Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Front pages
The Herald pictures Andy Murray's triumph in Rio. Below the fold, political correspondent Daniel Sanderson says the SNP has been criticised for handing Nationalist MSPs jobs as aides to the senior ministers they are supposed to hold to account.
The National trumpets the “Haul of fame” as Andy Murray lifts gold. The Telegraph devotes the entire front page to “Team GB’s greatest day”.
The UK medal tally could have been greater, according to a report in the Guardian. The paper hears from the head of the GB Olympic swim team, Bill Furniss, who wants tougher action against dopers.
“Defeat of Iraq war vultures” is the headline in the Mail as it reports that a firm specialising in compensation claims from “suspected Iraqi insurgents” is to close at the end of the month.
Glasgow City Council’s plans to cut costs have not gone down well with golfers, says the Evening Times.
The FT says basic mistakes reading meters mean thousands of gas consumers have been overcharged.
Camley’s cartoon
Camley finds plenty of friendly and familiar faces around Holyrood’s select committees. Read Daniel Sanderson’s story here.
FFS: Five in five seconds
1. What’s the story? Donald Trump is in a banning mood again.
2. Who is it this time? Muslims, crying babies, short blondes called Hillary? The New York Times. The paper ran an expose at the weekend headlined: “Inside the failing mission to tame Donald Trump’s tongue”. The report said Trump’s mood was “sullen and erratic”, he was “volatile and prone to provocation” and that attempts to reign him in were failing. Writers Alexander Burns and Maggie Haberman, who interviewed more than 20 Republican insiders, reported: “Advisers who once hoped a Pygmalion-like transformation would refashion a crudely effective political showman into a plausible American president now increasingly concede that Mr Trump may be beyond coaching.”
3. Trump’s reaction? A smile, a French-style shrug of the shoulders and a sigh of “C’est la vie, c’est la guerre.”
4. Really? No. Incandescence. "Maybe we'll start thinking about taking away their press credentials,” he said at a weekend rally. He did the same to the Washington Post after it incurred his displeasure, and several other outlets, including Politico. He has also taken to Twitter to voice his annoyance.
I am not only fighting Crooked Hillary, I am fighting the dishonest and corrupt media and her government protection process. People get it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 14, 2016
5. Are the papers bothered? Reporting on the campaign has carried on as usual. As for Team Trump, the Times reports that the strategy now is to put him on the road with pals such as Rudy Giuliani and hope he stays on script. It’s a long way to polling day on November 8, though …
Afore Ye Go
“His social media was reviewed. Appropriate steps were taken to ensure the privacy and safety of his family and friends.”
Chief Superintendent Paul Main after it was discovered Police Scotland Chief Constable Phil Gormley, above, had left the privacy settings unset on his personal Facebook page, meaning anyone could discover where he went on holiday, for example. It is thought the pages have been deleted. Mail on Sunday
“I absolutely expect to be shoved or pushed or verbally abused because it happens. It’s been happening for years.”
Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain tells Desert Island Discs' Kirsty Young that racist abuse has become routine. Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images
“There are no Pokemon in the Lords.”
Baroness Tanni-Grey Thompson, above with Prince Harry, speaks with the authority of one who has been hunting for them. BBC Broadcasting House. Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images
“The cost of fully restoring Westminster would be extortionate and entirely unthinkable at a time of damaging Tory austerity.”
An SNP spokesman serves notice that the renovation of Westminster, due to be debated when the Commons returns next month, is not going to go through on their nod. A new build or location should be debated, the party believes. Mail on Sunday. Jack Taylor/Getty Images
“This call is no more than a cheap publicity stunt unworthy of a supposedly serious political party.”
Shy, retiring Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser responds
“The Royal Bank of Scotland, being domiciled in Scotland, would just be too big for the economy, even in the shape that we're building.”
Chief executive Ross McEwan says a Yes vote in indyref2 could lead to the bank’s headquarters being moved, but this would make no difference to the jobs of staff in Scotland. BBC, Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
Great medal haul but rowers are excruciating. That whole SW London, stone washed jeans, crap banter, Muse fan, PwC grad scheme rugby thing.
— Janan Ganesh (@JananGanesh) August 14, 2016
An alternative view on Rio from the FT's Janan Ganesh
£300
The rise in the cost of a typical family holiday to Europe because of the Brexit vote and subsequent fall in the pound’s value, according to the Liberal Democrats. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
“They used a grubby little device.”
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, above, on the party officials who successfully appealed against allowing new members to vote. The five new members who first brought the case said yesterday they could not afford to take it any further. Jack Taylor/Getty Images
"I don't know whether it is a reflection of the trivialisation of our political discourse in this country or whether it is just a symptom of the fact it is mid-August and no one has anything else to talk about.”
Ukip’s Nigel Farage on the reaction to his new facial hair. Sunday Times. He also said he might have to consider “plunging back in” to politics if Brexit was not delivered. Russia Today/PA Wire
(Via @singersz) pic.twitter.com/QIsB09qWDI
— Political Partridge (@PoliticalAP) August 14, 2016
An alternative view of THAT 'tache
A Sainsbury’s in Hackney, London, was the scene of a “kissathon” in support of a couple told off by a security guardd for holding hands. The store later apologised to the pair, Thomas Rees and Joshua Bradwell, above. BuzzFeed News. Steve Parsons/PA Wire
“He will almost certainly have to wear some outlandish outfits. Cue a mental image of him in a silver mesh singlet, pecs on display, with trousers a tad too tight. Never mind, he will soon lose that weight.”
Edwina Currie offers words of, er, encouragement to Ed Balls as he prepares to follow in her footsteps on Strictly. Telegraph. Chris Jackson/Getty Images
@stninianshigh not as much as the parents! 😄
— Karen McNee (@McNeeKaren) August 14, 2016
It's that time of year again.
Thanks for reading - see you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat
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