Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Front pages
In The Herald, Martin Williams reports that Police Scotland have been told to pay £10,000 in damages to one of its former officers who carried out a journalistic investigation into the murder of Emma Caldwell.
The National pictures Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and says the party is in its “death throes”.
Police are rationing bin bags to save cash, reports the Mail, citing an email published by the Scottish Police Federation.
The Daily Telegraph says Alex Salmond accepted a £30,000 "golden goodbye" on standing down from Holyrood. A spokesman for Mr Salmond said the former FM had a record of charitable giving unrivalled by any current Scottish politician.
The Guardian details the victories of Corbyn-backed candidates in Labour’s NEC elections, saying this, together with yesterday’s court ruling that new members must be allowed to vote in the leadership contest, leaves him “unassailable”.
The FT has an article from Liu Xiaoming, China’s ambassador to the UK, saying relations are at a “crucial historical juncture” and hoping that the British Government would make its decision “as soon as possible” on the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant.
The Times reports that a former CIA agent, Evan McMullin, has entered the race for the White House as a Republican (see Five in five seconds, below). The paper also says the first shipment of shale gas extracted by fracking will arrive in Scotland from America within the next seven weeks, raising the prospect of protests by green campaigners.
Camley’s cartoon
Camley discovers it takes many more than two to tangle in Labour.
FFS: Five in five seconds
1. What’s the story? It’s that man again, Donald Trump. Fifty Republican national security experts have signed a letter saying the candidate would be “the most reckless President in American history”.
2. Faceless bureaucrats? Hardly. The 50 include former CIA director Michael Hayden (below), and former World Bank President Robert Zoellick. Many hail from the Bush administrations, some go back to Nixon.
3. Their beef? The letter, first reported in the New York Times, says Mr Trump does not have the temperament to lead. “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behaviour. All of these are dangerous qualities in an individual who aspires to be President and Commander-in-Chief, with command of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.”
4. Ooft. The evidence for Trump being a foreign policy liability? How long have you got? Recently, he joked about encouraging the Russians to hack Hillary Clinton’s emails and he appeared not to know that Russia had annexed Crimea. The letter has emerged as a former CIA agent, Evan McMullin, says he will run for the presidency as a Republican, saying America “deserves better” than Trump or Clinton.
5. A knockout strike? The Trump camp have come back with all guns blazing, saying the 50 are members of a foreign policy elite who got America into countless quagmires abroad. Trump says: "The names on this letter are the ones the American people should look to for answers on why the world is a mess, and we thank them for coming forward so everyone in the country knows who deserves the blame for making the world such a dangerous place. They are nothing more than the failed Washington elite looking to hold onto their power.”
Afore Ye Go
"No handwash provided in toilets, it costs too much to pay for a company to come in and refill handwash dispensers, so the best we get is a bar of slimy soap now and again.”
A complaint to the Scottish Police Federation, tweeted yesterday to illustrate what the SPF say is the impact of budget cuts.
Great @Reuters picture from #Rio2016 Egypt versus Germany in the beach volleyball pic.twitter.com/zvxc1UMEO4
— Luke Baker (@LukeReuters) August 8, 2016
"If you get the results you are looking for, then that is obviously fantastic. However, if students do not get what they need this time round, then be assured that there are a huge number of things you can consider and there is support available to help you get where you want to be.”
Education Secretary John Swinney opens a helpline to assist youngsters getting their exam results this morning. The free 0808 100 8000 helpline will operate until August 17. Matt Cardy/Getty Images
"I'm utterly thrilled to be marrying the love of my life and we can't wait to start planning.”
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale announces her engagement to long-term partner Louise Riddell. Daily Record. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
From 1/6 to 1/10
How the Coral odds on Jeremy Corbyn winning the Labour leadership contest tumbled yesterday after the Royal Courts of Justice in London announced new members, including Christine Evangelou, above, were eligible to vote. The party will appeal. John Aston/PA Wire
"Great at slogans, useless at solutions.”
Leadership contender Owen Smith’s withering assessment of Mr Corbyn. The Pontypridd MP added that if he was Theresa May he might be tempted to call a snap election next month. Matthew Horwood/Getty Images
When you hear that Owen Smith wants to EXTEND the #LabourLeadership contest pic.twitter.com/yxaNLAzrVy
— General Boles (@GeneralBoles) August 8, 2016
Leadership contest fatigue kicks in
The glamour of TV -my colleagues are in Rio.
— iain watson (@iainjwatson) August 8, 2016
I am reporting at 'loo of the year' It's Opp the high court pic.twitter.com/QGxdf8cPTu
Spare a thought, and maybe 20p, for the BBC's Iain Watson
100 grams
Vienna Zoo announces the birth weight of its new resident, a fourth giant panda. Now there are more pandas than Scottish Tory MPs in Austria, too. Tiergarten Schoenbrunnn via AP
“Neighbors...spotted the fire, and rang my doorbell, saying ‘Your T’s on fire'” https://t.co/tp0mvSgwi8 pic.twitter.com/MpnEZhhMsI
— New York Post (@nypost) August 8, 2016
It can be risky supporting Donald Trump
"A criticism I've heard many times of the Assembly is that it's boring.”
Plaid Cymru AM Steffan Lewis says the Cardiff assembly resembles an open plan office, with all the thrills that suggests. Above, a royal visit in June. Steve Parsons/PA Wire
3.8 million
The number of UK viewers who stayed up to watch the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. The London event in 2012 attracted 22.4 million. Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
“I've taken the view, if you're going to have a midlife crisis, you should make sure you plan it well and enjoy it.”
Former Labour MP and shadow chancellor Ed Balls is the latest politician to don Lycra and sequins for Strictly Come Dancing. Above, on the EU referendum campaign trail. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
"I like a drink as much as the next man. Unless the next man is Mel Gibson.”
Comedian Ricky Gervais has a (fizzy) pop at Braveheart. Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival.
My new website is now live! Head to https://t.co/JLuWTnDosj to keep up to date with all my work!
— Jackson Carlaw MSP (@Carlaw4Eastwood) August 8, 2016
What's that you say? Haud me back?
Thank you for reading. Follow me on Twitter at @alisonmrowat
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