Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Today
- Nicola Sturgeon launches indyref2 ‘listening exercise’
- Payday loans blamed for mental illness rise
- UK Government urged to take in more refugees
- Panic alarms issued to East Lothian councillors
Front pages
Exclusive: In The Herald, health correspondent Helen Puttick highlights experts’ concerns about the impact of the payday loan industry. Glaswegians borrow more than £57 million a year through payday lenders and other outlets. Kate Devlin, UK political respondent, says FM Nicola Sturgeon will today sound the drumbeat towards another referendum by launching what is being billed as “the biggest listening exercise in Scotland’s history”.
The Mail says a blood test for breast cancer can dramatically slow its spread. The new test could be available on the NHS within three years.
Exclusive: In the Evening Times, Caroline Wilson reports on the “parking wars” at Glasgow’s new super hospital. The shortage of spaces for staff is so bad, says the paper, nurses have been sleeping in their cars to secure spaces.
Scots do not want indyref2, says the Times, citing a poll showing 54% back the Union, with 46% favouring independence. The same poll shows Ruth Davidson overtaking Nicola Sturgeon in approval ratings.
The FT says Eurosceptic MPs are using positive economic data to bolster their case that the Treasury was “scaremongering” before the EU referendum.
FFS: Five in five seconds
1. What’s the story? MPs (such as Jess Phillips, above), journalists, actors, comedians and others have been raising cups of tea to toast a fictional character.
2. Who is it? Helen Archer, whose trial on charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent begins on Radio 4 soap The Archers on Sunday night.
3. Why the uproar? Helen was a victim of coercive control by her domineering husband Rob. Campaigners have used the storyline to increase awareness of domestic abuse, and more than £10,000 has been raised by the Helen Archer Rescue Fund to help real-life victims.
4. What are her chances? The storyline, written with the advice of campaigners, lawyers and others in the field, has shown how difficult it can be to mount a defence when the victim of the abuse is struggling to realise what has happened to them.
5. What does Downing Street have to say? You jest, but Tony Blair once gave his backing to the Free Deirdre campaign after the Coronation Street character character was jailed for fraud.
Afore Ye Go
“These defendants made several statements about Mrs Trump that are 100% false and tremendously damaging to her personal and professional reputation.”
Lawyer Charles Harder, lawyer to Melania Trump, wife of the Republican nominee Donald Trump. Mrs Trump is suing the Mail online and a blogger for $150 million (£114 million) after they alleged she had been a part-time escort in the 1990s. The website published a retraction last night, stating: “The Daily Mail newspaper article stated that there was no support for the allegations … The point of the article was that these allegations could impact the US presidential election even if they are untrue.”
If Carlsberg did recruiting posters for the Scottish independence movement ... pic.twitter.com/NYeGX2XUNU
— Murray Foote (@murrayf00te) August 31, 2016
From Daily Record editor Murray Foote
"It's been fantastic to see people extend the warm hands of friendship to their new neighbours.”
Equalities Secretary Angela Constance, visiting The Welcoming, an Edinburgh project providing English language lessons to refugees. Scotland is now home to more than 1000 Syrian refugees. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
“It has been an ugly mess and at times I would like it to be very much different than it is just now. But the way we turn things round is to focus on the job in hand and the job we were elected to do.”
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, speaking at the launch of her alterntive programme for government, is asked why her name was booed by some party members during a hustings between UK Labour leadership contenders Owen Smith and Jeremy Corbyn in Glasgow last week. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
Labour MP Frank Field has written to JK Rowling saying new party members are "an execution squad" for rebel MPs. pic.twitter.com/eHr5zis4cX
— Kevin Schofield (@PolhomeEditor) September 1, 2016
JK Rowling finds an ally in Frank Field MP in her battle against the Corybnites.
“It took me an awfully long time to work out what I wanted to be.”
The Duke of Cambridge visits Zebs, a youth centre in Truro, Cornwall, to chat careers. Andrew Matthews/PA Wire
“[He] tended to read from a prepared script, didn't respond to our questions, and didn't convey any sense of strategic direction or leadership.”
Kerry McCarthy, the former shadow environment secretary, on Jeremy Corbyn’s style of leadership. On one occasion, claimed the Bristol East MP, he said vulnerable people "were being forced to borrow money from hedge funds" which prompted her to wonder if he knew the difference "between loan sharks and hedge funds”. Huffington Post. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
.@GeorgeOsborne taking the tube earlier today. The days of his ministerial car long gone... (Credit Sophie Cooper) pic.twitter.com/ALtmErL5R8
— Eye Spy MP (@eyespymp) September 1, 2016
The former Chancellor tries out post-limo life.
“[Sarah] Palin fell and hit her head on a rock. Don’t worry, she’s OK or, you know, the same.”
Sympathy, of a sort, for the Republican firebrand on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Kris Connor/Getty Images
57%
The number of people who said they would support outlawing the wearing of the burka in the UK. YouGov. Joe Giddens/PA Wire
"We'll get to see whether I can do something big again in the future, but in the mean time, what could possibly be bigger than going on Strictly?”
Former Labour MP Ed Balls has faith in a post-Strictly career. The show starts tomorrow. BBC Today. Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
“Total political crap”.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook’s description of the 13 billion euro (£11 billion) bill for unpaid taxes levied on his firm by the EU over its tax arrangements with the Irish government. Andrew Burton/Getty Images
“Both candidates are practising for the debates, and according to insiders, Hillary Clinton is still trying to find a stand-in for Donald Trump. So far the best she’s come up with is a car alarm stuffed inside a rotting pumpkin.”
Conan O’Brien. Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images
Today the SNP is holding an 'away day' at Stirling University. What's the worst that could happen? pic.twitter.com/Ha2Ylt1o4v
— Jamie Ross (@JamieRoss7) September 2, 2016
An oldie but goldie from BuzzFeed's Jamie Ross.
'I only hold a council of war when I have already decided to do nothing.' Bonaparte.#Sturgeon
— Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) September 2, 2016
#'ListeningExercise'
From history guy Dan Snow.
Thanks for reading - see you Monday. Twitter: @alisonmrowat
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