful heiress Georgiana Bronfman last week, there were few who were not pleased for the happy couple. Theirs had not been an easy courtship. When the pair got together three years ago, a few weeks after the death of Havers's beloved second wife, Polly, some unkind commentators remarked on the timing: Bronfman was said to be offering a "shoulder to cry on". But while some were raising eyebrows over the length of his period of mourning, others were gobsmacked by another coincidence: she did look astonishingly like the previous Mrs H.
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