Papers mull Labour milestone

On the day Tony Blair becomes the longest continuously-serving Labour Prime Minister, the Daily Mail describes his time in office using four words: "broken promises, wasted years".

The Times is similarly unconvinced and uses a comic strip to take a satirical look at Mr Blair's six-and-a-quarter years in power.

It depicts him as Felix Baumgartner - the Austrian who this week became the first person to skydive across the English Channel.

A grim-faced Mr Blair is seen jumping out of a plane in his special flight suit which, according to the caption, "repels disturbances, such as truth, reality and public opinion".

But even with such amazing equipment, it is not long before he's pictured falling out of the sky as "the left wing becomes increasingly disassociated with the rest".

Hutton hopes

Most of the papers pass comment on the opening of the Hutton inquiry, into the events surrounding the death of the weapons expert, Dr David Kelly.

The Independent uses the headline "a government in the dock" - saying it hopes the inquiry will shed light on the key issue of why Britain went to war with Iraq.

The Guardian seems to disagree, welcoming what it sees as Lord Hutton's clear indications of the limits of the inquiry.

"The narrower the focus of his beam," says the paper, "the brighter the light".

The Sun believes the pursuit of truth will lead to uncomfortable moments for those who give evidence, but insists Dr Kelly's relatives deserve nothing less.

Debt concerns

The Daily Express is concerned about the number of people ending up in financial trouble, because of the ease with which they can get credit.

"Greedy lenders are putting us on the road to disaster" it fumes, saying even though borrowers must have some responsibility for their actions, lenders have abandoned their sense of social responsibility.

Prescott reunion

On its front page, the Times tells how the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, has been reunited with a long-lost son, after more than 40 years.

It says the boy given up for adoption by Mrs Prescott is now Lieutenant Colonel Paul Watton - a senior officer in the military police.

A friend of the family is quoted as saying how delighted they are.

"There is no embarrassment," the unnamed person comments, "the pregnancy occurred before she was married to John."

Sticky wicket

From celebration to commiseration - and the Daily Telegraph carries its disappointment in England's cricketers shoulder-high.

Its front page picture features the South African captain, Graeme Smith, celebrating his huge batting score in the latest test.

"Captain's double century lights up Lord's. If only he played for England," the paper moans.

The Mirror carries in its leader column advice for England's new captain - Michael Vaughan.

"There are two alternatives," it says. "He can resign, like Nasser Hussain - or, like Tony Blair, sing Things Can Only Get Better."

A disgruntled cricket fan airs his views on the Times letters page.

"Could I venture the opinion," he asks, "that the strategy of lulling one's opponents into a false sense of security is one where it is easy to overplay one's hand?"