Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.

Today

  • SNP publishes Brexit tests
  • MPs brand ex-BHS chief “unacceptable face of capitalism”
  • Theresa May visits Northern Ireland
  • Oil tycoon says no to indyref2

Front pages

The Herald:

In The Herald, political editor Magnus Gardham reports on the five tests, to be set out by FM Nicola Sturgeon today, that could determine whether Scotland faces indyref2 within two years. 

The National pictures the Brain family from Australia, whose bid to stay in Dingwall has been dealt a blow by the withdrawal of a job offer. 

“The shaming of Sir Shifty” is the headline in the Mail, which sets out the damning conclusions of a report into the collapse of BHS by MPs. “How long can he cling on to his gong?” asks the paper. The Times calls the report “devastating”.

The Herald: The Evening Times has pictures from a soggy but lively Springburn Carnival. 

The Telegraph and the FT picture three-times Tour de France winner Chris Froome toasting his victory with champagne. 

The FT also reports that the Guardian Media Group will this week report a record total pre-tax loss of £173 million. 

The Guardian says Labour’s leader in the Lords, Angela Smith, is endorsing Owen Smith in the party’s leadership race. 

Camley’s cartoon

The Herald:

Camley finds bargains to be had in the sorry tale of BHS. 

Ten in ten seconds: Hillary takes the stage

1. What’s the story? The Democratic Convention opens today in Philadelphia, city of brotherly love. 

2. Are we feeling the brotherly or sisterly love? Not yet. There is already a row and a resignation. 

3. Not over the VP pick of Tim Kaine? No, the Virginia senator is the safe pair of hands as advertised. The row is over emails. 

4. Hillary’s? That’s old news. No, these are thousands of emails, released at the weekend by WikiLeaks, from party organisers the Democratic National Committee. The emails appear to show what Bernie Sanders’ supporters always alleged - that party leaders were biased towards Hillary from the off.

5. Who has resigned? Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the DNC (below). 

The Herald:

6. How significant? Important to Sanders supporters, who feel their man has been increasingly sidelined, but nationally more noteworthy in that it tears the scab from the Hillary scandal again. Though the FBI ruled Clinton would not be charged with anything over her use of a private email server while Secretary of State, it said she had been “extremely careless”. As of last week, the Republicans have adopted “Lock her up!” as an unofficial chant. 

7. Things can only get better then? That refrain sounds familiar. They will certainly get bitter, with the Democrats set to focus on Donald Trump’s character the way the Republicans did on Hillary’s.

8. Expect? Much talk of how dangerous he is, and how his pledge of last week, “I alone can fix it” is a threat to democracy. 

9. Who is on the speakers list? Tonight it’s Bernie Sanders and Michelle Obama (speech NOT written by Melania Trump), tomorrow is Bill Clinton, Wednesday is Obama and VP Joe Biden, with the convention closing on Thursday with Hillary’s acceptance of the nomination. Wednesday also sees a newsworthy endorsement of Hillary.

10. Not from Ted Cruz? Things are not that crazy yet. It’s from billionaire businessman, former New York mayor, and noted independent Michael Bloomberg. 

Afore Ye Go

The Herald:

“Stupid. English. People.”

Actor Alan Cumming knows who he blames for the Brexit result. Brian Beacom, Sunday Herald. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

The Herald: Tom Harris is under fire for berating voters for being miserable

"If the English were stupid to vote for Leave then what does that make the one million Scots who voted Leave? It is such a horrible, nasty, divisive thing to say and doesn't do the nationalist cause any good."

Former Labour MP and Leave campaigner Tom Harris. Daily Express

Alan Cumming responds

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell after former shadow minister Seema Malhotra said she had lodged a complaint with the Speaker after staff working for Mr Corbyn and Mr McDonnell entered her office without permission. Mr McDonnell said it had “obviously been an error”. BBC Andrew Marr.

The Herald:

"I'm a born optimist. We are going to have to pick ourselves up and find a way out of this mess.”

Bourne director Paul Greengrass on Brexit. BBC. The new film, Jason Bourne, starring Matt Damon, above, is out on Wednesday. Jemal Countess/Getty Images

It can surely only be a matter of time before Nicholas Soames is appointed deputy to Boris at the FO.

Anyone got the number of a plumber for the BBC?

The Herald:

"He is everything Donald Trump is not. He is a progressive who likes to get things done. That's just my kind of guy.”

Hillary Clinton on her presidential running mate Tim Kaine. Gustavo Kaballero/Getty Images

The Herald:

“I am boring.”

Citizen Kaine on Meet the Press last month. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images.

The Herald:

“Tim Kaine is, and always has been, owned by the banks. Bernie supporters are outraged, was their last choice. Bernie fought for nothing!”

Donald Trump’s view of Hillary’s VP pick

The Herald:

12-mile tailbacks and 15-hour waits

As endured by travellers heading towards Dover at the weekend. Police blamed holiday traffic and extra security checks in France. One Tory MP, Andrew Bridgen, told the Telegraph he hoped it was not a “reaction to Brexit”. Yui Mok/PA Wire

The Herald:

“Hardie would be horrified that the Labour Party, who were created to win representation and power in Parliament, look so far from being able to do that at the moment.”

Labour leadership hopeful Owen Smith, who agreed with the suggestion that party founder Keir Hardie would be spinning in his grave. Sunday Mail. Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

The Herald:

"Just watch Mummy Theresa's first Prime Minister's questions. People are saying she is a bit like Thatcher. No, she is much better. She has great comic timing.”

John Cleese is impressed by the new PM. Matt Cardy/Getty Images

The Herald:

Bicycles, drones, pepper spray, selfie-sticks, animals, ammunition ...

On the banned list as delegates gather for the Democrat convention in Philadelpia. USA Today.

Thank you for reading. See you tomorrow.