Papers' despair over Thames whale

It was not just a whale that came to London, it was a phenomenon which had the nation in its thrall, says the Independent on Sunday.

"It all ends in tears," says the News of the World after the northern bottle-nosed whale, which found its way to the Thames, died during its rescue.

For the Observer, it was with both wonder and sadness that thousands of onlookers watched the bid to save it.

The Sunday Mirror says the rescue bid shows humans "at their unselfish best".

'Remarkable and uplifting'

The huge global interest in the plight of the whale, trapped in the Thames, is highlighted by the Sunday Times.

But, it notes, coverage in whaling nations, such as Norway and Japan, was "conspicuous by its absence".

The Mail on Sunday looks at the bright side, insisting that despite its death, the efforts to save the mammal had been "remarkable and uplifting".

Our forefathers would have harpooned it "without a second thought", it says, showing a measure of our civilisation.

Political fall-out

The resignation of Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten is welcomed by the News of the World, saying voters are entitled to honesty from politicians.

Allegations on Mr Oaten's private life will "stun" a party "reeling" from its leader's recent departure, it says.

But divisions are appearing in the other main parties over school reform, claims the Sunday Express.

Tony Blair is under pressure to drop his schools minister, Lord Adonis, while Tories are divided on grammar schools, it says.

Easter cruise

The Sunday Times says Bishop of London Richard Chartres will not be preaching from his pulpit at St Paul's Cathedral this Easter - he is to be guest lecturer on a luxury cruise.

According to the newspaper, he will be swapping his normal Easter duties for sherry-tasting in Spain and cruising along the North African coast.

A union official representing the clergy claims the bishop has "lost the plot" by leaving at such a time.

But his spokesman rejects this, saying he will record an Easter service.