PM accused of spend, spend, spend

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8123572.stm

Version 0 of 1.

For the first time in several days, the death of Michael Jackson is not eclipsing every other news story.

In stark contrast, some papers turn to Gordon Brown's unveiling of his public services plans, outlined in a document called Building Britain's Future.

A <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/cartoon/">Times cartoonist has him holding up a copy,</a> only it is called "Billing Britain's Future".

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/5677741/Gordon-Brown-to-keep-spending-high-despite-recession-Ed-Balls-indicates.html">Daily Telegraph's headline echoes that</a> , saying "Brown aims to spend his way back into Number Ten".

'Pandering' to BNP

Several other papers look at proposals on housing.

The Sun says <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2506012/Immigrants-now-banned-from-jumping-housing-queue.html">Mr Brown will promise "local homes for local people"</a> and will ban new immigrants from queue-jumping in a bid to reconnect with the public.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196195/Labour-vows-Britons-council-house-queue-bid-win-voters-far-Right.html">Daily Mail says he will "tear up" existing rules</a> to try to win back Labour's working class heartlands.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/06/29/exclusive-local-peope-to-queue-jump-council-house-waiting-lists-115875-21479561/">Daily Mirror believes the plan will be as controversial as his "British jobs for British workers" pledge</a> and smacks of pandering to the far-right British National Party.

'Shrewd act'

There is more coverage of the death - and final days - of Michael Jackson.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/110706">Express focuses on the "treasure chest" of unpublished songs the singer is reported to have left to his three children</a> - "a rare act of shrewdness".

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/">"Jacko - the last pic" is the Daily Star's headline</a> above a photo of the star strapped to a hospital stretcher.

It also reports that high quality video exists of Jackson in rehearsal for his planned London concerts - which it says for fans will provide "an amazing film performed from beyond the grave".

Pennies into pounds

A number of papers report that the Dean of Westminster Abbey wants to add a 21st Century corona - a crown-shaped feature - to the abbey's roof by 2013.

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/westminster-abbey-to-get-its-crowning-glory-at-last-1722932.html">The Independent is keen and hopes Prince Charles does not object.</a> The project will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Queen's coronation.

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196176/Have-20p-worth-50-pocket-Royal-Mint-error-results-undated-coins.html">The Mail helpfully points out there is money to be made from a 20p piece.</a>

The Royal Mint accidentally put lots of the coins into circulation without a date stamp. Experts say they are already worth £50.