The new Leader of the Commons, Peter Hain, finds himself under fire from all sides for his suggestion that the top rate of income tax could be raised to ease the burden on the less well-off.

"What the hell is he up to?" asks the Daily Mirror, which broke the story on Friday.

It suggests three possibilities - that he's making an early bid to succeed Tony Blair, that he's testing the political water on the issue with the prime minister's private support, or that he's trying to launch a genuine debate about the future of income tax.

Few papers opt for the last option - the Sunplumps for the first. It describes Mr Hain's actions as a "blatant bid to position himself as the PM's successor".

The Daily Mail is also clear that Mr Hain is seeking to position himself as the future leader of the left. Under the heading "The cat is out of the bag", it accuses the minister of yearning for a return to the days of "soaking the rich".

Other papers side with option two. The Independentnotes that Mr Hain has a reputation for being licensed by Downing Street to float unpopular policies.

The Financial Times is one of the few papers to take Mr Hain's ideas at face value. It praises him for "raising an important question on tax policy".

For the Daily Express the whole row is another sign that Tony Blair is losing his grip on his unruly ministers.

Church row

The Times reports on the widening rift in the Anglican church over the appointment of a gay bishop.

It prints a letter of support for Dr Jeffrey John signed by eight prominent bishops.

The letter accuses Dr John's opponents of fuelling homophobia.

The Daily Telegraph suggests the crisis could signal the end of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

It carries an interview with one of Dr John's opponents, the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, who warns that the appointment alters the Church's position on human sexuality and may force a damaging split in the Church.

The Independent sees the dispute as a battle between those who want a broad church and those who want one based on narrow theological principle.

EU scorn

The EU's draft constitution, officially handed over to European leaders in Greece yesterday, is greeted with derision in the Sun.

It accuses Tony Blair of surrender to Brussels and ridicules his claim that the document represents a victory for Britain.

The Guardian reports that any attempt by Mr Blair to re-negotiate parts of the constitution will be strongly opposed by the author of the text, Valery Giscard d'Estaing.

Doctors' pay

The decision by family doctors to support a new pay deal is welcomed by most of the papers.

The Financial Times predicts that the agreement will bring about the biggest change for GPs and their patients for forty years.

The Daily Express says the deal should go a long way to addressing the major recruitment and retention problems facing general practice.

The Guardian urges hospital doctors - who have rejected the government's pay offer - to follow suit.

Tiny miracle

Finally, the tabloids carry pictures of a baby girl who weighed just 12 ounces at birth. The Daily Mirror reports that - less than a month later - Aaliyah Hart weighs 11lb and has been taken off life support.

Doctors say she'll be able to go home in three months' time.