Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere. 

Today

  • Sturgeon takes Scotland’s case to Brussels 
  • 27 EU leaders meet without Britain for first time 
  • Challenge to Corbyn expected 
  • Schools to be given legal responsibility for education
  • Gordon Brown speech on Britain's future relationship with EU

06.00 BBC Today headlines

Cameron: Britain will not turn back on Europe when it leaves EU … Tells leaders he lost because of EU failure to tackle immigration … Nominations open today in Tory leadership contest … Corbyn expected to face leadership challenge … 36 killed, 147 wounded in suicide bomb attack at airport in Istanbul … Scotty Moore, pioneering rock guitarist and Elvis collaborator, dies at 84.

07.00 BBC Good Morning Scotland headlines

Istanbul bomb attack, IS suspected ... Sturgeon to Brussels with cross-party support ... Tory leadership contest ... Norwegian investigators say helicopter gearbox had been in crash ... Police renew appeal over death of Wembley woman found in Edinburgh ... Scottish Parliament renews bid to evict campers. 

Front pages

The Herald:

In The Herald, political correspondent Daniel Sanderson says Nicola Sturgeon is off to Brussels on an unprecedented Brussels charm offensive, despite a string of overseas administrations hinting that they will only deal with the UK. 

The National has a message for the EU: Don’t let us down. 

The Mail says European Council president Donald Tusk’s “snub” of Ms Sturgeon is a “devastating blow”. The paper also has a piece by Sarah Vine, “aka Mrs Michael Gove” about the “strangest, maddest, most surreal few days of my life”. On hearing in a dawn phone call that Leave had won, Michael Gove said: “Gosh. I suppose I had better get up.”

The Evening Times says a bid to halt plans to close a Glasgow hospital has been rejected by officials. 

The Telegraph reports that Jeremy Corbyn will today face a formal leadership challenge after 172 MPs supported a motion of no confidence in him. The Times says Angela Eagle is emerging as the unity candidate. 

The Guardian has a quote from Marine Le Pen of France’s far-right, who said after Nigel Farage’s speech at the European Parliament: “Look how beautiful history is.” See Afore Ye Go. 

Camley’s Cartoon

The Herald:

Camley finds London calling for a new Shadow Scottish Secretary. 

Five in five seconds: Stephen Crabb

1. The Work and Pensions Secretary has thrown his hat in the ring to be Tory leader. 

2. Pitch to Tory voters? Set out in an article in the Telegraph today. “A second referendum is out of the question,” he writes, adding that “freedom of movement is a red line”. An advisory council, from “all parts of the UK”, will be set up to help with EU negotiations.

3. Backstory? Age 43, born Inverness, brought up in Greenock council house by his Scottish mother after she became estranged from his violent father, moved back to Haverfordwest in Wales. State-school educated, then Bristol Uni (first in politics) and London Business school. Policy advisor to London Chamber of Commerce and the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services then marketing consultant. Married, two children, Christian. MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire since 2005. Runner (three London marathons), rugby, mountain biking and tennis.

The Herald:

4. Friends in influential places? Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson called Crabb her “political soulmate”. She tipped him long ago as the man to succeed Cameron. Visited Scotland to help her campaign for No in the referendum. 

5. Chances of succeeding? Ladbrokes make him him 8/1, with Johnson at 11/10, Theresa May 6/4 and Andrea Leadsom 12/1

Afore Ye Go

The Herald:

“I’ve been quite busy. There’s quite a lot going on.”

The Queen to Northern Ireland’s deputy FM Martin McGuinness during her visit when he asked how she was. Above, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. 

The Herald:

"I was democratically elected leader of our party for a new kind of politics by 60% of Labour members and supporters, and I will not betray them by resigning. Today's vote by MPs has no constitutional legitimacy.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn after losing a vote of no confidence among his MPs by 172 to 40. 

The Herald:

“If anyone wants to change the Labour leadership, they must do it openly and democratically through an election, not through resignations and pointless posturing. If there has to be such an election, Jeremy Corbyn's supporters throughout the movement will be ready for it.”

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey. Carl Court/Getty Images.

The Herald:

"It's probably the worst crisis since Labour's formation.” 

Former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. Rob Stothard/Getty Images

From the Telegraph's Asa Bennett

The Herald:

"I would not carry on in similar circumstances."

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale on the Corbyn impasse. 

From Sky News' Faisal Islam

The Herald:

“These times call for principles, purpose and clarity - in short, for leadership. This is why the vacuum that has developed at Westminster is so unacceptable.”

FM Nicola Sturgeon during yesterday’s emergency debate on the EU. She promised to return with a proposal for a second independence referendum if it was “the best or only way to protect Scotland's place in the EU”.

The Herald:

"You do not dampen the shockwaves caused by one referendum by lighting the fuse for another.”

Tory leader Ruth Davidson on talk of indyref2.

The Herald:

"When I came here 17 years ago and I said that I wanted to lead a campaign to get Britain to leave the European Union, you all laughed at me - well, I have to say, you're not laughing now, are you?”

Revenge is a dish best served cold for Ukip leader Nigel Farage at the European Parliament. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

From the BBC's Christian Fraser

The Herald:

"We will get this programme right. I'm taking my time. I've been part of a relaunch at 6pm that did not work and a programme at 6pm that did work."

Appearing before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Lord Tony Hall, BBC director general, denies he is under pressure from Culture Secretary John Whittingdale to drop the idea of a Scottish Six. 

The Herald:

"Members of Parliament are being bombarded with electronic communications from Team Trump on behalf of somebody called Donald Trump. I'm all in favour of free speech, but I don't see why colleagues on either side of the House should be subjected to intemperate spam.”

Tory MP Sir Roger Gayle complains to the Speaker, who promised to put the Parliamentary Digital Service team on the case. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Surely not?

Also in the increasingly wacky world of Parliament yesterday, guess who popped in to see the Culture Minister ...

Thank you for reading. See you tomorrow