Hello and welcome back to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Today
- Hospitals told to rethink orthopaedic services
- Poll shows deep divisions over Trump-Cameron meeting
- Scottish Labour launches cross-party bid to ban fracking
- SNP MP speaks out against online abuse
06.00 BBC Today headlines
Negotiator quits Syrian peace talks … Woman feared dead after crocodile attack in Australia … Trump tells biker rally illegal immigrants often treated better than veterans … Third of coral in Great Barrier Reef destroyed by bleaching … Lobby group says sugar tax ‘burden on poor’.
07.00 BBC Good Morning Scotland headlines
Immigration officials question migrants … Syrian negotiator resigns … Cameron to share pro-EU platform with Labour’s London mayor … Sugar tax … Trump … Prices of seaside homes soar.
Front pages
Exclusive: In The Herald, health correspondent Helen Puttick reveals a rethink of orthopaedic services is underway in Scotland’s hospitals amid fears of a rise in waiting times.
Exclusive: In The National, SNP MP Tommy Sheppard, tipped as the party’s new deputy leader, sets out how a new indyref can be won by tackling the “i-curious” - those who voted no last time because they thought the time was not right.
The Evening Times takes a look at plans by a retired engineer for a monorail link between Glasgow Airport and the city centre.
The Mail says people will be able to plead guilty by text as part of plans to make the court system more efficient.
Former Cabinet minister turned Eton College provost Lord Waldegrave tells the Telegraph he will quit the Tory party over plans to make job candidates reveal if they went to private schools.
The Times pictures the moments after a four-year-old boy climbed into the gorilla enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo.
The FT reveals a new luxury tipple from Moet: a red wine called Ao Yun, made in China. Yours for 300 euros a bottle.
The Guardian, Scotsman and the i lead on what the latter calls the “Tory plot to topple Cameron”.
Camley’s Cartoon
Camley sees hard times ahead for pony-owning ministers. Read the story here.
Need to know: Cameron on way out?
“For the benefit of the commentariat before they become too over excited, this Tory MP called Bridgend has absolutely no battalions at call.”
Thus Nicholas Soames MP tried to stamp on the blue touch paper lit by fellow Tory Andrew Bridgen when he told the BBC’s Pienaar’s Politics that enough MPs were dissatisfied with the way David Cameron had conducted the Remain campaign to trigger a leadership contest should there be a vote for Brexit, or a narrow win for Remain.
Tory MP Nadine Dorries went further, telling ITV’s Peston on Sunday: “He’s lied profoundly and I think that is actually really at the heat of why Conservative MPs have been so angered.”
While both Mr Bridgen and Ms Dorries can and will be dismissed as usual suspect Brexiters whose threats carry little weight, neither would have been so bold if Boris Johnson and Michael Gove had not earlier attacked Mr Cameron over immigration, saying his failure to make good on a promise to reduce it to the tens of thousands was “corrosive of public trust in politics”.
The EU referendum was never going to be a congenial affair for the Conservatives, but for matters to deteriorate so rapidly so far out from the vote on June 23 will concern a Downing Street keen to get back to “business as usual” on June 24. Without a resounding win for Remain, enough to neutralise the debate for years, is that now possible?
Afore ye go
“Listening to Nationalist MSPs continue to raise the issue of independence in the past few weeks is to be reminded of that famous Japanese soldier who was found, in 1972, still fighting the Second World War.”
Scottish Conservatives’ leader Ruth Davidson. Mail on Sunday. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
“We’re going to rebuild our military and we’re going to take care of our veterans.”
Donald Trump addresses the Rolling Thunder rally for veterans in Washington DC. The Republican presidential contender will tomorrow announce how he will distribute the $6 million he raised for ex-soldiers after snubbing a TV debate.
“Stay away from the Tories.”
John Prescott’s warning to any Labour politicians, such as Tessa Jowell, who agree to campaign for the EU with the Conservatives. Prescott added: “In the referendums on AV and Scottish Independence I refused to do events with Tories. The fallout out for Labour in Scotland showed the folly of that.” Sunday Mirror. Carl Court/Getty Images
“I don't disrespect him as a person and his views at all.”
Tony Blair on his successor as Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn. The former PM said he would always tell people to vote Labour. BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show. Alberto E Rodriguez/Getty Images
“I am a mum of three girls and more people need to know about how this affects us and how you can feel demeaned.”
SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh backs a campaign against online abuse. A cross party campaign will be launched this week. Sunday Mail. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
"Our father would never have allowed Ukip to use his music because he would have strongly opposed the party's nativism and thinly disguised bigotry.”
Peter and Greg Bernstein criticise Ukip’s use of their father Elmer’s The Great Escape music on the Brexit campaign bus. The Observer. Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
“Don’t worry Prime Minister. I’ll put my money where my mouth is. I’ll buy them. I’ll even come and plant them, every season.”
Alan Titchmarsh (above at the Chelsea Flower Show) says Downing Street requires a couple of planters at the front door to liven up its dull frontage. Mail on Sunday. Eamonn M McCormack/Getty Images
“All is well and everyone is still the best of friends.”
Outer Michael Gove dismisses reports that his wife Sarah Vine had fallen out with Samantha Cameron over their husbands’ opposing views on the EU. Sun on Sunday
Gideon
What Archers’ villain Rob Titchener wanted to call his newborn son, which would have seen the tot sharing a name with the Chancellor, George Osborne, who changed his name when younger. The baby’s mother, Helen Archer, wants to name the child John Anthony (NOT after Messrs Prescott and Blair but her dad and brother).
Has Andy Burnham's time come, @GeneralBoles? #NextBond #NorthernBond pic.twitter.com/uR5TVHyaor
— Asa Bennett (@asabenn) May 29, 2016
The Telegraph's Asa Bennett keeps an eye on the Bond hunt
Thank you for reading. See you tomorrow
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