The Midge: Osborne rules out second referendum, health cuts on way, Glasgow-Edinburgh bullet train plan derailed, and the Merkel-Sturgeon love-in

Today

• Health cuts on way as debt crisis looms
• Glasgow to Edinburgh bullet train plan derailed
• Osborne: no second referendum - on EU
• MSPs lobby Westminster over graduate visas
• Is your MP a Rigsby?

06.00 BBC Today headlines

Anglican leaders punish US church over gay marriage … Ebola death in Sierra Leone … NHS tackles organ donation refusal … Osborne rules out second EU referendum … Trump questions Canadian-born rival’s eligibility to run for president … British astronaut Tim Peake to take first space walk. 

07.00 BBC Good Morning Scotland headlines

Police urge fans to report disturbing behaviour ... Osborne on EU vote ... Edinburgh Council cuts costs ... SNP/Labour hold talks at Westminster over "matters of interest" ... Salmon fishing season opens ... Australia: pensioner loses forearm in crocodile attack.  

The front pages

In The Herald, health correspondent Helen Puttick reports that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has to reduce spending by £1million a week to stay within budget - and it is not the only health board fighting a massive overspend. On the wing, political editor Magnus Gardham has an exclusive on the Scottish Government’s plan for a Glasgow-to Edinburgh high-speed rail link - it is cancelled. 

The National rejects calls for a new Act of Union and proposes abolishing the Lords instead

Glasgow health chiefs want to call time on plans for the city’s first 10k “wineathlon”, in which wine as well as water will be offered at rest stops, reports the Evening Times. 

The Times reports that a happiness gene has been found in Britons. 

The Telegraph says 16 million people will lose out under the Government’s new flat rate state pension. 

The Daily Record reports on human bones found at Gogarburn Golf Club in Edinburgh.

The FT reports on the raids at Renault yesterday. Shares in carmakers have fallen amid fears the emissions scandal is spreading. 

The Scotsman reports attacks on the Scottish Government for a 152,000 fall in the number of college students.

The Independent has a picture of three of the Hatton Garden robbers, found guilty yesterday of the multi-million pound jewellery heist (above). The Sun calls the aged trio “diamond wheezers”, while the Scottish Daily Mail wonders “Who’s got the missing £20m gem raid loot? 

Camley's cartoon

Camley digests research showing children are ruling the roost at mealtimes

Need to know

We know he is against a second referendum on Scottish independence, but George Osborne has now come out against a re-run of the Brexit vote too. Speaking to BBC Newsnight last night, the Chancellor said the EU vote, expected this summer, was a “once in a lifetime decision”. A deal in five weeks’ time - when David Cameron attends the EU summit - was close, said the Eurosceptic Chancellor. “There’s no second vote,” he added. “This is the vote bit, this is the crucial decision of our lifetimes. Anyone who votes out on the assumption that a year or two later you can have another vote to vote back in I think is being unrealistic about the nature of the choice.”

Talk of the steamie: the comment sections

Alison Rowat looks under the bonnet of the new Scottish Tories, Marianne Taylor reflects on the horror of starvation in the Syrian town of Madaya (above), and business editor Ian McConnell asks who should be blamed for pitiful Scottish growth figures?

In the National, Green MSP Patrick Harvie asks why fans cannot take charge of football clubs. 

Kenny Farquharson in the Times says a misguided SNP has misidentified what is best for Scotland.

Jan Moir in the Mail says former football turned television presenter Gary Lineker cannot be blamed for not wanting a baby at 55. 

Gaby Hinsliff in the Guardian reckons living offline has become a status symbol. 

Afore ye go

“It is dark and cold so they probably [hold referendums] to keep warm. But why does she have to do it looking like an Angela Merkel singing tribute lady?”

FM Nicola Sturgeon truly hits the big time as she is referenced by Tracy Ullman (above), who impersonates the German chancellor in her new BBC TV show.

“It went how I would expect it to go in Scotland. All the media, the British media, control everything in Scotland.”

Scottish Resistance Group leader James Scott, explaining why there were only three people protesting at Tunnock’s in Uddingston over the firm’s “Great British Teacake” campaign. Buzzfeed

“People have a right to an opinion but I’ve had enough of these idiots.”

Local Rita Calder, who heckled the three while toting a box of Tunnock’s teacakes. BuzzFeed

Almost one third of MPs are landlords, among them David Cameron, George Osborne, and 26% of SNP MPs, research by The Guardian has found. What would Miss Jones of Rising Damp (above) say?

“Now we know (David Cameron) admired Bowie’s capacity for reinvention, we can only guess what he’ll do next … painting his face blue in a collaborative work with the SNP perhaps?”

Mark Steel, The Independent

#OscarsSoWhite

The hashtag begun last year has been revived after non-white actors were missing from the best actor nominations announced yesterday. Chris Rock (above) will host the Oscars on February 28. CNN

"Clear instructions were giving to the party that purchases of alcoholic drinks must be paid in cash and not charged to rooms.”

A row over a staff bar bill was just one of the hiccups during London mayor Boris Johnson’s trip to Iraq, as revealed in emails published yesterday. Mr Johnson paid the bill himself. 

"Cadbury's Creme Eggs do not taste as good as before. What do you expect from a company that makes plastic cheese?”

Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg takes aim at Kraft, the US manufacturer of the Easter treats.

“I wonder how these charming dinosaurs such as Mr Dimbleby and John Simpson continue to procure contracts with the BBC when, however hard I look, I fail to see any woman of the same age, the same intelligence and the same rather baggy looks.”

Broadcaster Anna Ford, 72-years-young

"There is nothing wrong with a man being a feminist, I think it is to our mutual advantage.”

The late Alan Rickman, quoted on Twitter by Harry Potter co-star Emma Watson

“Jupiter.”

Where Cher says she is moving if Donald Trump becomes US president.

Thank you for reading The Midge, your first bite of the day’s politics in Scotland and elsewhere. See you on Monday.