Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Today
- Osborne bids to calm markets
- Sturgeon: Scotland could block Brexit
- Majority of Scots back indy, say two polls
- Corbyn faces further resignations
- Merkel holds Franco-German-Italian summit in Berlin
06.00 BBC Today headlines
Osborne will set out steps government taking “to protect national interest” … Asian markets rally … Labour deputy leader Tom Watson to meet Jeremy Corbyn … Boris Johnson: no great rush to leave EU … Institue of Directors survey: two thirds of business leaders think Brexit will be bad for firms … Eight children, two adults treated in hospital after Strathclyde Park rollercoaster crash … Rajoy wins in Spain but still short of majority.
07.00 BBC Good Morning Scotland headlines
Osborne ... £ suffers fall in Asian markets ... Bernard Jenkin MP: need to take Scottish concerns into account ... Jeremy Corbyn insists he will not resign ... IOD ... Queen visits Northern Ireland ... Rollercoaster derailment, H&S officials investigating ... Oor Wullie sculptures unveiled in Dundee.
Front pages
In The Herald, Kate Devlin reports on Alex Salmond saying Scotland will become independent following Brexit, plus two polls showing majority support for indy. Inside: don't miss the Letters Special.
The National carries Nicola Sturgeon’s assertion that “The UK that Scotland voted to stay in doesn’t exist any more.”
The Mail reckons FM Nicola Sturgeon is risking “open warfare” with Westminster in seeking to veto Brexit.
The Guardian says Jeremy Corbyn is defiant as the shadow cabinet disintegrates, while the Times says Tom Watson, his deputy, is ready to tell him to quit.
In the Telegraph, Boris Johnson calls for a period of healing and calm. “At home and abroad, the negative consequences are being wildly overdone, and the upside is being ignored."
The FT says Britain is facing “the stark reality of crumbling influence on the world stage”.
Camley’s Cartoon
Camley finds plenty of huffing and puffing going on in Labour, but no cigar yet.
Ten in ten seconds: Jexit
1. If it’s Monday, it must be time for the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party) to meet. Frequently a lively affair of late, it will be even more so tonight as MPs discuss a motion of no confidence in Jeremy Corbyn tabled by Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey.
2. He’s out then? The vote is symbolic, but a heavy defeat will only add to Mr Corbyn’s weekend troubles.
3. Which were? Eleven resignations, including Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, and one sacking, Hilary Benn, Shadow Foreign Secretary, at 01.30 Sunday morning.
4. How do you topple a Labour leader these days? A leadership contest can be triggered if 20% of the PLP - 50 MPs - support one. Candidates, each of whom needs 50 signatures, would campaign across the country, with a vote taking place in September just before the party conference.
5. So a new Labour leader just in time for a new Tory one? In theory.
6. Theory? Jeremy Corbyn is not for budging, regardless of the turmoil. He told those resigning that he has “an overwhelming mandate” in the shape of support from hundreds of thousands of party members.
7. Many of whom paid just £3 to join? Doesn’t matter. One member, £3, one vote.
8. Could MPs bar Mr Corbyn from standing? He says he has an automatic place on any ballot; the word from rebels is that they have received legal opinion saying he does not. The National Executive Committee would likely rule in his favour.
9. Could Mr Corbyn win again? Probably. Last time, he took almost 60% of the vote in the first round, with the unions, new supporters and party members giving him their backing. Some 200,000 more people have joined the party since he became leader.
10. Labour and Corbyn stumble on then? After this last week in politics, don’t bet the EU-supported farm on anything.
Afore Ye Go
“If the Scottish parliament is judging this on the basis of what’s right for Scotland, then the option of saying we’re not going to vote for something that’s against Scotland’s interests, that’s got to be on the table. You’re not going to vote for something that is not in Scotland’s interests.”
FM Nicola Sturgeon says Holyrood could block Brexit. BBC Sunday Politics Scotland.
“Ultimately it is parliament's decision whether we repeal the 1972 European Communities Act or whether we don’t.”
Oh no it couldn’t, says Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers. Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
“He is a good and decent man but he is not a leader."
Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn, speaking after his sacking. Eleven shadow cabinet members chose to follow him out the door. BB1’s Andrew Marr Show. Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images.
Watching the Corbini on the Tele you can see he really is completely TONTO and unworldly and they'll have to get rid of him#lalaland
— Nicholas Soames (@nsoamesmp) June 25, 2016
Nicholas Soames MP has his say
Tom Watson was still in Glastonbury's silent disco at 4am. https://t.co/wJaAiHUrHx pic.twitter.com/wLm1U3D9Yf
— Mikey Smith (@mikeysmith) June 26, 2016
While Hilary Benn was being sacked, Deputy Leader Tom Watson was at Glasto.
"This has been planned for months and ordinary party members will not understand why Labour MPs want to set themselves at odds with the membership and, at this very difficult time, choose to play what are essentially Westminster games.”
Corbyn ally and shadow international development secretary Diane Abbott on the “coup” against Mr Corbyn. Carl Court/Getty Images.
Tomorrow's shadow cabinet meeting cancelled @jeremycorbyn couldn't find a venue small enough.
— Andrea Catherwood (@acatherwoodnews) June 26, 2016
"Sack Lynn for being unloyal... disloyal. And for joining in fun in a way that excludes her employer." pic.twitter.com/DKgYbV83dP
— Political Partridge (@PoliticalAP) June 26, 2016
What would Alan Partridge do?
“It is not an amicable divorce, but it was not an intimate love affair anyway.”
Jean-Claude Juncker, EU Commission president. Sean Gallup/Getty Images.
“I am more worried than I was at the height of the financial crisis in October 2008.”
Former Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling, above, with George Osborne, on Brexit. Mail on Sunday.
The last 2 days of English politics have been the most tragic display of ineptitude I've ever seen in my life, and I am Italian.
— Carlo Perrotta (@carloper) June 25, 2016
“I don’t blame Boris.”
Rachel Johnson, sister, and Remain backer. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.
"As I'm looking at it here, I can't see how we can do that. But, you know, the point is, why rule anything out right now?”
Tony Blair refuses to close the door on a second EU referendum. BBC Sunday Politics. Jack Taylor/Getty Images
"It will take significant effort, resources and time to complete this repair.”
For those seeking signs of the times, a huge sinkhole opened up yesterday on the A1 northbound in Gateshead. Highways England.
51:39
Hillary Clinton’s lead over Donald Trump, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. NBC News/Wall Street Journal put the two at 46: 41. Sara D Davis/Getty Images
Thank you for reading. See you tomorrow
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