4 September 2011 Last updated at 01:48 ET

Newspaper review: Darling's memoirs explored

After days of leaks, Alistair Darling's memoirs get their first official showing in the Sunday Times.

In the extract highlighted on its front page, the ex-chancellor says that in 2008, Gordon Brown was convinced the recession would be over in six months.

"The problem was that clearly he did not trust my advice," Mr Darling says, adding that the "dark days" were a defining moment in their relationship.

He says Mr Brown as PM ran a "fairly brutal regime" and many "fell foul".

Settling scores

Andrew Rawnsley of the Observer sees Alistair Darling's book as revenge served after "a decent interval".

In the Sunday Telegraph, John Kampfner suggests that Mr Darling's motives may have been a "settling of scores".

Both commentators say questions about Labour's history have been raised.

John Rentoul in the Independent on Sunday asks "how Gordon Brown was ever allowed" to be PM but the Sunday Telegraph wonders why Mr Darling did not act differently at the time.

Two hunts

Libya still takes up column inches with the Sunday Mirror citing rebel claims they are "closing in" on Col Gaddafi.

The Sunday Telegraph says there are two hunts - one by the Libyan people, and one "almost certainly involving the SAS and other Western special forces".

There's interest too in the evidence about the UK-Libya relationship.

The Mail on Sunday focuses on documents said to show the Labour government - not the Scottish executive - was behind the release of the Lockerbie bomber.

Wealth gap

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, David Cameron sets out his arguments for believing that people have to be shown that their actions have consequences.

The Sunday Telegraph's front page story is on plans by one of the leading candidates to head the Scottish Conservatives to disband the party.

The lead in the Independent on Sunday highlights the UK's growing wealth gap.

Meanwhile, in an editorial, the Sunday Express urges the government to "target the fat cat bankers".