Papers focus on key Blair speech

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The detail of Prime Minister Tony Blair's forthcoming farewell Labour conference speech has sparked much speculation in Britain's newspapers.

The Sunday Telegraph says Mr Blair will set out a 10-year policy programme in a bid to enshrine his legacy.

It believes he wants to show that he has not run out of ideas, by putting forward more radical reforms.

Several papers allege that Mr Blair will not use the address to endorse Gordon Brown as his successor.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Matthew d'Ancona, predicts that Mr Blair will produce a "vintage" performance at the Labour conference.

Squander

He also believes the Labour leader will warn the party faithful "not to squander what he has given them".

Meanwhile a Labour backbencher predicts there will be anger if Mr Blair does not endorse the chancellor.

The politician tells the News of the World that such a move "will go down terribly" in the party.

If Mr Blair does fail to endorse Mr Brown, the Mirror believes it could precipitate a leadership challenge.

Global warming

It thinks Home Secretary John Reid or Education Secretary Alan Johnson could challenge Mr Brown.

The Observer, meanwhile, reveals some better news regarding global warming.

It reports that an international group of scientists is predicting a period of reduced solar activity that will bring "temporary relief".

Nato operations in Afghanistan and the scale of the fighting British troops are involved in preoccupies the Independent On Sunday.

In a report from Helmand province, the paper says actual conditions there have remained largely hidden.

The Sunday Times says the mission is being hampered by insufficient troop numbers from the United Kingdom.

It also accuses the rest of Nato of providing "inadequate support" for the military operation in Afghanistan.