What the papers say

Journalist Mike Philpott takes a look at what is making the headlines in Thursday's morning newspapers.

There's still no getting away from Cherie Blair, Carole Caplin and Peter Foster.

The Mail, which initally broke the story, has another ten pages on the subject - including a half-page comment piece in which it says that the government spent yesterday trying to cow the media into silence.

But the paper says there are still too many unanswered questions for the matter to be set aside.

The Scotsman alleges that Mrs Blair was more involved in Mr Foster's extradition case than previously admitted, and devotes most of its front page to the details.

Despite this, the Times argues that the issue is beginning to slip down the news agenda.

'Vile and relentless'

But it says the Blairs have been serious losers in the whole affair.

Polly Toynbee in the Guardian attacks the tabloids for being - as she puts it - vile and relentless in their pursuit of the prime minister's wife.

Both Belfast papers give front page coverage to that Audit Office report which indicates that sick leave by teachers here is almost twice the level recorded in England and Wales.

The News Letter notes that pupils spend 10% of the school year being taught by substitute staff.

The Irish News says that's costing £10m a year, and there's concern that the vacancies are being filled by retired teachers instead of recently qualified ones.

Both papers also take a look at the two billion pound budget for improving roads and other public services, and they warn that there's no such thing as a free lunch.

The Irish News describes it as a massive debt that will take years to pay off.

'Underfunding'

Nobody disagrees that we need a huge injection of cash, says the paper, but this money comes at a price and many people will be concerned that the payback will come from their own pockets.

It concludes that years of underfunding during direct rule should be taken into account by the treasury.

The News Letter makes the same point, and adds that ratepayers are now being expected to foot the bill for all the resources that were redirected towards security.

The Irish Independent predicts sweeping changes at RTE after the government in Dublin agreed to a 43 euro increase in the television licence fee.

The paper says the broadcaster, which has already cut 500 jobs, will have to lose 100 more.

In a highly critical piece on an inside page, the columnist John Boland writes that in five or ten years' time, RTE may still be limping along as it has limped along for the last decade or two, trying to keep up with a huge range of competition.

The Irish Times says it will mean more local programming.

Emin-art

The Times has a couple of good seasonal stories this morning.

On its front page, it reports that the Tate gallery in London commissioned Tracey Emin to create its Christmas tree, but got less than it bargained for.

The artist bought a real tree, but then had it sent to an AIDS charity.

In its place at the Tate is a canvas with a message inviting people to leave a donation for the charity.

In return, visitors enter a draw to win one of her works, valued at up to £95,000.

The paper also reports that the train company First Great Eastern has come up with a novel precaution to ensure that tired and emotional party goers get off at the right stop.

It's handing out labels which passengers hang around their necks, indicating the station where they need to be woken up.

A spokesperson admitted that it might make people look like Paddington Bear, but it was better than finding themselves 50 miles from home.