Cabinet ministers were queuing up to pay tribute to the prime minister's decision to go to war with Iraq yesterday.

"He is supreme," said one minister after emerging from a meeting at Number 10. Another said the prime minister is now "completely unassailable" and that "he's played a blinder".

Referring to the Labour MPs who rebelled against the war, another minister said: "There are 139 MPs out there somewhere thanking their lucky stars that Tony Blair is not a vindictive man".

The Sun reports that France's top newspapers have hailed the prime minister as a hero for his campaign against Iraq. It also features a cut-out dartboard featuring anti-war figures including Robin Cook, George Galloway and President Chirac.

"Make sure the wobblers get the point", it advises, urging readers to "open fire on traitors".