Quotes of the Week

Chris Mullin, retired Labour MP for Sunderland South, to Clive Anderson on BBC Radio 4's The Heckler programme: "I remember once I had a woman come in who was really on the edge of a breakdown. She was talking about civil war and chaos, immigrants coming up the lanes of Sunderland with knives between their teeth to murder her. She was really in a terrible state. I just said to her 'What paper do you read, love?' and, of course, it was the Daily Mail. I just said 'stop reading it and you'll find life gets better.' "

Piers Morgan in his Mail on Sunday The Insider column backs Gordon Brown: "He hasn't deserved the appalling vilification he's received, and it would be wonderfully sweet justice if come election night he scrapes home against all the odds. He's getting my vote, that's for sure."

The Sun brings out its big guns to support the Tories:"SIXTEEN Page 3 Girls in all their glory represent the very image of freedom in this country. But if Labour or the Lib Dems win the election, this could be the last time they are allowed to pose together. MPs Harriet Harman and Lynne Featherstone will move swiftly to change the law and ban Page 3 forever."

Independent reporter Jerome Taylor tells how he was beaten up while investigating allegations of voting fraud in Bow, east London: "The first punch came – landing straight on my nose, sending blood and tears streaming down my face. Then another. Then another. I tried to protect myself but a fresh crop of attackers – I guess between four and six – joined in."

Johnston Press journalist Yorkiehack guest blogger on this site: "We have seen a lot of nice suits pass through this place and walk away with pockets bulging, leaving the papers thinner and crappier. Johnston Press's are probably not the worst of them, but they now represent all the spivs and tossers who siphoned blood during the Great Bubble and there is a mood against them which a Greek postie would understand."

Roy Greenslade on his MediaGuardian blog comments on Johnston Press: "I have remarked several times in recent months that Johnston Press is going downhill fast in various places (most obviously in Edinburgh). When does a wake-up call turn into a scream?"