Papers ponder Estelle's future

As the former Chief Inspector of Schools, Mike Tomlinson, prepares to publish the results of his inquiry into the marking of this year's A-level exams, several of the papers consider the future of Education Secretary Estelle Morris.

The Times believes Ms Morris "has not shone in her new post" and "now needs to act swiftly and surely if she is to remain in it".

Edward Heathcoat-Amory, writing in The Daily Mail, agrees.

The "A-level scandal", he says, has not shown Ms Morris in a good light.

Melanie Phillips, also in the Mail, goes even further, calling on Ms Morris to resign.

"From the moment she was appointed, she has appeared out of her depth," she says. "The buck stops with her, and she should go."

Archer's woes

He may be known simply as inmate FF 8282 to the Prison Service, but this morning's papers prove that Lord Archer is no ordinary prisoner.

The Sun, which broke the news that the disgraced peer breached the terms of his weekend release from an open prison by attending a party, takes great delight in his transfer to the tougher surroundings of Lincoln Jail.

"It's the Sun wot dun 'im" is the headline in the paper, which likens the swap to a move "from Butlins to Colditz".

Lord Archer's biographer Michael Crick, writing in The Independent, says he has "made a complete joke of the English penal system," enjoying the freedoms of normal life while serving a four-year sentence for perjury and perverting the course of justice.

The Daily Mirror doubts what it calls the "hell-hole" of "one of Britain's toughest jails" will make much difference to the man.

"He is incapable of feeling contrite or sorry," the Mirror says, "He is the closest a human can come to Mr Toad in Wind in the Willows."

Kennedy queried

Charles Kennedy's speech to the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton receives mixed reviews.

The Guardian rates it as "well-judged and well-delivered," although it questions Mr Kennedy's claim that the Liberal Democrats could replace the Conservatives as the main party of opposition.

The Times says Mr Kennedy articulated themes which may enable the Lib Dems to make a substantial impact over the next year.

The Daily Telegraph judges Mr Kennedy to be "too much of a lightweight" to challenge Iain Duncan Smith but believes there are others in his party - such as the chairman, Mark Oaten - who pose a strong threat to the Tories.

But Mr Kennedy's speech failed to win over Quentin Letts of the Daily Mail.

"One hesitates to make such a claim so early in the party conference season," he says, "but this was surely the most boring political speech of the year."

Loyalist feuding

The Irish News, which represents nationalist opinion in Northern Ireland, leads with a report on the feuding between rival loyalist paramilitary groups.

It says the in-fighting between the UDA and LVF is edging closer to all-out conflict and quotes senior security sources as saying the situation is "on a knife edge".

A UDA source tells the paper that rival loyalists are "sitting back, armed to the hilt, waiting to see who blinks first".

"There could be a bloodbath," the source warns.

Auf wiedersehen

The Times says hospital consultants have been accused of sabotaging government plans to fly in foreign doctors to cut waiting lists.

It claims a group of German eye specialists returned home from Birmingham without performing a single operation.

A leading German company reportedly pulled out of the initiative, citing "shaky economics" and a lack of back-up services.

The Times says there is a strong suspicion that consultants have made the surgeons unwelcome - a claim denied by the Department of Health.