Papers unimpressed by Byers

As the Times observes, there can be few beyond the Westminster village who care any longer about the transport secretary's role in the departure of the senior press officer, Martin Sixsmith.

But the Daily Telegraph is in no doubt about the issue at stake: did Stephen Byers mislead the Commons?

In its opinion, Mr Byers is guilty. On Thursday he tried to defend his actions in a Commons statement.

But it seems to have won him few friends in the press.

The Daily Mail cannot contain its disgust at what it dubs a distasteful performance of breathtaking gall.

'National joke'

The Sun's political editor, Trevor Kavanagh, is also unimpressed by Mr Byers's version of events, saying his claim that he acted in good faith is a sham.

The Independent believes that whatever remaining shreds of political credibility he might have clung to before his statement, have now been lost.

The paper describes Mr Byers as a national joke whose reputation is beyond redemption.

The Mirror thinks the government is being damaged by the affair, and it urges the transport secretary to - as it puts it - do the decent thing and go.

Uninspired by Assemblies

The Guardian acknowledges that Mr Byers was guilty of a significant inaccuracy, but argues that his conduct is not a resignation offence.

The Financial Times, among others, notes that Mr Byers had been due to attend a news conference as part of the launch of the government's plans for regional assemblies in England.

Instead, the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, who is a keen supporter of the idea, took reporters' questions.

The Independent is not convinced by his plans. Regional assemblies, it insists, are not the answer to anyone's problems.

Iraq assurances

The Times, which dismisses the proposals as Mr Prescott's folly, suggests the government would do far better to hand more power to the institutions that already exist and to do more to make its system of elected mayors work.

The Daily Express believes the assemblies could help, but they would be a success only if the government gave them real power to take decisions over issues that affect people's lives.

The Independent reports that Tony Blair has reassured his critics within the Labour party that Britain will not support American military action against Iraq unless it is backed by the United Nations Security Council.

He is said to have given the assurances at a meeting with senior Labour figures.

The paper suggests ministers and officials are optimistic of a breakthrough at the UN which would lift the immediate threat of an American-led military intervention.

'Ofswitch'

The Broadcasting Standards Commission's strong criticism of the way that producers of television soap operas use violence and sex in storylines is welcomed by the Express.

The gratuitous ratings-chasing has to end, it says, and broadcasters must ensure that their programmes can be safely watched by all the family.

The Mail describes the commission's verdict as damning, but doubts whether it will do much good because the watchdogs are toothless.

And staying with television, a letter writer to the Times questions the need for Ofcom, the proposed new watchdog for the communications industry.

After all, he says, viewers already have access to a powerful regulator, which precedes and will outlive the new body: Ofswitch.