The sacking of the Tory front bench spokesman over racist remarks made on the Times Online site makes a number of the Front pages.

Tory axed over blast at ‘useless ethnic soldiers’ is the headline in that paper

David Cameron acted ruthlessly yesterday to save his campaign to modernise the Tory party by sacking a frontbencher for his remarks about racism in the Army within an hour of learning about them.
The Conservative leader called Patrick Mercer on his mobile phone to tell him that he was being returned to the backbenches after he had suggested that being called a “black bastard” was a normal part of being in the Armed Forces. Mr Cameron said that the remarks were “completely unacceptable”.
The Tory spokesman on homeland security and a former army colonel had also said, in an interview with Times Online, that he had met a lot of “idle and useless” ethnic minority soldiers who used racism as a cover. He also said that red-haired soliers got a harder time than blacks.

Cameron sacks frontbench Tory after slur on ethnic minority forces says the Guardian.

The Conservatives initially said that Patrick Mercer's comments were the personal remarks of a "highly decorated former commanding officer", based on his experiences, and did not relate to his portfolio. But the Tory leader stepped in as soon as he learned of the row, demanding that the MP resign as homeland security spokesman.

TOP TORY AXED FOR ATTACK ON BLACK SOLDIERS says the Mirror.

Homeland Security spokesman Patrick Mercer said calling someone a "black bastard" was just "the way it is in the Army".
The former Army colonel - who would have been in the Cabinet if the Tories won the next election - also said there were too many "ethnic" soldiers in the forces who were "useless and idle".
Labour MPs said his remarks exposed the racist face of the "nasty party".

The Mail asks

Is he racist - or just too blunt for his own good? reporting that

However, two black soldiers who served with Mr Mercer during his 25-year Army career - one of them a sergeant major - said Mr Cameron had made a big mistake.
Owen Lewis, a former non-commissioned officer who was hand-picked by Mr Mercer for key promotions, said: "David Cameron doesn't realise what a good man he's lost. I worked with Patrick Mercer to eradicate racism from the battalion. He is the finest Colonel I ever served under."

The Independent chooses today to use its front page to explore racism

Leading British institutions gripped by racism rows the paper saying that

Britain's institutions stand accused of fostering a climate of casual racism after a series of race rows yesterday provoked clashes between MPs, academics and leaders of the black and Asian communities.
In the most high-profile case, David Cameron, the Tory party leader, was forced to sack his frontbench spokesman on homeland security, Patrick Mercer, because he suggested that being called a "black bastard" was part and parcel of life in the Army for ethnic minority soldiers.
Shortly afterwards the Independent Police Complaints Commission announced that it was to investigate the brutal assault of a black teenager by a white police officer outside a Sheffield nightclub.
In Manchester, a magistrate who was overheard talking to a colleague about "bloody foreigners" in private after a hearing was reprimanded by the Judicial Appointments Commission but allowed to return to work.
In Oxford, a university professor was forced to defend himself after students protested at his outspoken comments on immigration.

The problems over Tv phone in continues also to dominate,

The Guardian reporting on its front page that

Police may be called in over fixed TV shows

The crisis engulfing broadcasters including ITV, Channel 4 and now Channel Five over premium-rate interactive services deepened yesterday as regulators warned that police could become involved and MPs said the affair had destroyed the credibility of the industry.
Five yesterday followed the lead of ITV in hurriedly pulling all viewer quizzes, votes and competitions from the air after concerns that viewers had been conned.
It emerged last night that the three broadcasters' chiefs - ITV executive chairman Michael Grade, Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan and Five chief executive Jane Lighting - will appear before the Commons media select committee to tell MPs what they knew and when.

The front of the Mirror talks of

TV WATCHDOG WARNS OF LEGAL ACTION

TV was in turmoil last night after a disgusted watchdog accused bosses of "semi-fraudulent behaviour" over the growing phoneline fiasco - as yet another scam was revealed.
Sir Alistair Graham, head of premium-rate phoneline regulator Icstis, warned there could be criminal charges if his inquiry proves viewers have been swindled.
His stern message came as embarrassed telly executives at Five confessed that winners of phone-in competitions on daily quiz show Brainteaser had been faked.
At one stage a member of the show's production team even went on air to pose as a winning contestant.

Phone quiz winners were fakes, says Channel 5 says the Telegraph

Five's chief executive, Jane Lighting, said: "We are shocked and disappointed and wish to apologise unreservedly to our viewers.
"The production company involved has failed to meet the high standards we demand of our suppliers.
"We have decided to suspend any output which involves any premium rate services and to appoint an external auditor, though we have found no evidence of issues involving programmes other than Brainteaser."

Its main lead though is concerned with house prices

Homes earning more than their owners

The average house price jumped by more than £3,400 to exceed £192,200 during February, according to Halifax. That was an increase of nearly £122 per day or more than £40,000 a year, tax-free. By contrast, the average wage is less than £24,000 gross.
Experts said similar surges were last seen during the housing boom of the 1980s and they forecast this rate of increase cannot last. But the Bank of England decided yesterday not to apply an immediate brake and kept interest rates unchanged at 5.25 per cent.

Not suprisingly the story also features on the front of the Express

HOUSE PRICES SOARING EVEN FASTER

HOME owners have double cause to celebrate today as a key report showed prices are soaring as interest rates were put on hold.Fears of a downturn in the market were dispelled as annual price rises hit nearly 10 per cent and experts predicted the upward trend will continue thoughout 2007.The Bank of England’s decision yesterday to keep interest rates at 5.25 per cent brought relief to those with mortgages who have been battling to cope with higher bills caused by three increases in six months

The Mail stays on the home owning theme with an exclusive to worry middle England

Snoopers' guide to your home

A picture guide to every home in England will be used by council-tax spies in a drive to push up homeowners' bills.
The "illustrated guide" for council tax inspectors is the first full evidence of how far they are prepared to intrude into homes to collect the highest possible amount.
The 80-page book carries 168 pictures of types of homes, which are divided into 99 groups. Inspectors are instructed to place every home into one of these groups.

The Indy reports on the results of the Northern Ireland elections

Sinn Fein and DUP are winners in Ulster vote

The Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein were confirmed as the big battalions of Northern Ireland politics on the first day of results in the Belfast Assembly elections.
The DUP notched up a triumphant performance, taking 20 of the 52 seats filled yesterday with a record vote of 30 per cent. By midnight Sinn Fein also had 20 seats, with more than 23 per cent of the vote.
The commanding positions of the two parties will set the scene for weeks of negotiations leading up to the government's devolution deadline of 26 March.

Hardline parties set for Ulster vote gains says the Telegraph

The DUP was poised to increase its Stormont representation significantly as votes were counted late into the night, with Sinn Fein, the IRA's political wing, also profiting from the polarisation of Ulster politics.
The exact distribution of the 108 seats will not be clear until today, but it was evident last night that Mr Paisley's tactic to insist on an election during his negotiations with the British and Irish governments had paid off.

Back to TV shows and the Sun leads with the story that

Mr Nasty gives judge Louis sack

SIMON Cowell has sensationally axed Louis Walsh as an X Factor judge.
Cowell, TV’s Mr Nasty, had pal Louis and host Kate Thornton dropped from the next series.
Both were given the bombshell news by a producer on the ITV talent show. A TV source said: “It was a real shock.”

And the paper mourns the death of a Tv icon of old

John Inman: I'm R.I.P

TV STARS and comedy fans were last night mourning John Inman, who died yesterday aged 71.
The camp star, famous for his “I’m Free” catchphrase, had been ill with liver disease for more than three years.
John stopped acting in December 2004 when health problems forced him to quit his role in a Dick Whittington pantomime.

The Express amongst many of the papers reveals that Alastair Campbell is to publish his diaries calling them

The £1m wages of spin

EXPLOSIVE new details of the feud between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown could be revealed in a lucrative book by the Premier’s former right-hand man.Mr Blair’s spin doctor Alastair Campbell could make £1million out of the deal to publish his diaries later this year.But critics questioned whether it was right for him to cash in on his controversial political career.The diaries will cast new light on the stormy relationship between numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street just as Mr Brown is likely to launch his long-awaited challenge to succeed Mr Blair.

Finally the Independent reports on

The gospel of Damon: Trident demo takes to the water

There was a time when pop stars employed the Thames as a place to bring mayhem and chaos.
The Sex Pistols' notorious Silver Jubilee boat trip in 1977 was perhaps the most celebrated example of this uniquely British form of protest.
But last night, the Blur frontman Damon Albarn and music legend Brian Eno used the river to attempt to end mayhem.
The two rock stars, with the assistance of a 50-strong gospel choir, staged a serious bid to convince MPs downstream at Westminster to oppose plans to update Britain's nuclear deterrent.