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, Helen McArdle and Daniel Sanderson report on the First Minister’s plans to boost economic confidence after the Brexit vote.
Exclusive: Kathleen Nutt in The National says the Scottish Greens are reacting to Brexit by launching a new pro-independence campaign.
Plenty of happy faces in the Evening Times as Glasgow pupils notch up another record set of exam results. Catriona Stewart reports that the number of pupils achieving five Highers has doubled since 2007 to 10%.
The Guardian reveals “the cruelty and horror inside Australia’s offshore detention centre” on the Pacific island of Nauru. More than 2000 incident reports are published by the paper showing that child detainees have been subjected to “assaults, sex abuse and mental torture”.
The Mail reports on the golden hello scheme aimed at easing GP shortages.
The Sun says police chief Phil Gormley is paying just £599 rent a month to live in a castle.
The Times says Labour is “at war” after deputy leader Tom Watson accused some members of staging a Trotskyist infiltration.
The FT pictures Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in reconciliation talks in St Petersburg.
Camley’s cartoon
Camley earns an A for this take on exam results day.
FFS: Five in five seconds
1. What’s the story? Donald Trump has been accused of inciting violence against Hillary Clinton in remarks he made about gun control in a rally in North Carolina. He denies doing so.
2. Third day in a row for a Trump row story? Anyone would think it was the silly season and nothing else was happening. This one is rather hard to ignore.
3. Go on? Addressing a rally in North Carolina, Trump was accusing Clinton of wanting to abolish the second amendment, giving the right to bear arms. “By the way,” he told the crowd, “if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks. Although the second amendment people maybe there is, I don’t know.” Watch below.
Donald Trump suggested that "the 2nd Amendment people" could stop Hillary Clinton https://t.co/EspRQvB3Zqhttps://t.co/ITWVyUT7jB
— New York Post (@nypost) August 9, 2016
4. Democrat reaction? Chris Murphy, the Democrat senator, tweeted:
Don't treat this as a political misstep. It's an assassination threat, seriously upping the possibility of a national tragedy & crisis.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) 9 August 2016
5. What does the Trump camp say? They deny it was any such thing, saying their man, speaking off the cuff, was only urging gun owners to get out and vote. A statement said: "It's called the power of unification - 2nd Amendment people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power.” See Trump tweet below.
Media desperate to distract from Clinton's anti-2A stance. I said pro-2A citizens must organize and get out vote to save our Constitution!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2016
Afore Ye Go
"We would have to have a barbed-wire frontier at Berwick-upon-Tweed.”
Ukip’s Scotland spokesman David Coburn said the town would become the “new Calais” if Scotland became independent. The remarks were made in July but distributed by the party yesterday. An SNP spokesman said: "Right-minded people will disregard this latest nonsensical outburst from Mr Coburn.” Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
FM @NicolaSturgeon was in Berlin for constructive EU talks with @GermanyDiplo's @MiRo_SPD. https://t.co/hAGKI7erM0 pic.twitter.com/Q4AQyWK8kz
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) August 9, 2016
“At PMQs I always try to get myself into a Buddha-like state.”
Labour deputy leader Tom Watson says he always tries to remain expressionless at PMQs lest he be accused of smiling or scowling at his leader. He also said “Trotsky entrists” were using young members in a bid to take over the party. A spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn accused Mr Watson of “patronising” members. The Guardian. PA/PA Wire
Richard Nixon stepped down #onthisday in 1974. See this & other #harrybenson photos from Fri https://t.co/LNz0go1L55 pic.twitter.com/pLPNTszUkE
— Scottish Parliament (@ScotParl) August 9, 2016
A must-see exhibition at Holyrood
Congratulations Andy Burnham. I've had no new job offers for 4 weeks. Now a tricky choice between Shadow Home Secretary or Emperor of Japan.
— Paul Flynn (@PaulFlynnMP) August 9, 2016
Paul Flynn MP, back in the shadow cabinet courtesy of his colleagues' unwillingness to serve under Mr Corbyn, offers his best wishes to Labour's candidate for mayor of Manchester.
"The voice of British conservation won't be so loud, indeed if it's heard at all, if we leave Europe altogether.”
Sir David Attenborough on a visit to ZSL London Zoo to name the Komodo Dragon House. Yui Mok/PA Wire
"Due to a combination of the death of David Bowie and the unexpected Brexit vote, Raised By Wolves will not be returning to Channel 4 next year.”
Caitlin Moran, on learning her sitcom is not being recommissioned, takes to YouTube to raise a “rebel alliance” of fans to force the channel to think again. Ian West/PA Wire
Has someone figured out whether it was Brexit (and subsequent decline in £) that made Pogba the most expensive ever player?
— John McDermott (@johnpmcdermott) August 9, 2016
Yet more things being blamed on Brexit.
"While further research is needed to conclusively demonstrate a link, the dog may indeed be a sentinel for humans - it shares the same environment, exhibits the same range of diseases, many with the same frequency, and responds in a similar way to therapies.”
Dr Richard Lea, reader in reproductive biology at Nottingham University, on a study which showed sperm quality in dogs had fallen rapidly in the last 30 years, affecting fertility. David Jones/PA Wire
£550,000
The amount spent by Commons committees on overseas fact finding trips to New York, Copenhagen and other destinations. Daily Mail. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
I'd swipe right for @RyanLochte 😍 #Rio2016 #USA https://t.co/1DSoB2fDwT pic.twitter.com/DOeMmPM8tj
— Stephanie Primavera (@SLPrimavera) August 9, 2016
Just to show that objectifying at the Rio Olympics is equal opportunities and is not limited to BBC presenter Helen Skelton.
I've reached peak geek pic.twitter.com/xLSsZlOIvq
— Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) August 9, 2016
More holiday tweets from exotic parts, this one from the SNP's Stewart McDonald. The Midge went to Lidl on its week off.
Thanks for reading and see you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat
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