Papers mull over EU and whale row

The Daily Telegraph believes the European Union's next budget is £20bn more than Tony Blair said it would be.

The source of what the paper thinks is a severe embarrassment to the Prime Minister is the EU's Lithuanian budget commissioner, Dalia Grybauskaite.

Mrs Grybauskaite, who the paper reveals is also a karate black belt, says statements about the spending package's size are "not accurate."

The Telegraph says the country is being "impoverished by the EU".

BNP 'swing'

Japan is about to seize control of whale hunting's regulatory body, the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the Independent says.

It says Tokyo's diplomatic coup follows what it calls "a lengthy, covert operation", buying up votes of small member states of the IWC.

The Guardian reports the British National Party (BNP) is within a 5% swing of winning 70 council seats.

The Sun urges its readers not to vote for the party.

Second home 'tax'

According to the Times a new tax is in the offing - and those who may have to pay are second homeowners.

The so-called "absenteeism" tax is aimed at holiday homes left empty for between six and eight months a year.

The Daily Telegraph and the Times carry front page pictures of the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, breaking with Church of England tradition on Easter Sunday.

He baptised four new Christians by total immersion - in a specially built heated pool.

Michael crash?

As the Guardian puts it the cheers and tears have been a long time coming - but after 44 years out of the Football League, Accrington Stanley are back.

The Telegraph joins in the celebrations as well.

The Daily Mirror alleges pop star George Michael is at the centre of a police probe that he crashed into four parked cars.

The Daily Star says one England footballer staked £72,000 on one spin of a roulette wheel.