Hello and welcome to The Midge, your first bite of the day’s politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Today
- Scottish Government no appetite for sugar tax
- Savile/BBC report leaked
- Litvinenko inquiry findings published
- Sturgeon urged to scrap council tax freeze
- Who spent what in general election
06.00 BBC Today headlines
Savile report … Litvinenko … Stock markets calm … UK car manufacturing at 10 year high … Broadband firms told to stop confusing customers.
07.00 BBC Good Morning Scotland headlines
Prosecution bid … Savile report … Litvinenko … Stock markets in Asia slump after rally … Swinney to meet UK Government Ministers at Treasury over Scotland Bill.
The front pages
The Herald reports that Food Standards Scotland, a body set up to advise the Scottish Government, has recommended a sugar tax, but the minister in charge of public health says there are no plans for such a levy.
The Herald, Telegraph, and Express report the recommendations of another advisor, this time on poverty, who has urged Nicola Sturgeon to scrap the council tax freeze.
The National turns its focus on British links to the conflict in Yemen.
The Scottish Daily Mail, The Herald, and the Daily Record report that the family of three victims of the Glasgow bin lorry crash has begun moves to launch a private prosecution against the driver.
The Times pictures Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg, who wants internet users to launch “like attacks” on Isis pages.
Law firms in London are anticipating a “bonanza” as firms begin to ponder the consequences of Brexit, says the FT.
The Guardian is among the papers goggle-eyed at the discovery of a ninth planet in the solar system.
Camley's cartoon
Camley flares up about behaviour at football matches.
Need to know
Today will be a day of reports - one leaked, one published officially. Dame Janet Smith’s independent inquiry on Jimmy Savile and the BBC has been leaked to the website Exaro News, which describes it as a “searing indictment of the BBC”. The Sun has also got hold of a copy, and says the report concludes the BBC cannot be blamed. “A whitewash” is the paper’s judgment. The inquiry says the draft has been changed. Also today, the family of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, including his widow, Marina, above, and Home Secretary Theresa May will respond to a inquiry into his poisoning in London in 2006. The key question: what role, if any, did the Russian state play? And what can be done about it?
Diary
- Davos: speeches by David Cameron, and Gordon and Sarah Brown on education for Syrian refugee children.
- Glasgow: Justice Secretary Michael Matheson reveals festive drink-drive campaign figures.
- Holyrood: FMQs.
Talk of the steamie: the comment sections
Iain Macwhirter in The Herald says don’t be fooled into thinking that free tuition is unsustainable. John McLellan reckons Scots are up for an early vote on the EU.
Sir Nicholas Soames writes in the Mail that David Cameron should stop “vile witch hunts” against British troops.
Emma Barnett in the Telegraph, watching the Trump road show, fears the unelectable is about to be elected.
Andrew Tickell in the Times reckons Scotland’s churches are “feeble and failing”.
Afore ye go
£7,128
The amount spent by the SNP on “I’m with Nicola” brollies at the general election. The party spent £1.5m overall; Labour splashed £1.6m.
£1.25 million
What the Tories paid Aussie strategist Lynton Crosby (above).
Some of the ceramic poppies from the Tower of London will be displayed at St Magnus Cathedral in Orkney to commemorate the Battle of Jutland.
“She's so crazy she makes his hair look sensible.”
Matt on the Palin-Trump alliance. Telegraph
£4m
The amount spent by the US on rare, blonde, Italian cashmere-producing goats as part of Afghanistan construction efforts, a Congressional committee has revealed. The goats are missing, believed eaten.
TEN IN TEN SECONDS: FROM ALEX SALMOND’S LBC PHONE-IN
1. “Chicken Donald”
Preferring gasoline to water to put out his feud with Donald Trump, the former First Minister comes up with a nickname for the Republican presidential hopeful.
2. “I think you should just relax, Tina.”
To a caller from Wimbledon anxious that people wearing burkas could be hiding bomb belts underneath.
3. “She hardly need a microphone there!”
Mr Salmond after hearing a clip of Sarah Palin’s multi-decibel endorsement of Donald Trump.
4. “I thought I looked like the Milk Tray man.”
On Tory election posters depicting him as a pick-pocket.
5. “Iowa invented sliced bread in 1920…”
Back of the net Alan Partridge-style link there...
6. “If I’d known eight years ago what I know now I would have done.”
Co-host Iain Dale challenges AS on why he didn’t originally say no to Trump.
7. “They’ve got a decent point.”
On black actors and filmmakers boycotting the Oscars over the all-white best actor nominations.
8. “We excel in all things.”
What he said to the journalist who told him the SNP had a higher proportion of gay, lesbian and bisexual people than any other party in the Commons.
9. “Maybe there will be an SNP-type party in England.”
In response to several requests for the party put up candidates outwith Scotland.
10. “There are definitely talks between anti-renewal members on Trident.”
On whether SNP and Labour MPs had been getting together.
Thank you for reading The Midge, your first bite of the day’s politics in Scotland and elsewhere. See you tomorrow.
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