Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Today
- Labour deputy leader backs home rule
- Whisky firms in Brexit warning
- Greens set to save Named Persons scheme
- Sheku Bayoh family to meet Lord Advocate
- New MSPs start work
06.00 BBC Today headlines
David Cameron warns peace in Europe cannot be assured if Britain leaves EU … Johnson to attack PM’s EU deal … Fresh talks over junior doctors’ strike as researchers query weekend death rates data … BBC team expelled from N Korea … Blacklisted workers win compensation … Greek PM defends tax and pensions move … Wolf Hall wins two Baftas.
07.00 BBC Good Morning Scotland headlines
New MSPs arrive at Holyrood ... Scottish Affairs Committee in Glasgow to take evidence on EU poll ... Cameron ... Pupils stay home after structural problems found at Balfron High.
Front pages
Exclusive: The Herald’s Daniel Sanderson talks to Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Alex Rowley and finds him blaming a failure to advocate home rule for the party’s electoral tanking.
The National spotlights a warning from a charity director that talk of a “migrant crisis” demonises those fleeing war, inequality and climate change.
The Evening Times was there when the last of a group of Gorbals tower blocks bit the dust.
The Times and the Telegraph lead on Scots Tory leader Ruth Davidson’s claim that Scotland has passed “peak Nat”.
The Mail reports on a class action lawsuit by patients who received metal on metal hip replacements.
The Guardian says UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will address his MPs tonight alongside new London mayor Sadiq Khan.
The Sun and the Record have tributes to former Scotland U21 star Chris Mitchell, who died after being hit by a train.
The FT reports on a review to be published today by the Foreign Secretary which recommends an overhaul of the diplomatic service to make it more Spooks and less Good Life.
Camley’s Cartoon
Camley finds the firm of Sturgeon & Swinney back at work on a new date for an independence referendum.
Need to know: Team Nicola v Team Ruth
A welter of analysis has followed last Thursday’s Scottish parliament elections, much of it focussing on Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson who has now appeared on the radar of the press in England with a vengeance. But here, in two quotes, both from yesterday's BBC Sunday Politics Scotland, is all you need to know about how the new constitutional divide now stands:
“We managed to stop them having a majority, they slipped back: peak Nat has passed."
"It's a ridiculous notion to say that because the Conservatives managed to get scarcely over 20% of the vote that somehow the case for independence has taken a step back - the contrary is the case.”
One comes from FM Nicola Sturgeon (above, with her MSPs), the other from Ruth Davidson. We’d like to offer prizes for who said what, but that would be far too easy...
Afore ye go
“I thought something was wrong as his teeth were bright yellow and he weighed ten stone.”
Tory peer Michelle Mone confides to Twitter her most embarrassing moment came after giving a speech in Vietnam. Approached by what she thought was a six-year-old boy wanting a selfie, she picked him up for a hug. He turned out to be a 46-year-old married man. Should have gone to Specsavers, 'Chelle…
“If you’ve got the ability to be able to ask the Queen to up one on the Americans, then why not?”
Prince Harry on asking the Queen to take part in a spoof video to publicise his Invictus Games for wounded veterans after the Obamas had sent him a video challenge. BBC Andrew Marr
"We look forward to working with whoever the next president is, whoever she may be.”
Chancellor George Osborne appears less than impartial when discussing the US presidential election. ITV's Peston On Sunday.
“Sitting behind a desk (sporting an open-necked shirt – naturally – and that lank haircut beloved of arts undergraduates), Peston looked uncomfortable as he whizzed through the show’s topics while evoking the false bonhomie of a warm-up act. When he referred to Ruth Davidson as a ‘gay, socially liberal Mrs Thatcher’ he looked as if he was expecting whoops and cheers from the gallery.”
Ben Lawrence reviews Peston’s debut. Verdict: three stars. Telegraph
“Is he off to holiday in Europe while we still can without a visa?”
Labour MP Neil Coyle on Jeremy Corbyn’s plans to take a holiday at the end of May, just weeks away from the EU referendum. Sunday Times. Jack Taylor/Getty Images
£60,684
The maximum amount ex-MSPs can each receive in golden cheerios. Pensions can be up to £20,000 a year upon reaching retirement age. Chrisopher Furlong/Getty Images
“Trump has graciously said that he's willing to consider some of his previous Republican rivals [for vice president], as long as they don't remember any of the things he said about them. So we might be looking at the ticket of ‘Trump/Liar ’16,' ‘Trump/Low Energy ’16,' ‘Trump/A Face Like That ’16,' and ‘Trump/Lil’ Sweaty Guy ’16.' All winning tickets.”
Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Matt Mills McKnight/Getty Images
“My chances of being prime minister are about as good as my chances of falling out of this helicopter in the next few minutes.”
Exiting London mayor and Brexiteer Boris Johnson takes to the skies with LBC’s Nick Ferrari. He landed safely, despite at one point opening the door to wave to people. Sunday Express. Jack Taylor/Getty Images
“A leadership challenge is about as likely as a snowstorm in the Sahara.”
UK Labour deputy leader Tom Watson gets into the dare game too with this assessment of Jeremy Corbyn’s position. Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
“I’d want to be speaking to people like Barack Obama, Donald Trump and the Royal family, not people at my level of celebrity. Gary needs high-value targets.”
Greg McHugh, aka Gary, Tank Commander reveals his desire for chat show domination after his interviews with Scottish party leaders received bumper ratings. Daily Record. Anthony Harvey/Getty Images
“Despite falling behind in delegates, Bernie Sanders insists he still has nine states left to go. Unfortunately, five of those states are Denial, Anger, Grief, Bargaining, and Acceptance.”
Conan O’Brien. John Sommers II/Getty Images
Diary
- Motherwell: Archbishop of Rangoon Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, first-ever Catholic Cardinal of Myanmar/Burma, to visit Scotland as a guest of Missio Scotland, SCIAF, Aid to the Church in Need and Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
- Tranent: Elizabeth Truss MP, Westminster Environment Secretary, to visit distillery to highlight the success of the Scotch whisky industry.
- Glasgow: Scottish Affairs Committee to examine the impact of the EU referendum on Scotland's economic, agricultural and knowledge sectors.
Thank you for reading. See you tomorrow.
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