Sunday papers focus on PM's woes

The political fate of the prime minister dominates many front pages.

In the Observer, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears writes that Labour has taken a "titanic battering in recent weeks" and warns it must reconnect.

The Mail on Sunday describes the PM as "a dead man walking" and claims plotters want to replace him with the Health Secretary Alan Johnson.

Former minister Kate Hoey tells the Sunday Telegraph that Gordon Brown could be replaced within weeks.

The Independent on Sunday says disenchantment has spread through the cabinet over the issue of MPs' expenses and settlement rights for the Gurkhas.

One minister it quotes says people are now operating "through gritted teeth".

However, the Sunday Mirror believes Gordon Brown can breathe a sigh of relief, claiming Labour big guns have moved to crush a plot by rebel MPs.

It says former deputy PM John Prescott has warned them to rally behind the leadership or leave the party.

DNA profiles destroyed

The Sunday Times reports the government is preparing for a "full-scale retreat" over plans to privatise Royal Mail.

The paper also carries a report saying that ministers are to shake-up the human rights legislation stopping them from deporting foreign criminals.

The Observer says police are to destroy the DNA profiles of 800,000 innocent people in England and Wales as part of an overhaul of its national database.

Civil rights groups have given a cautious welcome to the move, it notes.

Beer mat collectors

The News of the World turns its attention to the travel arrangements of the foreign secretary.

Under the headline Airfarce One, it says David Miliband plans to use a private jet, instead of scheduled flights, for official trips abroad.

According to the Independent on Sunday, tegestologists - beer mat collectors - are up in arms after one of the biggest makers of coasters went bankrupt.

Germany-based Katz group has been hit by falling beer sales, it reports.