As the fall out from her revelation of a four year affair with John Major continues to dominate the day's papers, Edwina Currie has hit back at the former prime minister's description of their relationship as the event in his life of which he is "most ashamed".

Speaking from France, Currie tells today's Times: "He was not very ashamed of it at the time, I can tell you. I think I am slightly indignant about that remark."

The newspaper, which today carries more excerpts from her diaries, claims in its editorial: "These diaries are far from great literature, but they are an accessible account of a life in politics and make clear that such an existence is fraught with loneliness, frustration, tension and temptation."

Today's Telegraph questions the judgement of both Major and Currie. "It is not our purpose here to make moral judgments, still less to question Mr Major's taste in women ... but it is fair to say that Mr Major's choice of Mrs Currie as a lover showed appalling political judgment.

"She was a woman who never made any secret of her ambition, her love of money or her lust for publicity. Five minutes in her company should have been enough to tell Mr Major that this woman spelt trouble."

The Guardian believes: "For years, Mr Major always laboured under a legendarily grey public image. Now, though, Mr Major is revealed as a flesh and blood chancer - indeed almost in the Bill Clinton class."

Today's Independent claims that Currie told Tony Newton, now Lord Newton, about the affair when he was his boss as health minister during the 1980s.

The Daily Mail claims that the revelation has left John Major fearing he will be unable to become a Knight of the Garter, the highest honour the Queen can bestow.

All other surviving former prime ministers have received the honour and, according to the Mail, Major is "desperate" to join this select group.

The Express reports that the former prime minister became "over familiar" with two other Tory women MPs.

According to the paper: "Baroness Nicholson was bombarded with compliments about her perfume before storming out of his office in disgust. And Theresa Gorman was stunned when a meeting about the Maastricht Treaty ended with him taking her hand and stroking it tenderly."

The Sun's front page headline is: "Major was easy lay, says Currie," while the Mirror reflects: "At least it wasn't Ann Widdecombe."