Taken from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/ ... 466529.stm
Britain's biggest-selling daily newspaper, the Sun, has decided to back Labour at the coming general election.
The Sun made its decision known by sending a plume of red smoke from a chimney on the roof of its London HQ - a cheeky homage to the papal election.
The Sun has backed Labour at the last two general elections, nonetheless the move will be a boost to Tony Blair.
And it may surprise some as many of the issues the paper has raised have been taken up by the Conservatives.
In a clear parody of the Vatican's ancient method of announcing it has chosen a new pope, earlier in the day the Sun said it was "on the verge of an historic decision".
"The newspaper's executives have assembled in secret to debate which political party the newspaper will back at next month's general election.
"To mark the momentous meeting, a chimney has been erected on the roof of the paper's east London headquarters. A plume of black smoke confirms the discussions have begun.
"The smoke will turn white to signal a decision has been reached. The announcement of which party The Sun chooses to back in the election will be made by the smoke turning either red, blue or, in the event of a miracle, yellow."
The Sun's political editor Trevor Kavanagh said the newspaer had decided to back the Labour Party because they had delivered on the economy.
But he said that the support was "not a blank cheque" because they still had a few grumbles with the government.
The asylum system was a "shambles" and too little action had been taken on hospital superbugs, he said.
He added: "We feel at this point in the political cycle we would not be in touch with our readers if we backed the Conservatives."