Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to reshuffle his
ministerial team next week and there’s been a lot of speculation
that Darling could lose his job and be moved to another
department.

    The silver-haired finance minister has had a rough ride
lately. The economy is on the brink of recession and his
comments in a magazine interview saying the economic challenges
were the greatest in 60 years caused a furore and were blamed
for sinking the pound.

    But delegates at the Labour conference today just loved him.
They stood and clapped and then they clapped some more after
Darling hit out at unfettered capitalism and the huge payouts
given to bankers that he said helped cause the credit crunch.

    Darling looked genuinely embarrassed. He called for them to
stop but the delegates just went on. Besides modesty, the
finance minister had another reason for wanting them to stop.

    He had another type of conference call to attend to. A G7
one. The finance ministers and central bankers of the rich
nations club were having a hastily-arranged telephone chat at
1230 London time to discuss the latest bout of market turmoil.

    Given London’s position as one of the world’s top financial
centres, Darling could hardly miss out and he rushed off the
stage to get on with his G7 buddies.

    The crisis also looks to have cemented Darling’s position.
It would seem odd to remove the finance minister when the whole
world financial system is in the middle of the biggest upheaval
in a generation.

    With Brown making his economic experience a key selling
point, he needs Darling on side.

DAILY MAIL: Father of Four Taken to Court and Fined…Because he Overfilled his Wheelie-Bin by Just Four Inches

Bus driver Gareth Corkhill collected a conviction and a 210 pound fine after he declined to pay a council on-the-spot fine for leaving the lid of his wheelie bin ajar four inches. Story here.

THE TIMES: Judges Set to Deliver Fresh Blow on Terror

Gordon Brown was facing a new battle over key anti-terrorism laws this week with the High Court set to rule against powers to freeze suspects’ bank accounts, the paper said. Story here.

The Sun: Harry Meets His Hero

Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan, is pictured smiling and relaxing with wounded soldiers recovering in the Forces rehab centre in Surrey. Story here.

The Independent: Can the Bank’s 50bn Pounds Save the Economy?

The newspaper’s Hamish McRae explains in a typical Independent comment-style front page that the Treasury and Bank of England’s line of credit may not be enough to keep the supply of mortgages flowing. Story here.

Daily Express: Miracle Surgery Lets the Blind See

The paper looks at how British doctors carried out pioneering surgery to restore the eyesight of two blind patients. Story here.

The Guardian: You’re Dragging Us to the Edge, Labour Rebels Warned

Gordon Brown moved to stop a potentially damaging backbench budget rebellion with a contrite address to Labour MPs and a promise to hold a review before the autumn on the impact of the abolition of the 10p tax rate. Story here.

The Financial Times: King Rules Out Return to Risky Mortgages

The paper quoted Bank of England governor Mervyn King insisting that the housing market will not see a return to the profligate mortgage lending practices of the past few years while he announced a massive operation to support liquidity in British banks. Story here.

Daily Mirror: Show Some Heart

Chancellor Alistair Darling was going to tell bank chiefs to go easy on families who fall behind with their mortgages, the paper said. Story here.