Papers mull over financial woes

The papers are full of more doom and gloom about the economy.

With inflation at a 16-year high and the cost of feeding families up by 9.7%, the Daily Mirror labelled yesterday "Torrid Tuesday".

Chancellor Alistair Darling is accused by the Daily Mail of "fiddling" while the economy burns.

The paper asks if he is indeed considering a stamp duty holiday for first-time buyers and a lower road tax, why not introduce them today?

Conservative policy

Conservative leader David Cameron tells the Guardian that he supports US presidential hopeful Barack Obama's criticism of absentee black fathers.

He argues that while many black people still face discrimination and economic disadvantage, everyone has to take responsibility for their own lives.

The Daily Telegraph issues a warning to Mr Cameron about his economic policy.

It urges the Conservative party to break free from the concept of the ever-expanding state.

Ghost flights

The Daily Express says a group of MPs has identified immigration as the single biggest cause of public concern.

It reports that the communities and local government committee has said urgent action is needed to defuse tensions in migration hot-spots.

Ghost flights are the main concern of the Times.

The paper says airline BMI will fly near-empty aircraft from this autumn to preserve its highly-prized take-off and landing slots at Heathrow.

National heroes

The Independent is alarmed that large numbers of Russians are voting for Joseph Stalin as the country's most significant historical figure.

The paper believes the poll reflects a universal hypocrisy - that when searching for national heroes we often display a selective memory.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail reports that gardening hero Dr David Hessayon, 80, is hanging up his trowel.

He says he now knows too much about gardening for it to be therapeutic.