Expense stories make the papers

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Nine days of revelations about MPs' expenses leave the papers struggling to describe the impact on the image of parliament, and on the public mood.

One account is in the paper which started it all, the Daily Telegraph, from the editor of its letters page.

He compares the past week to someone sheltering under an umbrella during a fierce downpour - only for the rain to turn to hail.

He found himself on the receiving end of "a monsoon of readers' letters".

Other papers also try to capture the current public mood towards MPs.

'Justice' calls

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mps-hit-by-angry-public-backlash-1685703.html">Diane Abbott says in the Independent</a> that the public "want to see dead politicians hanging from lampposts."

A cartoon by Martin Rowson in the Guardian shows baskets full of decapitated heads beneath the blade of a guillotine.

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1183019/Daily-Mail-Comment-How-long-wait-justice.html">"Public fury is at boiling point" says the Daily Mail</a> and it calls for justice, in the form of "by-elections, sackings and trials".

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article2432611.ece">The Sun claims the status of a "world exclusive"</a> for its report that Michael Jackson has skin cancer.

It calls the news shocking, but says he is defiant and his doctors are sure they can treat the problem.

It also says the singer's rehearsing hard for his tour, which will take him to the O2 arena in London in July.

Recycling tips

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/gardening/the-az-of-credit-crunch-gardening-1685721.html">The Independent says there will be a strong emphasis on growing vegetables and recycling</a> at the forthcoming Chelsea Flower Show.

The Eurovision song contest is already provoking titters of anticipatory merriment, but <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/101390">the Daily Express says "don't laugh"</a> because the UK might win.

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1182649/Isnt-bit-unfair-advantage-Dita-Von-Teese-peels-Germany-Eurovision-rehearsals.html">The Mail worries that an erotic dance routine</a> by the German entry might edge the British out.

A cartoon in the Daily Mirror links the contest to the row about expenses.

It shows Mr and Mrs Brown settling down in front of their television. He says, "I bet we get no votes." And she says, "stop talking about work and watch".