Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere. 

Front pages

The Herald:

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. 

The Herald: 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

The Herald:

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.”

The Herald:

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

The Herald:

“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%.

The Herald:

“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

The Herald:

“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. 

The Herald:

“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

The Herald:

"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

The Herald:

"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 former Labour adviser despairs

The Herald:

$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

The Herald:

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. 

Skechers lays claim to another fan in Nicholas Soames MP

The trial of Helen Archer continues

Thanks for reading - see you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat