Papers consider political honesty

Questions of trust and honesty run through Saturday's newspapers, but none can equal the shock the Times has sprung with its disclosure that John Major and Edwina Currie were lovers.

Matching the candour shown by Mrs Currie herself, the paper admits her revelation will be the chief reason that her diaries - to be published next week - will sell.

"It is a coupling," says the writer who has interviewed Mrs Currie, "which, on the surface of things, is so comically implausible that this alone will guarantee the book's commercial success."

The Times reports Mrs Currie cried repeatedly as she spoke about her feelings for Mr Major.

She tells the paper that "politicians admire the element of the devious in each other" and she claims that many MPs were unfaithful to their husbands and wives.

Of course, the Times remembers, it was Mr Major who spoke of going "Back to Basics".

The paper's interviewer comments: "What a shaming indictment of that clapped-out regime it is, to discover that the very prime minister who attempted to impose those values on his electorate had full personal knowledge of how easy it is to stray from them himself."

Archer 'bruised'

The other papers focus their indignation on less startling targets.

For many of the tabloids, the man in their sights remains Lord Archer.

The Sun and the Daily Mirror both highlight the meal he had - in breach of prison rules - with the head of security at the prison and a woman police officer.

The Daily Star describes the venue as a "swanky restaurant."

The Daily Express calls the officer "a pretty blonde" and in its comment column, damns Lord Archer as "a man who does not think the rules are for him."

"Lord Archer has been cruising for a bruising for a long time - and now he has got it."

Sixsmith attack

Where others disparage Tory politicians, the Daily Mail claims to expose what it calls the "lies at the heart of New Labour".

Martin Sixsmith - a former director of communications for two government departments - takes four pages to set out his reasons for accusing the party of "spin and mendacity".

Recounting his experiences "at the heart of New Labour" he argues that "the government is not to be trusted."

He says ministers and their aides have undermined the integrity of the civil service.

The Mail believes his allegations also raise "disturbing questions about the integrity of the prime minister" which "will be read with horror by the public."

Exams crisis

Most papers think the A-level crisis is far from over, but there's little sympathy for the sacked head of the exams watchdog.

The Guardian and the Daily Telegraph agree that the Education Secretary, Estelle Morris, was right to sack Sir William Stubbs.

So does the Mirror. But the Sun believes it is Ms Morris herself who "isn't up to it and must go at the next reshuffle".

The Independent thinks she's done nothing improper, but says "she was responsible".

And the paper remarks that "the weaknesses of our education system are far greater than" the regrading of exam papers.