Papers predict ordeal for Blair

There is no shortage of hyperbole as Friday's newspapers consider the political ordeal facing the prime minister at the end of the month.

For the Daily Telegraph the last week of January is shaping up to be the most dramatic since Tony Blair came to power - a make-or-break 24 hours that will see the vote on university tuition fees then the release of the Hutton Report.

For the Times those 24 hours are "tumultuous" and will decide whether Mr Blair will still be in Downing Street for the next election.

The Guardian pursues the same theme - it sees the prime minister facing 24 hours of concentrated nail-biting that will decide his premiership.

Mr Blair is not alone in his discomfort, according to the Times.

It says Labour's tuition-fee rebels are now reconciled to 12 days of unrelenting pressure from ministers and whips pleading with them not to wound the PM on the eve of Hutton.

The paper's Peter Riddell believes the timing of the two events, while raising the stakes, also raises Mr Blair's chances of avoiding defeat on top-up fees - at least for now.

The Daily Mail smells a rat.

It reports on Westminster speculation Mr Blair fixed the Hutton publication date deliberately in order to quell the rebellion over fees.

In its editorial, it calls the timing an extraordinary, convenient coincidence.

Under fire

Another minister might be feeling close to the political precipice this morning.

The Mail highlights the campaign by the widow of a soldier killed in Iraq to force the Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon, to step down.

Samantha Roberts wants Mr Hoon to take responsibility for the equipment shortages that led, in part, to her husband Steve's death.

The Sun's editorial says Mr Hoon sent troops into battle knowing that they were not properly equipped.

It accuses him of political cowardice for washing his hands of any responsibility and says he must resign.

Council taxed

And a further potential ministerial woe makes the lead in Financial Times - the council tax.

The FT says ministers have moved to stem a taxpayers' revolt by warning 31 councils, who are planning excessive increases, that they will be capped if they do so.

The government is already looking at the tax - and the minister responsible, Nick Raynsford, tells the paper business may have to pay more in the future.

The Guardian editorial warns the issue could become Labour's poll tax.

The Daily Mirror believes there must be a better way to fund local services.

The Independent concedes the tax is unpopular, but thinks the alternatives are worse.

Charities bashed

The Guardian reveals some of Britain's leading international charities exaggerated the extent of the food shortage that threatened southern Africa two years ago.

The papers says it was the first time the charities had tried to pre-empt a crisis rather than respond to one.

An independent evaluation of the emergency effort concluded they did not consult the people they were trying to help and did not listen to people's needs.

Capital games

There is a boost for London on the day it launches its bid to host the Olympics in 2012.

According to the Telegraph the capital has overtaken Paris - one of its rivals for the 2012 games - and is now the most popular tourist destination in Europe.

"Au revoir Paris", crows the paper, "you may be the city of romance but London is the place people want to be".