Brown's £20bn 'split with Prudence'

According to many of the papers, the chancellor split up from a long term partner yesterday.

"Brown kisses goodbye to Prudence" declares the front page headline in the Independent, above a report on the extra £20bn he will have to borrow to plug the gap in government finances.

In a parody of the celebrity gossip columns, the Daily Telegraph says Mr Brown was caught setting out on a colossal borrowing spree with someone who was certainly not Prudence.

The Daily Mail says the chancellor got his sums wrong and has now taken a high-stakes gamble and set a time bomb ticking.

If the economy doesn't improve by 2004, the paper says he'll have to slash public spending or put up taxes.

Writing in the Sun, the Tory spokesman on the economy, Michael Howard, suggests the Iron Chancellor is beginning to look rusty.

According to the Guardian, Mr Howard performed well in the Commons yesterday when he responded to the pre-budget report.

It was, says the paper, "the biggest spanking" Gordon Brown's had since becoming chancellor.

Philip Stephens in the Financial Times believes Mr Brown had something of the look of a wounded lion about him - but remains one of the bigger beasts in politics.

Gaffe warning

"Now shut up" is the stark message for ministers who might be tempted to speak out about the fire fighters dispute, according to the Daily Mirror.

The paper says union leaders want what they call "gaffe-prone" ministers to keep quiet ahead of fresh talks with the employers tomorrow.

The Sun continues its criticism of the Fire Brigades Union leader, Andy Gilchrist.

It accuses him of vetoing a joint control room for police, fire and ambulance staff in Wiltshire - and says he is wedded to outdated working practices.

Euro 'boost'

The Independent reports that economic rules governing countries which have adopted the Euro have, in effect, unravelled after less than four years.

It says countries will be given more leeway in the amount they can borrow, thereby easing the economic straitjacket.

The Times describes the initiative as a boost to those campaigning for Britain to join the single currency.

'Presence makes prizes'

The Daily Star reports a row about a school which has offered pupils a chance to win a £2,000 family holiday if they turn up for lessons.

Those with a 100% attendance record at Rose Bridge High school near Wigan in Greater Manchester will enter a draw in the "Presence Makes Prizes" scheme, which is sponsored by local businesses.

Youngsters with 95% attendance can win a television or music system.

The Campaign for Real Education tells the paper pupils should not be rewarded just for turning up.

Vauxhall victim

The Times reveals that a 10-year-old Vauxhall Astra is the car most likely to be stolen in Britain.

Home Office figures show that Vauxhall has the unenviable distinction of taking nine of the top ten places in the annual list of the most stolen cars.

Parliament porn

Finally, the Telegraph reports that three members of the Spanish parliament have been fined for watching pornographic images on a laptop computer while colleagues around them were debating domestic violence.

The men, from the ruling centre-right Popular Party, were caught on film laughing as they viewed the images.

The paper says the parliamentarians were living up to a recent survey which found that, in Europe, Spanish men are among the most frequent visitors to porn websites.