What the papers say

Journalist Keith Baker takes a look at what is making the headlines in Friday's morning newspapers.

A cartoon on the front of the Daily Telegraph shows a couple of turkeys passing a billboard which has the words: "Cherie latest".

One says: "It makes you wonder what the next nasty shock's going to be."

Which is a question that passengers and crew who were on a flight from Birmingham to Belfast on Thursday might well be asking themselves.

Both the News Letter and the Irish News report the frightening experience they had when the plane hit what's described as "a wall of turbulence".

"Nose dive nightmare" is the News Letter headline.

'Textbook landing'

One crew member suffered a broken leg and another sprained an ankle.

The News Letter says the plane eventually landed in a textbook manner but an inquiry was immediately ordered into what happened.

Meanwhile, back at Cherie-gate, the story shows no sign of going away even though the prime minister dearly wishes it would.

The Times sees Mr Blair's "put up or shut up" outburst yesterday as reflecting his dismay at the stream of allegations which he believes have been planted by Peter Foster, who's making the media dance to his tune.

As for Mrs Blair's tearful speech on television, the Guardian reports that Alastair Campbell and Peter Mandelson helped her write it.

Cherie poll

And the paper has a poll in which people give their reaction to what she had to say.

Apparently about a third say they are satisfied with her response, a third are not and the rest are don't knows.

The Daily Telegraph has a poll, too. But according to that survey, half the people interviewed thought Mrs Blair was putting on an act.

The Mail is incensed by yesterday's new allegations.

It says millions of people were moved by her tears and were prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt.

But now, it feels, those same fair-minded people are entitled to feel angered at the way their goodwill has been abused.

Ruins

The Sun goes to town with transcripts of phone conversations between Peter Foster and his mother.

He tells her that with his reputation in ruins, he must try to get some money out of it all by selling his story.

His asking price is £100,000. The paper says this exposes him as a total sleaze merchant.

The Irish News gives its main headlines to a story in which there are calls for tighter gun controls.

According to research, the proportion of people in Northern Ireland who are allowed to carry handguns puts them on a par with Texas.

The News Letter looks at figures revealed by the security minister in the Commons, showing that there were 220 separate shootings incidents involving paramilitaries between April and November.

Paramilitary grip

The paper says this is alarming, especially at a time when we're told we should be grateful for living in a period of relative peace.

Paramilitaries have been a grim facet of life here for far too long, the News Letter says, and it's time for the government and our constitutional politicians to lead a vigorous campaign to loosen the grip.

The Irish News is alarmed by that report yesterday on sickness levels among teachers.

If there's a problem with stress, it says, then it must be addressed.

As for the issue of subsitute cover, the paper urges that recently qualified teachers should be given a chance.

They are the future of education, it says, and they need encouragement and opportunity.