Brown under fire again in papers

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The chancellor faces another day of criticism in the papers over pensions, the EU budget and even his handwriting.

The Times shows a picture of Gordon Brown holding a page of typed notes with handwritten scribbles across it.

The Independent says it is a "crib sheet", with sound bites like "I have reflected, I have analysed", written for him by an aide to help him handle a press conference.

Elsewhere, several papers, including the Daily Telegraph, also criticise Mr Brown for apparently giving in to the EU after a year-long row over its budget.

'Cross-channel envy'

A number of editorials congratulate the French on their record-breaking high-speed TGV train, which has reached 360mph.

"The British look with envy across the channel," says the Daily Telegraph.

The Guardian, meanwhile, wonders if Britain should invite the French to rebuild its overcrowded rail network.

And the Daily Express jokes that some French passengers struggled to stay standing at such great speeds - not a problem, it says, for disgruntled rush-hour commuters in the UK.

Tory 'twit'

Conservative MP Boris Johnson makes headlines again with some controversial comments.

The Daily Mirror brands him a "twit" after he said Portsmouth was "full of drugs, obesity and under-achievement".

The Sun quotes local Liberal Democrat MP Mike Hancock, who says Mr Johnson is a "prat" who should "walk barefoot to Portsmouth and apologise".

And the Independent says Portsmouth residents now share common ground with those of Liverpool and Papua New Guinea who have also been insulted by the MP.

'Rock and roll'

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards appears in several papers after claiming to have "snorted" his father Bert's ashes during a drugs binge.

The Daily Mirror quotes the 63-year-old as saying he mixed them with cocaine and that "it went down pretty well".

But the paper says the star's fans will be "horrified" by the admission.

The Daily Mail calls Mr Richards "the embodiment of rock and roll excess", but says the news may not be met with "enthusiasm" by his mother Doris.