Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Today
- Outrage over pro-EU leaflets
- Scottish Labour leader attacks ‘dirty tricks’
- Farage launches UKIP manifesto for Scotland
- Edinburgh Festival director calls for tourist tax
- Salmond calls attention to Cameron’s Jura connection
06.00 BBC Today headlines
EU leaflets … Netherlands rejects EU trade deal with Ukraine … New PM and early elections in Iceland … Postcode lottery for eating disorders treatment in England … Researchers urge activity labels for food … JK Rowling chair sells for £278,000 … Shakespeare folio found on Bute.
07.00 BBC Good Morning Scotland headlines
Cameron accused of ‘dirty tricks’ over EU leaflets … UKIP manifesto launches… Campaigns turn to poverty and inequality … Cyprus to extradite hijack accused … Call for Aberdeen to be part of major trauma network … Work begins in Singapore on oil platforms.
Front pages
The Herald leads on a statement from a man accused of murdering Glasgow shopkeeper Asad Shah. The accused, from Bradford, said he carried out the attack because his victim “disrespected” Islam. The 32-year-old has yet to make any plea and is still awaiting trial.
The National, Evening Times, Mail, Express, Sun, Scotsman, Daily Record, Times, and Telegraph also spotlight the highly unusual statement.
Several of the papers, including The Herald, report on Kezia Dugdale saying she had “zero recollection” of writing to the SNP asking for job while she was a student.
The Guardian continues its dig through the Panama Papers with stories on Uefa, Zimbabwe and China, while the FT says David Cameron intervened in EU efforts to open trusts to full scrutiny.
The New Day splashes on comments from a former Army chief that women on the front line will be a “weak link”.
Camley’s cartoon
Camley on Cameron - from one class act to another.
Need to know
Nigel Farage is in Scotland today to launch the UKIP manifesto for the Scottish elections (read the stories here and here) and to speak at a rally for Grassroots Out, the Brexit campaign that is the rebellious little brother to the more establishment Leave. Also speaking at the GO meeting at Glasgow University tonight is former Tory Defence Secretary Liam Fox (read Kate Devlin’s interview with Fox here.)
While the UKIP leader’s anti-Cameron ire hardly needs much fuelling at the best of times, the revelation that the UK government is to spend £9m on a leaflet for every household, setting out why it believes Britain should stay in the EU, has set Mr Farage’s heather alight. “Legally it is questionable and morally it is wrong,” says the MEP, adding that the move confirmed his view that “this referendum will be defined by the battle of the people versus the political class”.
He is not alone in his anger. The normally fractious Brexit camps are as one over David Cameron’s decision to go the way of Harold Wilson in 1975 and the Scottish Government in 2014 and use taxpayers’ cash to pay for a mailshot supporting its aims. But Damien Green, a former Minister, says the public is “crying out” for what it says are the facts.
Both sides will receive £600,000 of public money once official camps are named and the campaign period proper starts next week, but the spending limit for each camp is still £2m less than the Government is spending on the mailshot.
Voters in Scotland, their doormats already heaped with material for the Scottish Parliament elections, will receive the leaflets after May 5. If you can’t wait till then, they will also be posted online.
Afore ye go
“This is the start of a dirty-tricks campaign in this election.”
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale after the Sun reports that she applied to work for the SNP when she was a law student. Ms Dugdale says she has “zero recollection” of doing so. Labour and the LibDems have called for an inquiry by the Information Commissioner. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
“Young people, if they have got an interest in politics, regardless of their party affiliation, should be encouraged to get involved and get experience.”
Nicola Sturgeon, pictured in her own youthful days, is asked about the Dugdale story.
“Ted Cruz is worse than a puppet - he is a Trojan horse, being used by the party bosses attempting to steal the nomination from Mr Trump.”
The Trump camp fails to get the memo about being good losers. Scott Olson/Getty Images
Actor and SNP supporter Alan Cumming will take up residence at The Hub in Edinburgh for three weeks with his cabaret show, Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs!, as part of the Edinburgh International Festival in August. Larry Busacca/Getty Images
“No David Cameron... it is NOT a private matter. It is a matter of utter hypocrisy.”
Former Countdown host Carol Vorderman finds Downing Street’s response on the tax affairs of the PM’s late father does not add up to her liking. Twitter. Anthony Harvey/Getty Images
"They're reasonable people, as far as I can make out. They're nothing like the characters we played in Green Wing - they seem to be quite intelligent and sensible most of the time. So get round the table and work this out. This is crazy. Nobody wants these strikes - least of all the junior doctors.”
Stephen Mangan and other members of the cast of the Channel 4 comedy join striking junior doctors on a picket line at in London. Above, Mangan in an earlier Postman Pat incarnation. Tristan Fewings/Getty Images
"As for the Tory Party being thrown into turmoil, who will remember that in five or 10 years' time? We are unlikely to get a chance to rescue ourselves again.”
Former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe backs Brexit. Matt Cardy/Getty Images
“We considered that the model leaning against the wall appeared to be unhealthily thin in the image, and therefore concluded that the ad was irresponsible.”
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) rules against a Gucci ad that appeared on a newspaper website.
"House Speaker Paul Ryan today continued to shoot down rumours that he could be a surprise candidate at the Republican convention and said that he's not the fresh face his party needs. I guess he hasn't gotten a look at the other faces in contention."
Late Night with Seth Myers. Win McNamee/Getty Images
Has Loch Ness Monster moved to the Thames?
Headline on telegraph.co.uk about sightings of a “large object making its way through the murky waters near the O2 Arena”. Above, a previous sighting at the opening of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Diary
- Edinburgh: Police Scotland Chief Constable to launch new online public survey.
- Glasgow: Grassroots Out campaign to hold rally in Glasgow with speakers including Nigel Farage and Liam Fox.
- City: Finals - Flybe, Marks & Spencer.
Thank you for reading. See you tomorrow.
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