Recrimination over floods begins

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As much of the flood water subsides, it is replaced by a tide of recrimination.

The Financial Times says next time flooding is forecast, the authorities must react more quickly and robustly.

Daily Telegraph environment editor Charles Clover argues that it is ministers rather than the Environment Agency who should carry the can.

The Daily Mirror says it would be "unfair to blame the prime minister" but says a "fundamental rethink" on flood defences will be needed.

Cheap tea

Several papers report that the flooding crisis will result in food prices going up because of damage to crops.

The Daily Telegraph warns that peas, broccoli and cabbage are all expected to become more expensive.

The Times brings comfort for tea lovers - it says there is so much tea in the world that Britons are paying far less for the drink than 30 years ago.

Overproduction, supermarket price wars and the weak dollar mean a brew now costs less than a penny a cup.

Deportations

The Daily Mirror reports that a "staggering" 2.5 million workers have moved to the UK in five years.

The government underestimated the number of migrants that would come from eastern Europe, the paper says.

Figures show the number of people being given the right to work in the UK is still rising, says the Daily Mail.

Meanwhile, the Sun reports that Gordon Brown has vowed to deport 4,000 foreign convicts to free up places in "Britain's choked prisons".

Girl skills

There was a time when the skills to which Girl Guides aspired included first aid and the ability to light a camp fire. No longer, it seems.

The Times and Daily Telegraph report that Girlguiding UK polled 1,000 Guides to ask them what skills they thought every modern girl should have.

Among the top 10 answers were assembling flat-pack furniture and practising safe sex.

Tongue in cheek, the Times even mocks up some appropriate Guiding badges.