Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Today
- Social work inquiry into toddler’s death
- MSPs to vote on fracking ban
- Natalie McGarry faces second investigation
- Row deepens over SNP deal with China
- Commons leader: Brexit does not equal indyref2
06.00 BBC Today headlines
Coroner to rule on whether to resume inquest into deaths of 21 people in 1974 Birmingham pub bombings … Leave campaign calls for points-based immigration system … TUC boss warns Brexit could lower wages … MPs criticise plans to build lorry park in Kent … Renewables spending reaches record global levels … Tributes to comedy writer Carla Lane.
07.00 BBC Good Morning Scotland headlines
Fife child protection officials to begin inquiry into Liam Fee case ... MSPs to vote on fracking ban ... Birmingham inquest ... Japanese soldiers join search for boy missing in mountains ... Hospital inspectors called on to answer buzzers of elderly patients ... Carla Lane.
Front pages
Most of the papers lead on the murder of two-year-old Liam Fee. In The Herald, social affairs correspondent Stephen Naysmith says an independent case review will take place to examine whether social work and other agencies missed chances to prevent the toddler’s killing. Below, Steven Camley on the aftermath.
Elsewhere, the FT reports that efforts to seal the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership deal between Europe and the US are stalling, with opposition growing on both sides.
The Evening Times highlights a call by one consultant for more gastric band operations to tackle obesity.
The Guardian reports on splits between MI5 and MI6 during the so-called “war on terror” which led at one point to the latter’s staff being banned from MI5 HQ.
Need to know: who will be the Boss?
Okay, it does not quite have the rock star allure of Bruce Springsteen appearing at Hampden tonight, but for politics watchers a certain gig at Holyrood tomorrow is the must have ticket. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you Nicola Sturgeon taking on Conservative leader Ruth Davidson at the first First Minister’s Questions of the new parliament.
The two have faced each other before, but not quite in the same roles. Ms Sturgeon now has a mandate as FM in her own right, and Ms Davidson is now the leader of the largest opposition party (the official title of leader of HM Opposition not one that is used at Holyrood).
It will always be something of a gamble as to the topic the Tory leader chooses to go in on. Does she try to spring a surprise or go for the obvious, such as the slide in numeracy standards revealed this week? (the LibDems’ Willie Rennie will likely bag the China deal revelations).
Given her campaign was built on being a strong opposition to the Scottish Government, what Ms Davidson definitely needs to take away from the encounter are headlines. A tough gig, and one she’ll have to do every week. Rock stars have it easier, right Bruce?
Afore ye go
"Instead of being like, ‘Thank you very much, Mr. Trump,’ or ‘Trump did a good job,’ everyone’s saying, ‘Who got it, who got it, who got it?’ And you make me look very bad. I have never received such bad publicity for doing such a good job.”
Donald Trump lashes out at the media, calling one reporter “a sleaze”, after it emerged the billionaire has not raised a promised $6 million for veterans, and had made a $1 million personal donation four months after saying he had. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
"No-one really wins a war - the ongoing pain and suffering of war continues for a long time, but I think this goes some way towards reconciling that.”
Stephen Burton, who travelled to Orkney Cathedral from Melbourne, Australia, to remember his two great-uncles, Robert and George, who died onboard the sunk HMS Indefatigable in the Battle of Jutland. Readings were shared between British and German navy officers.
"I have been in business for many years and I have seen plenty of daft ideas and duff proposals in my time and Britain leaving the European Union is one of them.”
Apprentice chief Lord Sugar says Remain is hired, Leave is fired. Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
Awkward lull in the conversation at JD Wetherspoon’s? Why not read one of the 200,000 pro-Leave beermats commissioned by founder and chairman Tim Martin?
"In my reporting life I cannot remember a worse-tempered or more abusive, more boring UK campaign than that which is under way right now."
Channel 4’s Jon Snow on the EU referendum fight. Radio Times. Ben A Pruchnie/Getty Images
"I think it's one of the very best things I ever did.”
Author Salman Rushdie says he has “no regrets” about writing the Satanic Verses even though Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against Rushdie and his publishers. The Big Issue
"To see the attack of a pack on here check out my mentions 600 odd notifications talking about my rape in one night. I think twitter is dead.”
Labour MP Jess Phillips. A new cross-party campaign against online abuse of women is launched tomorrow.
1.2 million
The number of Afghans forced to flee their homes due to conflict in the past three years. The war is now in its 15th year. Amnesty International. Alexander Koerner/Getty Images
“I can’t.”
Theoretical physicist Stephen "Three Brains" Hawking is asked to explain why Donald Trump is so popular. Good Morning Britain. Jemal Countess/Getty Images
I asked @RealGrumpyCat what she thought about the Remain side's scare stories. She wasn't impressed. pic.twitter.com/Qvxf3SYjFo
— Daniel Hannan (@DanHannanMEP) May 31, 2016
Tory MEP Dan Hannan tries to work some animal magic for the Leave campaign
“The great tit”.
Lord Michael Heseltine recalls a bird-watching club from his youth, and reveals his particular nickname. Another delicious scoop obtained over lunch with Becky Milligan for BBC Radio 4’s PM. Oli Scarff/Getty Images
Ducklings taking refuge on the House of Commons roof. A delicate operation, this pic.twitter.com/otexL3L87l
— Graeme Demianyk (@GraemeDemianyk) May 31, 2016
Still on matters avian, news of a rescue drama at the Commons yesterday.
Thank you for reading. See you tomorrow
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