Papers ponder Cameron credentials
|
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7640224.stm Version 0 of 1. As the Conservatives begin their party conference, the papers ponder whether David Cameron is ready for power. The News of the World says it is "time for significant action" from him. The party's plans for thousands of new independent schools, funded by the taxpayer, are reported in the Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Times. The latter says the schools will have extraordinary freedom, including to abandon GCSEs and A-levels in favour of European or American exams. Council tax The News of the World reports that homeowners could be fined £5,000 if they leave their bins out for too long. Town hall chiefs say tough action is needed because bins are turning streets into eyesores, the paper continues. Meanwhile, the Sunday Express says council tax bills are set to soar next year because of the credit crunch. Local authorities are being hit by the loss of income from planning applications and land searches as housebuilding decreases, it explains. Combat unit The Sunday Mirror and Sunday Telegraph say women soldiers will be allowed on to the front line for the first time. Both papers have seen a memo from Army lawyers advising officials to lift the ban on human rights grounds. The Telegraph reports that a challenge to the current rules could be brought by a civilian or serving soldier who wants to join a combat unit. The Mirror says the move comes after the amazing courage female soldiers have shown in Iraq and Afghanistan. Film hero Just one image occupies the whole front page of the Independent on Sunday - that of Paul Newman - and the paper's verdict is that there was no-one else like him. Film critic Barry Norman writes that Newman's death leaves only one of the great actors of his generation still alive, Clint Eastwood. The Sunday People describes Newman as "Oscar winner, style icon, film hero, heart-throb, racing driver, legend". The Observer says Newman possessed quintessential movie-star looks. |