Hoon holiday hoohah

Criticism is mounting in the papers about the decision by the Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon, to go on holiday to America instead of attending David Kelly's funeral.

The Sun says Mr Hoon has committed his third major blunder - after going skiing before the Iraq war and then watching the British Grand Prix soon after Dr Kelly's death.

The Daily Mail fumes that nothing can stand in the way of another spot of relaxation for Mr Hoon.

It claims he has been cut adrift by his cabinet colleagues and is "clearly being hung out to dry".

There are different accounts of the reason for Mr Hoon's decision.

The Daily Mirror says Dr Kelly's widow did not want him at the funeral, but the Sun suggests the minister's marriage could be in trouble if the holiday was cancelled.

Kelly 'villified'

The criticism of Dr Kelly in the run-up to the Hutton inquiry intensifies in the Independent.

It quotes a senior Whitehall source describing the weapons expert as a Walter Mitty-style fantasist, who misled both the Ministry of Defence and the BBC.

But in its editorial, the paper suggests there is something deeply unpleasant about the increasing attempts to portray Doctor Kelly as a "slightly mad scientist".

Soham scars

All the papers revisit the Cambridgeshire town of Soham, a year to the day after the disappearance of the murdered schoolgirls, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

The Vicar of Soham, the Reverend Tim Alban Jones, tells the Daily Express that on the surface, there is no sign the town has been through anything exceptional.

But he says there are hidden wounds that are still quite raw.

The Times reports there will be no special memorial services - the residents just want to be left alone.

Euro vote

The Financial Times reports that more than 700,000 EU citizens living in Britain could vote in a referendum on the European single currency.

According to a senior Whitehall insider, the proposal is "under active consideration" for inclusion in the government's draft euro referendum bill.

The Shadow Chancellor, Michael Howard, says it illustrates the government's desperation to cajole the public into the euro.

Kinnock 'snubbed by US'

The Guardian has unearthed evidence the relationship between Britain and the US could have grown distinctly less special if Neil Kinnock had been elected prime minister.

It says President Ronald Reagan prepared two letters for whoever won the 1987 general election.

In the letter for Margaret Thatcher, he expressed his absolute delight at her success.

The Labour leader's note would have been much shorter, advising him not to do anything abrupt on defence.

Tyson tigers

Several papers tell the riches to rags story of the former world champion boxer, Mike Tyson, who has filed for bankruptcy.

The Daily Mirror says Tyson has squandered his £200m fortune on lavish mansions, luxury cars and jewellery.

The Mail says his expenses also included a zoo of exotic animals, which housed Bengal tigers - with which he liked to wrestle.