Poor publicity for major institutions

The old advertising mantra 'any publicity is good publicity' must ring hollow for at least three major British institutions on Thursday.

Another bout of less than flattering headlines for the Royal Family accompanies the Daily Mirror's latest instalment of what the butler wrote.

The paper's readers must wade through 10 pages of royal intrigue before they find a story which does not mention Princess Diana or her former servant, Paul Burrell, whose book the Mirror is serialising.

The Conservative Party and its leader, Iain Duncan Smith, are also the subject of much fevered speculation.

The Financial Times speaks of a leadership in turmoil, while the Sun concludes that IDS appears to be doomed as the plotters move in for the kill.

Others though, such as the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, emphasise the Tory leader's defiance, as he resists moves to oust him.

'Mug punter'

The Daily Express says a dreadful day for Mr Duncan Smith began when the businessman, Stuart Wheeler - who gave the party £5m before the last election - demanded that the leader be deposed.

The Independent calls Mr Wheeler the ultimate gambler's gambler, who has played poker with Lord Lucan, was kicked out of Las Vegas for winning too much and who made a personal fortune from a spread betting firm.

But now, the paper says, he has decided there is one outside bet even he cannot risk making without being seen as a mug punter.

The third British institution which finds itself under fire is the police service, following the resignation of five officers who made racist comments in a BBC documentary.

The Daily Star calls for much more to be done to rinse what it condemns as "racist scum" out of the force.

The Mirror denounces those concerned as "barbarians".

For the Mail, the tragedy is that their actions besmirch the vast majority of honest, decent officers who do their best to uphold the law.

Concorde frenzy

In a letter to the Guardian, chief police officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland make clear that there is no room in the service for anyone with racist attitudes.

Finally, an institution soon to pass into history - Concorde - may touch down for the last time on Friday.

But the appetite for supersonic memorabilia has already taken off, according to the Times.

The paper reports that two of the plane's iconic nose cones could fetch more than £1m at auction next month.

British Airways has received more than 10,000 letters from enthusiasts bidding to buy everything from entire aircraft to the lavatory seats.

Apparently, a party atmosphere is pervading the final flights, with crews turning a blind eye to the systematic ransacking of every souvenir the passengers can lay their hands on, such as in-flight menu cards and pewter napkin rings.