'The Raised Magician' - French hail British PM

They talked about a man who is back from the dead and gone from being a centrist to inventing a new system of regulated capitalism. He is a "major player" in the search for global solutions to the current crisis, according to Le Journal du Dimanche.

Clearly, the line that the Prime Minister is the man best suited to lead other world leaders through these unprecedented economic times had crossed the Channel.

Number 10 refute the suggestion that he is "enjoying" the financial meltdown a bit too much, but they cannot disguise how their man does seem more at home dealing with the turmoil than at any other time in the last year.

A YouGov/Sunday Times poll shows Labour's standing has rallied amid the financial crisis with the party on 33 per cent, up three points on last month, with the Conservatives on 43 per cent, down three points, and the Liberal Democrats on 14 per cent, down two points.

In a boost for Mr Brown, 59 per cent of respondents said they supported the Government's £500 billion plan to support the banking system.