What the papers say

Journalist Mike Philpott takes a look at what is making the headlines in Friday's morning newspapers.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the McCartney family have, at every turn, "trumped the murky tactics of Sinn Fein".

All the papers agree that they were the winners again on Thursday when they met President Bush at the White House.

Paula McCartney is pictured on several front pages - including that of the Irish Times - shaking hands with the president.

The paper quotes the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, who said republicans faced "total exclusion" in the US unless the IRA disbanded.

The tide has been turning for some time in Northern Ireland, and it is turning in favour of the rule of law Irish News

The Irish Independent comments that Mr Ahern spoke for millions of people who have grown sick of waiting for the last, and absolutely necessary, steps towards a settlement in Northern Ireland.

The Irish News says the US administration is also growing impatient, and unless matters move forward, local politicians may not find any welcome mat in Washington next St Patrick's Day either.

"The tide has been turning for some time in Northern Ireland, and it is turning in favour of the rule of law," the paper says.

The News Letter says it made a welcome change for the republican movement to be ostracised by the American political classes.

However, the paper is not convinced that the current climate of hostility towards Sinn Fein will be sustained, certainly in government circles on this side of the Atlantic.

"The intense debate within nationalism and republicanism will now revert to Northern Ireland," the paper says.

'Courage under fire'

There is only one man who appears in Friday's papers more often in photographs than the McCartney sisters.

Private Johnson Beharry of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment has become the first soldier to win the Victoria Cross for 20 years.

His story is splashed across page after page, with most of the accounts describing in detail how he acted with "courage under fire" in Iraq not once, but twice.

The Daily Mail reports that on the first occasion, he was driving a Warrior armoured vehicle when it came under rocket attack.

At least there are still some things in life that give us reason to be proud Daily Express

"He lost radio contact, his crew were concussed, and the vehicle was full of smoke," the paper says.

"When another explosion blew off the Warrior's periscope, he was forced to drive with his head through an open hatch and therefore exposed to enemy fire."

The paper adds it has been estimated that the chances of surviving an action worthy of a VC are just one in 10.

The Daily Express comments that "at least there are still some things in life that give us reason to be proud".

There is little comfortable reading for Tony Blair on Friday.

He is slated in many of the papers for an election stunt that backfired, while an opinion poll in the Daily Telegraph suggests he is well behind Gordon Brown in popularity.

The first story - in which Mr Blair unveiled a poster claiming that the Tories would cut £35bn in public services - makes it on to the front pages of the Financial Times and the Daily Mail.

But the Mail says one journalist pointed out during heavy questioning that, if his claim were true, it would mean sacking every doctor, nurse and teacher in the country.

The paper urges him not to treat us like idiots.

Finally, the Guardian reports that Germany's biggest lottery winner picked up a prize of 20 million euro but dashed back to work.

He told the organisers that he was worried about being late.