Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Today
- Obama flies into EU storm
- North Sea tax revenues hit 40-year low
- SNP accused of burying literacy report
- Cars missing emissions targets
- Davidson: Sturgeon 'disrespectful' over indyref2
06.00 BBC Today headlines
Obama appeals to UK to remain in EU … Post-mortem on Prince … England’s schools minister scraps spelling test after accidental publication … Oxbridge students to vote on disaffiliating from NUS over new president … Obese and smokers ‘unfairly targeted’ for NHS cuts … Climate change agreement to be signed in NY …
07.00 BBC Good Morning Scotland headlines
Prince ... Obama ... Two dead in Aberdeenshire car accident ... Girls more afraid of maths than boys says study ... Anti-doping centre accreditation suspended ... Royal Regiment of Scotland marks tenth birthday with Edinburgh parade.
Front pages
In The Herald, Magnus Gardham reports that North Sea tax revenues have fallen to their lowest level in 41 years.
All the papers, the FT to the fore, picture Prince, who has died at the age of 57 at his home in Minnesota. The Sun declares the “purple reign” over, while The National says he was the pop superstar who rewrote the rule book.
The National also says questions are being asked about Jackie Baillie’s suitability as a Labour candidate after she confirms her backing for Trident.
The Evening Times raises the possibility of Henrik Larsson taking over at Celtic.
The Telegraph and the Times splash on Obama and Europe. “As your friend, I tell you that the EU makes Britain even greater,” writes Obama in an exclusive piece for the broadsheet.
The FT notes that the UK Government is considering taking a 25% stake in Tata Steel, “the first time that a Conservative administration has contemplated such a part-nationalisation since before the Thatcher era.”
Camley’s Cartoon
Cartoonist of the year Camley drops in on two ordinary dog-lovers at Windsor Castle today.
Need to know
Ding ding, seconds out, it’s POTUS versus Bojo as the president of the United States engages in oh-so-civilised verbal and written warfare with the London mayor over the issue of Britain’s membership of the EU.
Writing in the Telegraph today, Mr Obama reminds those who would question what right he has to intervene of the close ties between the US, UK, and Europe.
“The tens of thousands of Americans who rest in Europe's cemeteries are a silent testament to just how intertwined our prosperity and security truly are,” he says. “And the path you choose now will echo in the prospects of today's generation of Americans as well.”
In response, Johnson takes to the Sun, writing: “For the US to tell us we must surrender control of so much of our democracy is a breathtaking example of ‘Do as I say, not as I do’. It is incoherent, inconsistent and hypocritical.”
Let battle commence.
Afore ye go
The thing is, a @NicolaSturgeon line of sportswear would probably sell really well pic.twitter.com/IgXiRokcbC
— Philip Sim (@BBCPhilipSim) April 21, 2016
"Having had my faith perhaps tested to the utmost I still believe that press freedom is a vitally important component of a free society and we should tread very carefully.”
Culture Secretary John Whittingdale, above, whose relationships have featured heavily in the press lately. Carl Court/Getty Images
"We all know Mr Whittingdale's been distracted from doing his job as Culture Secretary lately by his extra-curricular activities. I'm talking about his moonlighting for the Leave Campaign.”
His Labour shadow, Maria Eagle (above, right, with sister Angela), shows no mercy. Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images
"Ben and Jerry from Ben & Jerry's ice cream got themselves into a scoop of trouble at Capitol Hill protesting against money and politics. The two were arrested — surprisingly, not for the murder of my waistline."
Late Show with Stephen Colbert, above. Theo Wargo/Getty Images
"I never use that word 'racism', I find it a cliche word and I don't want to use it as an excuse. For me it was, I call it territorialism, where there are people that have that certain territory and they stand their ground and they are not going to change their mind and that is their opinion.”
Model Naomi Campbell explains the background to her becoming the first black cover star of French Vogue in 1988. Alan Carr Chatty Man.
"In 2006, she was due to open the new Emirates Stadium in my constituency but had to pull out due to an injury. Unfortunately Mr Speaker, this is a fate that has afflicted far too many of Arsenal's squad in subsequent years.”
Jeremy Corbyn manages a nifty one-two in linking the Queen to a certain football club in his constituency. Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
"Donald has actually been pretty quiet for the last week or so. And I don't like it. It's like when the kids stop making noise. Something's wrong."
Jimmy Kimmel (above) Live. Theo Wargo/Getty Images
"Crooked Hillary.”
Spoken too soon as this epithet joins “Lyin Ted” among Trump’s nicknames for opponents. CNN. Above, with wife Melania. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
"We are going to go up against some powerful forces that will do, say and spend whatever it takes to go against us. Remember, it is not whether you get knocked down, it is whether you get back up.”
Hillary Clinton readies for the fray. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
George Galloway discovers he's currently on 0% in London Mayoral voting polls. pic.twitter.com/xveLb49A4w
— HaveIGotNewsForYou (@haveigotnews) April 21, 2016
Scottish Press Awards
The Scottish Press Awards took place in Glasgow last night. The late and much missed Ian Bell won the Editors’ Award for Outstanding Achievement. Ian’s son, Sean, received the accolade on his father’s behalf from Magnus Llewellin, editor-in-chief of the Herald and Times group, who described Ian as one of journalism’s “few true stars”. Fellow Herald journalists Hugh MacDonald and Steven Camley won sports feature writer and cartoonist of the year respectively.
Regular host Tam Cowan (above) sang and shushed for his supper. This being a family e-bulletin and all that, we cannot bring you all the jokes from Scotland’s number one fan of women’s football, but here’s a few:
“What happens here tonight stays here tonight.”
Sorry, Tam.
“The Scottish Press Awards are the Oscars of Scottish journalism. And just like the Oscars, there is not a single black nominee.”
Bit of politics there.
“There is Jackie Bird, the older guys’ Catriona Shearer.”
One for the ladeez.
“We’ve got a good news story tonight - print sales of the Scotsman have finally nudged ahead of the Independent.”
That would be the Independent that closed last month.
“Let’s not kid ourselves. It has been a [expletive deleted] year for Scottish newspapers. As a sign of that, one of the nominees for Front Page of the Year is a wraparound ad for Lidl. I was in there the other day for bread, milk, a hedge trimmer and a canoe. What a shop."
Consumer news
"The Scottish press is great. Where else can you read tweets from two days ago?"
Except in The Midge, of course
“There’s the Daily Mail table. They’re easy to spot - always asking the waiters if they can see their passports.”
Cowan writes for the Sun
Diary
- Orkney: Tower of London poppies to go on display at St Magnus Cathedral, Broad Street, Kirkwall.
- Windsor/London: Barack Obama visit. Lunch with Queen at Windsor Castle followed by Downing Street visit and press conference.
- City: HSBC AGM.
Thank you for reading. See you Monday.
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