Papers mull Blair's next step

Papers mull Blair's next step

Several of Sunday's papers consider what Tony Blair should tackle next, after the war in Iraq.

The Mail on Sunday says he is planning to visit the Middle East soon.

It reports that he will try to find a solution to what it describes as one of the world's most intractable disputes - the bloody conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

But the paper acknowledges that critics could then claim Mr Blair is neglecting less glamorous domestic issues.

Bogus targets

Noting that Margaret Thatcher "cashed in her Falklands chips" to unshackle free enterprise from socialism and trade union power, the Sunday Times says Mr Blair should use his to rescue the public services from being the laughing stock of the developed world.

His credit will have to be spent quickly and wisely, it goes on, or politics will soon return to the same tired old game of spin and bogus targets.

The Independent on Sunday considers the on-going debate over whether the prime minister might call an early referendum on the euro, against the advice from the chancellor.

It suggests that now that Tony Blair believes he has rediscovered himself as a leader ready to risk his job and take on public opinion, he could surprise us all.

Anti-war

But writing in the Observer Andrew Rawnsley is less convinced that the war leaves Mr Blair in a stronger position.

He believes that the number of anti-war Labour supporters who will not vote for him again will roughly cancel out the number of pro-war campaigners who usually dislike him, but feel he should be rewarded.

Noting that the challenges that were crowding in on the government before the war have not gone away, he concludes that the way Mr Blair deals with them might not be dramatically different to how he would have done beforehand.

'Brilliantly inspired'

"If you are ferocious in battle, remember to be magnanimous in victory": the words of Lieutenant Colonel Tim Collins, as he led the 1st Battalion Royal Regiment into battle in Iraq, are related by the Sunday Express.

The paper notes that the speech profoundly moved Prince Charles to the point of writing a personal letter to the colonel, telling him "What you said encapsulated, in a brilliantly inspired way, everything we have come to expect from our armed forces."

The address went down well in Washington too, according to the News of the World, which notes that President Bush is to hang a copy of it up in his office.

The inspirational words, observes the paper, contrast strongly with those of US Vice-Admiral Timothy Keating, who told his troops: "When the president says go, look out - it's hammer time."

Michael Watson

The Sunday Telegraph reports a story that could cause a bit of a stink.

It says some NHS hospitals are banning flowers from surgical wards on health and safety grounds.

The paper says some trusts fear that the water in the vases could harbour germs, or spill, leading to safety hazards.

And nearly a week after thousands of people completed the London Marathon, many papers show the jubilant, brain damaged former boxer Michael Watson crossing the finish line.

He completed the course in a shade under six days, two and a half hours.

It was not only a personal triumph for Mr Watson, writes the Sunday Mirror, reminding readers that 12 years ago, doctors thought he might never walk again.

"His real victory was the inspiration given to all of us", it says.

Talking to the Daily Star Sunday, Watson remembers: "At one stage they wanted to switch off my life support system. Now look at me."