Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Today
- Commons vote on renewing Trident
- Revealed: Scots links with tax havens
- Labour leadership hopefuls compete for MPs’ votes
- Boris Johnson to attend EU Foreign Affairs Council
- May at odds with Scotland on equalities law
Front pages
Exclusive: In The Herald, chief reporter David Leask launches a series of investigations into Scottish links with tax havens with a look at the ownership of Whyte and Mackay.
The National spotlights SNP veteran Gordon Wilson’s call to bring back the Yes campaign in readiness for indyref2.
The Mail also has indyref2 fever, reporting that FM Nicola Sturgeon says she could call a vote next year.
The Telegraph says Theresa May will warn MPs today that the threat of a nuclear attack has grown as she appeals to them to renew Trident. The Guardian has an interview with Jeremy Corbyn in which the Labour leader confirms he will be voting against Trident renewal tonight, adding that he wants party policy switched to unilateralism. The FT says Labour leadership contender Owen Smith will vote for renewal.
The Times says President Erdogan of Turkey is using the failed coup to launch a purge of the military and judiciary.
Camley’s cartoon
Camley goes on a far from boring wild boar hunt.
Five in five seconds: Coronation of The Donald
1. What’s the story? The Republican National Convention begins today in Cleveland, Ohio.
2. Expect there is plenty of excitement over a contested convention, a surprise late challenge to Donald Trump as the nominee? Forget all the earlier chatter, this will be the coronation sweet of The Donald, and his VP running mate, Mike Pence, Governor of Indiana.
3. Focus of the convention? Every day is a riff on the general Trump theme of Make America Great Again. Today is Make America Safe Again, Tuesdays is “work again”:, Wednesday “first again”, and the final day is “one again”. The focus today will be on the shootings of police officers in Louisiana. Mr Trump says the president has to do more to prevent such attacks, writing on Facebook: “How many law enforcement and people have to die because of a lack of leadership in our country? We demand law and order.”
4. Speakers? Very much a Trump family affair, with wife Melania, daughters Tiffany and Ivanka, plus son Eric due to speak. There’s even a speaker from Trump Winery. The candidate addresses the convention on Thursday evening.
5. Expect: Protests, balloons, plenty of hot air, and lots of attention being paid to how Mr Trump handles the biggest national stage he has been given since The Apprentice. Bill Lacy, a former Reagan aide, outlined to CNN the challenge facing Trump: "Can he move himself from being a primary candidate who sometimes comes across as the host of a reality TV to show himself as a possible President of the United States?"
Afore Ye Go
“Andy Murray would be the most popular Scottish knight since Sir William Wallace.”
The SNP's Alex Salmond urges David Cameron to knight the Wimbledon double champion in the former PM’s resignation honours. Sunday Mail. Sveljan Stevanovic/Getty Images
“That puts Scotland now in a very, very strong position. That's a position I am going to use as well as I can.”
FM Nicola Sturgeon on Theresa May saying she would want a “UK approach and objectives” before triggering Article 50, the process for leaving the EU. But speaking later on Sky’s Murnaghan, Brexit Secretary David Davis said Scotland would not have a veto on any deal to leave the EU.
“She said, “I have decided to create a Department for Leaving or Exiting the EU.’ I said I prefer exiting because that makes it Department X.”
Marvel comics fan David Davis recalls his careers chat with Theresa May. Mail on Sunday. Carl Court/Getty Images.
"The clean-up operations are continuing.”
Bekir Bozdag, Turkey’s justice minister, as 6000 people suspected of taking part in Friday’s coup are arrested. President Erdogan said the death penalty was under consideration. Chris McGrath/Getty Images
“Alastair: you OK, hun?”
Rachel Johnson, Boris’s sister, responds to former Blair press secretary Alastair Campbell saying her brother’s appointment as Foreign Secretary “has gone down like a global dose of the Zika virus”. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images.
"Boris is an extremely intelligent and able guy, he is not a Donald Trump figure … However, he has made his name as a celebrity, and he's got to choose.”
Sir Malcolm Rifkind on BoJo. The new version could start by "tucking his shirt into the back of his trousers”, said the former Foreign Secretary. BBC Sunday Politics Scotland. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.
“PR Dave’s legacy will be that he smashed up the EU, probably signalled the end of the UK in the process, and fell out with or betrayed most of his closest friends. My sadness for the smarmy fraud knows no start.”
But tell us what you really think of David Cameron’s departure, Piers Morgan. Event. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images.
"I want to rewrite Clause IV to put tackling inequality right at the heart of everything that we do.”
Owen Smith MP launches his Labour leadership bid in his Pontypridd constituency.
I felt a lull in news flow from Westminster, so I made a cake. #7today #birthdayboy pic.twitter.com/L7dhcGzivO
— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) July 17, 2016
From Sky News' multi-tasking Beth Rigby
"I promised Jeremy I wouldn't appear on any stand-up comedy events or make any more jokes.”
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell (above, at a rally for NUT members), apologises for calling challengers to Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership “f****** useless.” Sky’s Murnaghan. Jack Taylor/Getty Images
“[I] would give all Twitter trolls ASBOs”.
The Great British Bake Off winner says reading abusive tweets has made her cry. Daily Express.
“A new survey shows that Donald Trump is polling at zero percent among black voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania. I don't know. That seems a little high.”
Late Night with Seth Myers. Above, Mr Trump with daughter Ivanka and VP pick Mike Pence. Drew Angerer/Getty Images.
Thank you for reading. See you tomorrow.
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