What the papers say

The Independent: Her position as minister for children is untenable. Matters have become too grave for Mr Blair to continue to ignore the situation. He should act decisively and move Ms Hodge to a more suitable position. Whatever she decides to do, or Mr Blair decides for her, it is wrong that someone with her history holds such a symbolically important position.

The Guardian: Ms Hodge has not handled this latest event very well. She should not have tried to suppress the story, but instead have gone on the programme to explain there was not much new. But she should not resign. She should be judged on her current performance as children's minister, not her past.

The Sun: The minister's disgraceful slur against a man at the centre of the child abuse scandal goes uncorrected. For that alone, any minister would deserve the sack. She is hanging on to her job by a thread. To incompetence, hypocrisy, arrogance and untruthfulness we must add the charge of rank bad manners. Hodge should be shot.