John Bercow has hit out at jokes about asylum seekers made by Jim Davidson at a Tory dinner this week. The shadow pensions minister said: "It is plain unacceptable and the party shouldn't associate itself with Mr Davidson in the future."

Plans to allow central office to intervene directly in party candidate selection to make sure that more women are chosen have been strongly criticised on the Tory fringe.

Michael Normington, chairman of the Charter Movement, which campaigns for greater democracy inside the party, said: Before we finally sink into oblivion, why not take a minute to consider the other option. Get the organisation of our backs and trust the people."

William Hague has been tipped as a future Tory leader in the Daily Mirror. The newspaper quotes one senior Tory as saying: "Its too early for William to attempt a comeback. But he's still young and has much to offer the party. There's also a serious shortage of talent."

Sketchwriters have identified one issue around which fractious Tories are united - the "unbearable Beeb". Podium denunciations of the BBC for featuring a children's TV programme that uses a circular saw to carve up teddy bears brought delegates to their feet and an "eerie baying filled the hall", writes Ben Macintyre in the Times.

A "wonderful demented moment" says the Guardian's Simon Hoggart, while Frank Johnson of the Telegraph says one speaker appeared to blame "much crime and disorder on the corporation".