Kelly testimony moves journalists

All the journalists who witnessed the testimony of Dr David Kelly's widow to the Hutton inquiry seem to have been impressed by her dignity, and struck by the poignancy of her words.

The Financial Times says "after the political blame-shifting and back-covering of recent days, Janice Kelly's evidence came as a stark contrast, and a reminder of the personal grief at the heart of the affair".

Many writers describe her account as "heart-breaking," and some say they were moved to tears.

But the commentators are divided over whether her evidence will help the inquiry decide who is blame for her husband's death.

'Brooder'

The Daily Mail declares Mrs Kelly's "devastating" testimony "shames new Labour," by spelling out what it calls Dr Kelly's "stunning betrayal" by his political masters.

The paper says the scientist was "hung out to dry," and that if the Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has "a shred of honour" he will resign.

The Daily Telegraph, by contrast, believes we should look at events from the MoD's point of view.

It sees a picture emerging of Dr Kelly as "a brooder, who bottled things up," and who, to some extent, was conscious he was in the wrong.

The paper's leader writer says it is "growing increasingly hard to escape the conclusion that Dr Kelly's suicide was not so much a public scandal as a private tragedy".

Pensions 'raided'

Deborah Orr of the Independent believes there's "not much political power in what Mrs Kelly had to say" because Dr Kelly told his wife so little about what had happened.

In her view, any insight into the scientist's opinions about officials, ministers, or the BBC report which began the row, was "entirely missing" from his widow's evidence.

The Daily Express leads with a report that, in its words, "fat cat bosses" are "grabbing our pensions".

It claims that leading executives are drawing their multi-million pound pensions from the same funds as ordinary workers - and there is a risk the money could run out.

The top story in the Financial Times is an attempt by France Telecom to buy the mobile phone company, Orange.

A plan to set up the first state-funded grammar school in England for more than 50 years makes the front page of the Telegraph.

Brunel University wants to offer places to 300 talented pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Truffle fears

Brunel's vice-chancellor had been asked to come up with ways of opening up universities to bright teenagers from poor families.

The paper says his solution will "acutely embarrass" the education secretary.

A disastrous truffle harvest is forecast by The Times and The Independent.

It seems the searing heat in France has had a devastating effect on the underground fungus. French producers fear an invasion of cheap Chinese truffles.

The price of the French variety - if any survive - is expected to rise to £1,000 a kilogram.