Newspaper headlines: Schoolboy killer, GCHQ web warning, Norman Baker quits

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-29890862

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The face of schoolboy murderer Will Cornick stares out from the front pages of Tuesday's newspapers.

The 16-year-old stabbed Ann Maguire as she taught a class at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds last April and is beginning a life sentence.

According to the Guardian, the nature of his crime means he is now likely to be seen as one of the "most notorious" teenage killers.

The Daily Mail wonders why Cornick, who was 15 at the time of the murder, was even in school as he had posted repeated threats on Facebook to murder Mrs Maguire and had said he wanted to kill three people.

The Times reports that a statement from Ann Maguire's husband, Don, left many in tears when it was read out in court.

Reporting from the sentencing hearing, Times correspondent Andrew Norfolk says the tall, slim boy in the dock at Leeds Crown Court, with his parents sitting beside him, "seemed anything but a killer".

The Daily Mirror, which headlines its story "model pupil who killed his teacher", says the attack was cold-blooded and shocking, but extremely rare.

The paper notes it was the first killing of a teacher by a pupil in a British classroom. "Assaults on teachers and pupils are completely unacceptable but scaremongers are wrong. Most classrooms are not dangerous battlegrounds."

The Sun's front page headline focuses on Cornick's statement that his actions were "fine and dandy" and it describes him as "twisted".

However, its leader column says: "Our hearts go out to the Maguires... but we should spare a thought for the Cornicks, who raised a high-achieving son with love and had no inkling of the murderous rage within him".

'Loveless coalition'

Norman Baker uses an interview with the Independent to reveal he has decided to step down as a Home Office minister.

The paper reports the crime prevention minister is resigning after a year of internal battles within the Home Office and with his Conservative boss, the Home Secretary Theresa May.

"They have looked upon it as a Conservative department in a Conservative government, whereas in my view it's a coalition department in a coalition government," he tells the Independent.

The story is followed up in the Daily Telegraph, which notes that only last week, Mr Baker and Mrs May clashed over a government-commissioned study which concluded there were benefits in decriminalising drugs.

The Guardian sees Mr Baker's actions as the "sign of the loveless nature of the coalition in the final six months before the general election".

Mr Baker announced his resignation in the Independent apparently without notifying the home secretary, it points out.

'Call her bluff'

Reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she feared for the UK's future in Europe amid its calls for more migrant curbs continues to attract comment.

Prime Minister David Cameron wants to renegotiate the terms of the UK's continued membership before holding an in-out referendum, if he remains in power after next year's general election, and the Daily Mail is urging him to "call Mrs Merkel's bluff".

He should "bring forward the date of his promised referendum - and vow to lead the No campaign if his demands aren't met", it suggests.

The Daily Telegraph, however, is concerned. "Writing off the renegotiation before it starts is the counsel of despair... it will be tough. But Britain will lose nothing by undertaking what the prime minister has called 'one last go' at EU reform, and may gain much," it says.

The Guardian also believes the prime minister may be playing a "dangerous game" and allowing the threat from UKIP at this month's Rochester by-election to "dictate the rules".

"If Downing Street itself is prepared to float impossible demands without thinking about the consequences, why should Berlin any longer bother about watching its words about Britain?" it asks.

Writing in the Independent, Steve Richards says the "combination of Merkel's clarity, the position of many Conservative MPs, and the rise of UKIP place Cameron in a nightmare position".

"The farce and tragedy of the Conservatives' current contortions is that a reformed EU is a very achievable objective," he adds.

In its leader column, the Daily Express specifically addresses a call for restrictions to be brought in over EU migrants' access to benefits.

"The surest way of cutting the amount of benefits money that we hand over to scroungers from across Europe is to regain definitive control of our borders by leaving the EU," is its advice.

GCHQ 'broadside'

Claims in the Financial Times by the new director of surveillance agency GCHQ that US technology companies are "in denial" and have become "the command and control networks of choice" for terrorists and criminals are assessed.

The comments from Robert Hannigan come in a written article, and the FT interprets the call as a "broadside" against the web firms. He says IS militants are exploiting the power of the web and calls for greater co-operation from technology companies.

The FT says it underscores "growing tensions" between the western intelligence community and Silicon Valley.

The way the Daily Telegraph sees it, Mr Hannigan's comments represent some of the most outspoken criticism yet of US technology giants by the security services, following leaks about their surveillance activities by whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The Guardian seeks out reaction from advocates of privacy protection. The deputy director of Privacy International, Eric King, tells the paper it is "disappointing to see GCHQ's new director refer to the internet - the greatest tool for innovation, access to education and communication humankind has ever known" - in such a way.

Memorabilia in the building

More than 300 items of memorabilia are leaving Elvis Presley's Graceland home for an exhibition in London next month and the papers pore over them.

The nine-month showcase of all things Elvis at the 02 arena will include many items which have never left the Presley mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, says the Guardian.

"As well as cars and costumes and guitars there will be recreations of the home's dazzling interiors with lots of white, blue and, naturally, mirrors," it notes.

The Daily Express picks out Presley's first grade school crayon box but says pride of place is the singer's treasured personal wallet containing photos of his toddler daughter, Lisa Marie.

The 1956 Lincoln Continental car bought in Miami while on tour to replace the car he had been driving - because it was covered in messages from fans - is pictured in the Daily Mail. One of only 3,000 of the models ever to be made, the Lincoln cost $10,000, then more than the price of a Rolls-Royce.

Many papers carry exhibition's co-ordinator Nic Wastell's assertion that "for people who can't get to Graceland, Graceland is coming to them".

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