Papers mull over Ashes whitewash

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The agony continues for the England cricket team after the Ashes whitewash, with a thrashing in the news and sports pages, as well as the editorials.

The Guardian declares the events total shambles while the Independent says it was the ultimate in humiliation.

The Daily Mirror demands an apology from captain Freddie Flintoff, and the Daily Express says: "It wasn't just that we lost. We didn't even compete."

The Sun's verdict on the series: "Lions have beaten donkeys. It is shameful."

School leavers

The Times says Britons are in the grip of the tightest squeeze on disposable income for nearly five decades.

They face rising bills and the heaviest personal tax burden in 20 years.

The Independent says a blueprint for peace in Iraq by the country's former defence minister has won praise from across the political establishment.

The Daily Telegraph says new government league tables will show most teenagers leave secondary school without gaining an acceptable standard of education.

Escaped prisoners

There is an angry reaction to a reported police decision - on human rights grounds - not to release pictures of two convicted murderers on the run from jail.

The Sun says it beggars belief that the police can be so "foolishly obsessed" with political correctness that they put the issue before doing their duty.

The Daily Express asks how anyone can "spout this nonsense".

The story is the lead for the Daily Mail under the headline "Wanted: for crimes against common sense".

Royal wedding?

The Daily Mail says a boost in police protection around Prince William's girlfriend has led to speculation the couple will announce their engagement.

The intense police security outside a club, the Daily Mirror says, comes just days after four officers were posted outside Kate Middleton's Chelsea home.

Interest by paparazzi has increased in recent months, the Times notes.

The high-level protection, the Sun reports, has meant bookmakers have stopped taking bets on an engagement.