Today's papers react to the publication of the Labour Party manifesto.

Times

The manifesto it published yesterday is solid, sensible in many parts and painfully worthy in other places. There are few problems relating to public administration that have not been considered... This is, overall, a workmanlike tome which appears fearful of passion. This is regrettable. As Reagan noted: "To grasp and hold a vision, that is the very essence of successful leadership."

Guardian

Yesterday Labour launched a social democratic manifesto in a social democratic way. To those who have followed New Labour closely, both the continuities with the past and the disjunctions were striking. Ideologically, Labour's 2005 manifesto broadly justifies Tony Blair's claim that it applies the party's unchanging values to the British people's new needs and priorities. The document's essential focus is classic Labour - extending the opportunities of working and middle-class people - "hard working families" in current argot - in a rapidly changing world.

Telegraph

The overall impression yesterday was of a government that has run out of ideas, but retains its driving desire to tell us how to live, what to eat and how to bring up our children. Mr Blair brightly talked about applying New Labour reforms to the public services, while the chancellor, standing at his side, gave every impression that his resistance to such free-market changes would remain as implacable as it has been for the past eight years.

FT

Labour's manifesto is a coherent and ambitious programme for extending and consolidating the welfare state. But its true cost will be felt as it appropriates a rising share of GDP - a share that could rise much more sharply if there is any slowing of economic growth. The risk is that in returning to the public spending levels of the 1980s, Britain could find itself back in the fiscal crises of the 1970s.

Independent

Labour's commitment to accelerate the reforms of the NHS and schools to foster quality and choice are a welcome sign that the government still has ideas, but it must ensure that these are translated into action.

Sun

Once again, there is a promise not to raise income tax. Once again, there is no mention of what might happen to National Insurance. Brown, the most successful chancellor in living memory, shrugs off people's fears, just as he can afford to pooh-pooh dire warnings from the IMF, which hasn't got its growth forecasts right yet. But most voters will have to feel confident that those 277 promises will all be kept before they put their trust in Labour for a third time. Blair still has a big job to do before his place in history is guaranteed.

Mirror

It is not necessary to support Labour simply because the Tories are too awful an alternative. With the policies revealed yesterday, the third term government will go a long way towards completing the transformation of this country.

Mail

All that shining promise. All those soaring hopes. What is left of them now, as Tony Blair sets out his manifesto for "my last election as leader of my party"? The dark shadow of disappointed expectations falls on every one of these 112 pages. While the rhetoric may still be there, the magic is no more. We have seen the record. We know the failings. And now we are offered more of the same.

Express

No one can believe Labour's manifesto is worth wasting time on. After lying to us on everything from tax to tuition fees in 1997 and 2001, Tony Blair and his party have lost all credibility. Even Mr Blair could not stretch his talent for deception as far as lying over possible tax rises. Of course he could not rule them out when a £10bn black hole is looming in Treasury coffers.