Papers urge action on post strike

As a postal strike looms, the positions of the two sides appear more and more entrenched, the papers believe.

It is still not too late, says the Sunday Express, for the government to show a little courage, stand up for the people and save our Christmas post.

The Observer, too, feels the fate of the postal service should be taken out of the hands of unions and managers.

It says ministers must either devise a system that works, or tell voters they cannot have the service they want.

Bonus points

The return of the big bank bonus is the main story for the Sunday Times.

It says the state-owned Royal Bank Of Scotland is planning to reward some staff to the tune of £5m each, in a snub to struggling taxpayers.

And it looks as though quite a few other bankers will be enjoying bonuses of pre-crisis proportions, if the News of the World is to be believed.

It says that the City's total bonus pool is expected to reach £5bn this year, a rise of 38% on 2008.

Questions for cash

The scandal of MPs' expenses continues to dominate newspaper front pages.

The Sunday Telegraph says the end of the "gravy train" is in sight, as MPs will be barred from using public money to improve their homes under new rules.

However, in the Sunday Mirror, ex-welfare minister Frank Field explains why he is challenging an order to repay £7,000.

He says Sir Thomas Legg's audit is like deciding the speed limit should be 20 not 30mph, then retrospectively fining motorists for driving too fast.

Deflecting attention

The papers are amused by Sunderland's bizarre goal against Liverpool - in which the match ball was deflected from a stray beach ball on the pitch.

According to the Mail on Sunday, the fact that the beach ball was embossed with a Liverpool crest made this "a farcical version of an own goal".

The Sunday Times says Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez looked "deflated".

In a similar vein, the Independent on Sunday says the incident must have left poor Mr Benitez "feeling flat".