Good morning and welcome to The Midge, your first bite of the day’s politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Today
- Corbyn (above) to decide on Syria airstrikes vote
- GP postcode lottery hits poorer patients
- World leaders gather in Paris for UN climate change summit
- Aamer Anwar: Why I’ll never be a judge
- Tory MPs urge chairman to resign over bullying inquiry
06.00 BBC Radio Four Today headlines
Tory MPs call for chairman to stand down … UN climate change summit opens … Corbyn to rule on free vote … MPs want tax on sugary drinks … Damages won over “sexting” … Number of pauper funerals rising.
07.00 BBC Good Morning Scotland headlines
Labour and Syria airstrikes … Paris Climate Change summit … Patients in postcode lottery … Pauper funerals… High Court in Belfast rules on relaxation of abortion law … Sir Stephen House, chief constable of Police Scotland, steps down … Scotland’s forestry industry worth £1bn.
The front pages
In The Herald, Health correspondent Helen Puttick reports that GPs in Scotland’s most deprived areas receive £10 less per patient than those in richer locations. Inside, David Leask interviews solicitor Aamer Anwar about his high profile and career. The future, Anwar reckons, does not include his becoming a judge. “I don’t think the establishment would ever accept me.”
The National pictures Davis Cup victor Andy Murray, with a report by Hugh MacDonald on the Dunblane boys who made sporting history.
The Scottish Daily Mail does likewise, asking if it will soon be a case of Arise Sir Andy. It leads on MPs’ call for a sugar tax to curb child obesity.
The Evening Times speaks to lawyers for the Clutha crash victims and finds some could be heading to court to settle claims.
The Times and the Independent lead on a warning from Unite boss Len McCluskey (above) that Labour MPs are “playing with fire” if they think they can force Corbyn out through a “Westminster palace coup”.
The Telegraph reckons Corbyn will impose the whip; The Daily Record believes it will be a free vote. The Record has also seen a copy of bin crash lorry driver Harry Clarke’s hospital notes.
The FT splashes on Indian PM Narendra Modi’s insistence that rich countries should carry the greatest burden on climate change.
The Sun has the story of a woman who learned online about her boyfriend’s violent past.
The Guardian says pressure is mounting on Tory Party chairman Lord Feldman (above) over his handling of an inquiry into bullying allegations.
The Scotsman forecasts more snow on the way for southern Scotland.
Finally, the Daily Express reports that scientists are testing a pill that could help people live past 120.
Camley's cartoon
Camley ponders the ways of the all powerful Davis Cup victor
Need to know
It starts today and continues for a fortnight, but here in five numbers is what you need to know about the UN climate change summit in Paris:
6: number of years since last bid to limit global warming failed.
2: degrees centigrade, the limit on global warning the summit seeks to impose.
147: world leaders attending.
50: number of pages in draft text.
416: days until Obama leaves White House. Legacy deal sought?
Talk of the steamie: the comment sections
In The Herald, David Torrance finds himself siding with the SNP and Corbyn on Syria air strikes. Marianne Taylor says the success of Harris Tweed shows that Scottish quality counts, while cycle lanes drive debate on the Letters page.
Kevin McKenna in The National cannot wait for Star Wars, so he has provided his own take on a galaxy not so far away.
In the Scottish Daily Mail, Chris Deerin says enough is enough on Corbyn and now is the time for all good men and women to come to the party’s aid. “How long do you wait to fire a transparently dreadful boss?”
In The Times, Kenny Farquharson confesses to being a cassettes and Walkman man.
Zoe Williams in the Guardian says the damp squib that was Black Friday shows consumerism has eaten itself.
In the FT, Edward Luce examines the rise of “political correctness” on US campuses.
Paul Goodman, editor of Conservative Home, argues in the Telegraph for Tory chairman Lord Feldman to go. “A party with falling membership cut ethical corners in its quest for election victory.”
The diary
- Paris: UN Climate Chance Conference.
- Commons: Shadow Cabinet meets 13.00, Corbyn addresses MPs at 18.00.
- Lords: Debate on North Sea
- Paris: Prince of Wales visits.
Afore ye go
“St Andy’s Day.”
FM Nicola Sturgeon dedicates St Andrew’s Day to the Davis Cup victor.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm enjoying every moment of it.”
Jeremy Corbyn, asked if coat was on a shoogly peg. (BBC, Andrew Marr)
“You've got to cry, haven't you? Most of our people, when I go round the country people say to me ‘John, what the hell is happening?’”
But Lord Prescott (above) is feeling some Labour supporters’ pain. (BBC, The World This Weekend)
“When we get it, it'll be - as Gwyneth [Paltrow] once said - a conscious uncoupling, rather than a messy break-up.”
Actor James McAvoy (above) talks independence, which he reckons will arrive within a decade. (Sunday Times)
“Music is what I do and it’s given me the opportunity to do a lot of other things besides, where Douglas Alexander’s experience will be of great value.”
U2’s Bono (above) on working with the former Labour MP to fight poverty (The Guardian)
“Tackling climate change? Of course not. We’re an airline.”
One of the spoof ads that campaigners Brandalism put up in Paris ahead of the UN’s climate change summit.
Thank you for reading The Midge: your first bite of the day’s politics from Scotland and elsewhere. See you tomorrow.
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