Papers focus on election decision

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Prime Minister Gordon Brown's decision not to call an election for November dominates most of the Sunday papers.

The Observer says the decision indicates a "crisis" for Mr Brown.

It says it was taken after private polls showed the Tory pledge on inheritance tax had led to a drop in Labour's support in key marginal seats.

"Brown bottles it" is the Mail on Sunday's headline. It describes a "faltering" interview with Andrew Marr on BBC One, to be shown on Sunday.

'Extraordinary climax'

Mr Brown's decision to put off an election has revealed "dithering and disarray", according to the Sunday Times.

It believes he is a victim of his own spin. He stoked up election fever and now has to explain why he led everybody up the hill and down again, it says.

The Independent on Sunday calls it an "extraordinary climax to weeks of political drama."

The People expresses confidence in the PM and says everyone should move on.

Aussies 'crushed'

The unexpected victory of the England rugby union team over Australia in the World Cup is widely celebrated.

"Resurrection" is the word splashed across a page of the Observer - followed by "Johnny kicks Aussies where it really hurts".

"Chariots on Fire" says the Sunday Mirror, "Champs silence Aussie taunts".

The Sunday Express hails "the mighty power of England's forwards... their courage, spirit and muscle". The Aussies were crushed, the paper says.

Addictions battle

Ignorance about Shakespeare is widespread among teenagers with many failing to score a mark on him in tests, the Sunday Telegraph reports.

A total of 5% of pupils - 30,000 - scored nought out of a possible 18 points on Shakespeare in Key Stage 3 English exams, it says.

The review section of the Sunday Times is serialising rock star Eric Clapton's autobiography.

In the first instalment he talks about his battle against addictions.