Division over Tory welfare reforms

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8289985.stm

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The papers are divided on the Conservatives' welfare reforms.

For the Daily Mail, slashing the number of people claiming incapacity benefit is a <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1218133/Benefits-slashed-work-shy-Tories-declare-war-5m-worked-Labour.html">"declaration of war"</a> on the sick note culture.

The Times reckons it will be the first time a party has gone into an election <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6861137.ece#">promising drastic cuts</a> for so many.

The Daily Mirror says to boast of grabbing money from the sick at a time when there are few job vacancies is "cruel politics".

Euro 'row'

The papers agree that Europe is presenting David Cameron with problems.

The Daily Mail believes an internal Tory row over whether to promise a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty threatens their "united" image.

The Daily Mirror goes further, saying the debate has "plunged" the Conservatives into turmoil.

The Guardian reports that Mr Cameron has <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/oct/04/referendum-lisbon-treaty-cameron-johnson">ruled out holding a referendum</a> if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified by all EU member states before the election.

Nuclear question

Iran and Afghanistan feature prominently in the papers.

The Times says confidential papers suggests Iran already has <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6860719.ece">"sufficient information"</a> to design and produce a nuclear bomb.

But the UN's nuclear chief, Mohamed El-Baradei, tells the Financial Times he believes no such thing.

The Times and Guardian both quote a sacked UN official who says almost a third of the votes cast for Afghan President Hamid Karzai were <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/04/un-envoy-galbraith-afghanistan-karzai">fraudulent.</a>

Pooh sequel

The papers give an enthusiastic welcome to the return of Winnie-the-Pooh.

Return to the Hundred Acre Wood is the first sequel authorised by trustees of the estate of AA Milne.

The new author, David Benedictus, admits to feeling nervous about how lovers of the original stories will react to his version.

He tells the Guardian he has tried to <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/oct/04/winnie-pooh-hundred-acre-wood">develop the characters</a> - the mournful donkey, Eeyore, now has a "slightly more proactive character".