Few papers shed tears for Blair

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Tony Blair's last full day at Number 10 causes few papers to shed a tear.

Pictures of broad smiles from the Prime Minister and his last official guest, actor and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, are everywhere.

The Times calls it A Hollywood Ending and the Guardian's sketch writer Simon Hoggart says it was like the Oscars.

For the Daily Mail, it is fitting that one of the most accomplished actor-politicians of modern times should spend it with Mr Schwarzenegger.

'Policy on the hoof'

Successor Gordon Brown who takes over as Prime Minister later, won rather more praise from the papers.

The Daily Mirror hails the defection of Conservative MP, Quentin Davies, to Labour as a political triumph.

The Guardian believes Mr Brown completely wrong-footed the Conservatives by personally securing the defection.

But it is his resignation letter, accusing the Tory leader of vacuity, vacillation and making policy on the hoof, that interests the Independent.

Bush on Blair

Not everyone is attacking Mr Blair, and in an exclusive interview with the Sun, President George Bush praises his stance on the "war on terror".

He dismisses the idea that Mr Blair was "Bush's poodle" as "silly ridicule".

"We've analysed the enemy the same way and found ourselves in the same foxhole," he says.

And Mr Blair is not the only one who is off. The Guardian looks back over the highs and lows of TV chat show host Michael Parkinson's 25-year career.

Muddy waters

The floods across parts of the country stir up fury for the Daily Mail which blames ministers, planners and builders for building houses on flood plains.

It features a front page picture of a housing estate half-submerged in muddy water under the headline Plain Crazy.

As engineers battle to shore up a crumbling dam near Rotherham, the Times sounds a warning about the state of similar barriers around the country.

About 80% of British dams are constructed of earth, it reports.

Rollercoaster ride

The optimism of the British tennis fan, one of the most indestructible forces known to man, makes a welcome return for the Telegraph.

Let Henmania Begin, it declares, following Tim Henman's nail-biting Wimbledon win over Carlos Moya.

The Mail says the British number two has replanted his flag on Henman Hill.

The Guardian is also gearing up for an emotional few days. The rollercoaster will clank into life again, it says, with Henman at the controls.