Mixed views over Basra handover

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Britain's handover of Basra back to the Iraqi authorities sparks mixed reactions in Monday's papers.

The Guardian leads with the city police chief's blunt assessment of the British performance: the UK has left behind murder and chaos.

The handover was not a victory, according to the Independent, neither for the British, nor the Iraqis.

The Times says British troops played a positive role, setting up schools and training judges, police and the army.

'Record insolvency'

Under the headline "The Crunch", the Daily Mail warns one million families are struggling to pay off mortgages as the credit crisis starts to bite.

The paper quotes a survey in the Bank's Quarterly Bulletin, saying the picture is expected to worsen, leading to record insolvency rates.

The Times says the chancellor is considering banking industry reforms.

These could allow him to take control of all decisions from the Bank of England to avoid further emergencies.

'Mad pay-outs'

The Daily Star highlights what it calls the Â£4,000 "bribes," seen by the government as the "cheapest way" to kick failed asylum seekers out.

The Daily Express says the "mad" pay-outs will encourage others to come to Britain to try their luck.

It draws attention to a Zimbabwean woman who has opened a beauty parlour and an vineyard-owning Albanian.

This absurd situation only exists, according to the Sun, because we have floodgates instead of borders.

Pizza performance

"This could be you in three years, Leon" is the Daily Mirror's warning to X Factor winner Leon Jackson.

As he took the crown, Steve Brookstein, the show's first winner, was singing to 50 diners in a pizza restaurant in Kent, the paper says.

Meanwhile, the Mail notes Grace has jumped to the top of the list of the most popular girls' names this year.

The Daily Telegraph believes Mika's number one hit "Grace Kelly" could be behind its rise in popularity.