Labour reels from by-election defeat

"The biggest hammer blow of Tony Blair's political career" is how the Sun sees the Liberal Democrats' victory in the by-election at Brent East.

The Independent describes the result as a humiliating defeat for the government.

The paper claims the outcome was based on "hostility to the government's record on schools, health, crime and the war in Iraq".

The Daily Telegraph echoes this, saying the result is an indication that the government has lost popularity because of the recriminations over the Iraq war and growing infighting over public service reforms.

The Times puts it more simply - "voters in Brent East", it says, "decided to give Tony Blair a bloody nose".

Archer's title

Lord's Archer's precarious hold on his peerage divides Friday's papers.

For the Telegraph, the "plan to disqualify ex-prisoners from membership of the House of Lords is prompted by no higher motive than a desire to humiliate him".

The Daily Mail goes further. It believes Lord Archer is being used to hide what it calls a "cynical assault on democracy".

The paper argues the prime minister wants to abolish hereditary peers so he can pack the Lords full of "placemen, puppets and toadies".

The Independent agrees. It describes the affair as "a spiteful personal attack to distract from the indefensible".

But while some spring to Lord Archers' defence, others just cannot resist poking a bit of fun.

The Daily Star has mocked up a photograph of the peer and his wife in their car.

Their names are stuck across the top of the windscreen... with Lord and Lady crossed out.

The Daily Mirror warms to the theme, telling its readers the correct form of address for Lord Archer is now "Oi! Jeff!"

Economic gloom

The Daily Express turns its attention to what it reckons is a fairly bleak outlook for the economy.

It argues the government's increased spending on public services has left a hole in the public purse that can only be filled by tax rises.

The Financial Times agrees the chancellor appears to be going over budget.

It claims next summer's spending review will be Labour's toughest since coming to power.

The Daily Mail is more concerned with the International Monetary Fund's warning of a possible collapse in the housing market.

"There are ominous signs", the paper believes, "of pain to come".

Isabel's wrath

Many papers carry photographs of people struggling to cope with the arrival of Hurricane Isabel in the United States.

The Times correspondent in North Carolina describes how he was thrown to the ground by 70 mile-an-hour winds.

"It was", he says, "a brutal warning of the savagery about to hit us".

But the Independent is less than impressed.

"Isabel will affect millions of people - but as hurricanes go, she is distinctly middling".

Cricket salute

The Telegraph devotes part of its editorial to the Sussex cricket team, who clinched the county championship on Thursday for the first time since their club was formed 113 years ago.

The paper salutes the team's faithful followers for passing what it calls a "severe test of loyalty."

Parrot deal

Finally, the Sun recounts the tale of a couple from Cheltenham who bought a new car by trading in their old one and including a parrot in the deal.

Alan and Gloria Reynolds could not quite meet the asking price for a Fiat Punto and so offered their pet, Charlie as well.

The dealership decided to accept the bird and knocked £500 off the cost of the new car.