Monitor: The Sunday newspapers consider the revelations surrounding Melita Norwood

All the News of the World

HER NAME was Hola and she has presented the Home Secretary Jack Straw with a dilemma. Straw must hope that his initial decision not to prosecute her will be seen as his only viable option. It is a little ironic that the first splenetic outburst from the opposition has come from Ann Widdecombe. The shadow Home Secretary herself has awoken feelings of sympathy from many who feel they ought to be irritated. We do not think that the public interest would best be served by proceedings against Norwood, although that in itself is insufficient to prevent a prosecution going ahead. It is far-fetched to suggest that she acted against this country without the connivance of several others. Straw should consider opening an official enquiry into the the gross unprofessionalism and deep neglect that appear to have characterised the performance of our intelligence agencies and their collection of emotionally dysfunctional spooks and informers.

Scotland on Sunday

THE IGNORANCE of successive Home Secretaries on the subject is alarming. The decision not to prosecute a traitor against whom there is powerful evidence is one which should not be taken lightly, or without the Home Secretary's knowledge. There is a pattern of failing to prosecute KGB traitors. The security services may have reason of their own for not wishing to get entangled in prosecutions. But it is difficult to understand how not prosecuting traitors can be in the public interest. We need to deter potential traitors. Granting immunity is not the way to do it.

The Sunday Telegraph

MELITA NORWOOD is a traitor. Yet tough-talking Jack Straw turns a blind eye to her treachery and orders the security services to leave her alone. His double standards allow him to pursue General Pinochet. Yet the evil Mrs Norwood is allowed to live out her last years with impunity principally because she is 87. The General is 83 and a friend of Britain. Mr Straw should either send him home or throw the book at Mrs Norwood, before it's too late. He can't have it both ways.

News of the World