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, political correspondent Daniel Sanderson reports on Scottish Government plans for a new independence referendum. Senior reporter Gerry Braiden says a campaigner opposed to the Offensive Behaviour at Football laws is to appear in court over allegations he breached the act.
“Indyref2, Scotland will be ready” is the headline in The National, while the Times says “Sturgeon lines up bill to call snap second vote”.
The Mail has news of a £35 blood test that can detect cancer before symptoms show.
Exclusive: Vivienne Nicoll in the Evening Times reports that parents have been left distraught after vandals attacked a memorial tree in Glasgow dedicated to babies who died during pregnancy.
The FT pictures Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis leaving Number Ten. The paper reports that Downing Street had to deny leaving the EU single market was government policy after Mr Davis said staying in was “highly improbable”.
The Guardian reports on changes made to working practices at Sports Direct ahead of the firm’s AGM today.
Camley’s Cartoon
He’s back… and taking a look at the First Minister’s plans for the new parliamentary year.
FFS: Five in five seconds
1. What’s the story? MPs are calling for a halt in arms sales to Saudi Arabia because of its actions in Yemen.
2. The same arms sales Boris Johnson (below) defended this week? The Foreign Secretary did indeed say on Monday: “The key test for our continued arms exports to Saudi Arabia in relation to international humanitarian law is whether those weapons might be used in a commission of a serious breach of international humanitarian law. Having regard to all the information available to us, we assess this test has not been met.”
3. Why is this now in doubt? BBC Newsnight reporter Gabriel Gatehouse has obtained the draft report of the Committees on Arms Export Controls (defence, foreign affairs, business, innovation and skills) which have been looking into the subject.
4. It says? “The weight of evidence of violations of international humanitarian law by the Saudi-led coalition is now so great, that it is very difficult to continue to support Saudi Arabia."
5. What happens next? Arms control campaigners will stage a demonstration outside the Commons today. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch wrote to the UN in June, accusing the Saudi-led coalition in the Yemeni conflict of carrying out 69 unlawful airstrikes resulting in at least 900 deaths. Read Martin Williams' story here.
Afore Ye Go
“In the course of a single phone call he would veer alarmingly from bonhomie, to bullying, to pleading and then back to jocular mood. Emotionally he is a Peter Pan - the boy who never grew up.”
Alex Salmond on Donald Trump, who he says offered to endorse him as FM in the elections. Mr Salmond politely declined. Mr Salmond writes in the Daily Record as a new poll by CNN puts the Republican nominee at 45% and Hillary Clinton on 43%.
So @realDonaldTrump is now leading @HillaryClinton in new @CNN poll. As I've been trying to tell everyone for 14 months, he's going to win.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 6, 2016
“As someone who relies on the well-aimed letter - and relishes the ones in return - I can only say how strongly I feel that the logical ordering of thoughts in proper, grammatically correct prose is in fact rather important at the end of the day.”
The Prince of Wales, noted for his “black spider” letters to ministers, helps the Duchess of Cornwall cut the cake at a London ceremony marking 500 years of the Royal Mail. Chris Jackson/PA Wire
“He's the Che Guevara to the FM's Evita."
Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw makes some jocular comparisons as he welcomes Mike Russell back into the ministerial fold as Brexit minister.
“A warm-up act to nudge the independence caravan another few inches along the road”.
Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson’s description of the Scottish Government's legislative to do list, unveiled yesterday. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
"Her sheer passion for politics and for the causes she championed will always remembered, as will her dynamic, colourful and compassionate nature… This portrait is a way of showing future members and visitors to the Parliament just what she meant to us all.”
Holyrood Deputy Presiding Officer Christine Grahame on a portrait honouring the late Margo MacDonald's 40-year contribution to politics. The work, by Gerard Burns, above, has been gifted to the parliament by Ms MacDonald’s husband, Jim Sillars. Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament/PA Wire
"Jeremy Corbyn has much in common with UB40. They are currently as divided as his Labour Party.”
Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall after some members of UB40, above, backed Mr Corbyn for leader, while other ex-members, who also perform under the name UB40, simply said they supported the Labour Party in general. Confused yet? David Mirzoeff/PA Wire
A press conference to announce the endorsement of UB40? pic.twitter.com/LqQ0OAK6O4
— Ern Malley (@GeoffShadbold) September 6, 2016
If only I'd known that Corbyn was going to get the endorsement of a small part of a band I hated 30 years ago before I voted for Owen Smith.
— Tom Harris (@MrTCHarris) September 6, 2016
THERE ARE NO GROWN UPS IN LABOUR ANY MORE. Instead there's just Balls jiving and Ken saying 'Hitler' in the background.
— Theo Bertram (@theobertram) September 6, 2016
A former Labour adviser despairs
$20 million (£15 million)
The amount reportedly received by former Fox News Channel anchor Gretchen Carlson, above, in settlement of her sexual harassment lawsuit against Roger Ailes, the case that led to the downfall of Fox's chief executive. Parent company Twenty-First Century Fox apologised to Ms Carlson. Mr Ailes denied the charges. AP Photo/Richard Drew
As Clinton says she has “lost track” of the number of conspiracy theories about her health, Trump claims this is clear evidence of amnesia.
— HaveIGotNewsForYou (@haveigotnews) September 6, 2016
Respect to @PoliticalPics for catching another official flashing a policy document in Downing Street - this one raising the possibility of opening new grammar schools in England.
Disappointing footware seen in House today belongs to @nsoamesmp who in defence claims socks also worn by @Pontifex pic.twitter.com/t0lXUSWXTv
— Nick Herbert (@nickherbertmp) September 6, 2016
Skechers lays claim to another fan in Nicholas Soames MP
Latest picture of Ursula Titchener from court artist. #thearchers. pic.twitter.com/5HjZKtGhxB
— David Hepworth (@davidhepworth) September 6, 2016
The trial of Helen Archer continues
Thanks for reading - see you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel