Papers react to Tory economy plans

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8494869.stm

Version 0 of 1.

The papers have plenty to say about the Tories' economic promises put forward by shadow chancellor George Osborne.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7140854/George-Osborne-offers-a-route-out-of-the-economic-morass.html">Daily Telegraph's leader column declares that Mr Osborne</a> has "charted a sensible route out of the morass in which the economy languishes".

<a class="inlineText" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/02/david-cameron-conservatives-wobble">Jonathan Freedland, writing in the Guardian,</a> mocks the party for what he sees as a U-turn on public spending.

The Financial Times accuses the Conservatives of "muddle" in their approach to spending.

Election focus

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7012882.ece">Times says the Chairman of the BBC will be the first casualty</a> in a shake-up of the corporation if the Tories win the general election.

They would scrap the BBC Trust and create a new body answerable to to licence fee payers, it continues.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/feb/02/public-sector-workers-major-strikes">Guardian focuses on a strike ballot among public sector workers.</a>

The paper says it is part of a campaign designed to bring "maximum disruption" and embarrassment to the government in the run-up to the general election.

Phone bill

The Home Office has revealed that some police officers get overtime if they take a work telephone call while off duty.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1247941/Police-hours-overtime-just-answering-phone-shift-ended.html">Daily Mail reports that they are entitled to a minimum of four hours' pay</a> "simply for picking up the phone and making a decision while off duty".

This could earn an officer more than £100 for answering a single call, the Mail continues.

Policing Minister David Hanson has promised action over the culture of overtime, says the Daily Telegraph.

Age concern

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1247925/Girl-told-ID-buy-QUICHE-Tesco-looked-21.html">Daily Mail,</a> <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/155852/Quiche-Shopper-asked-for-ID">Daily Express,</a> <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/7138410/Tesco-ask-shopper-to-provide-age-identification---to-buy-a-slice-of-quiche.html">Daily Telegraph</a> and Daily Mirror all tell the story of a woman told she could not buy a slice of quiche from Tesco without producing proof she was 21.

Christine Cuddihy, who is 24, had to show her driving licence after the cashier at the store in Coventry told her: "We have to be really strict now".

Tesco has since apologised and says it is at a loss to explain what happened.

It says there is no need for shoppers to prove their age to buy quiche.