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

Front pages

The Herald:

Exclusive: In The Herald, health correspondent Helen Puttick reveals the findings of a hard-hitting report into cancer patient care. 

The National floats the idea of a new airport for Skye which, says an analysis, could raise £46 million for the local economy. 

The Mail, Times and Telegraph hail an announcement, expected today from Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, that the UK will opt out of the European Convention on Human Rights to avoid future legal claims against troops. 

The Herald: Exclusive: Vivienne Nicoll in the Evening Times looks at pollution levels in Glasgow. 

“Hammond warns of two years of turbulence and uncertainty” is the splash in the FT, reporting on the Chancellor’s speech to the Tory conference yesterday. 

The Record reports that a date for the trial of former Rangers owner Craig Whyte has been set for April 18 next year. 

Camley’s Cartoon

The Herald:

No plain sailing for Chancellor Philip Hammond post Brexit, reckons Camley.  

FFS: Five in five seconds

1. What’s the story? Tim Kaine goes mano a mano with Mike Pence in Farmville, Virginia, tonight at 9pm local time.

2. Who are they? The Democrat and Republican nominees for Vice-President of the US respectively. 

3. So I shouldn’t bother setting the alarm for 02.00? Now, now. John Nance Garner may have once said the vice-presidency was not worth a bucket of warm spit. And Armando Iannucci may mined comedy gold from the office in the multi-award winning Veep with Julia Louis-Dreyfus (below). But remember, too, that the VP is only ever a heartbeat away from the presidency. LBJ, for instance, was a Veep who went on to become one of the most radical and reforming presidents of the modern era. 

The Herald:

4. Quick bios? Pence: governor of Indiana, 12 years in House of Reps, socially conservative on abortion and gay rights, climate change denier, seen as safe pair of hands. Kaine: ex-governor of Virginia, ex-lawyer, Congressman since 2012, fluent in Spanish, Bill Clinton a fan, free trader, personally against abortion, anti-death penalty, another safe pair of hands. 

5. They both sound strictly vanilla. An early night then? The VP debate is likely to be Peppa Pig compared to last week’s Game of Thrones-like clash between Trump and Clinton, but it should also provide a glimpse into the main contenders’ decision making skills. Did they choose duds (or have them forced upon them)?

Afore Ye Go

The Herald:

“I have legally used the tax laws to my benefit and to the benefit of my company, my investors and my employees. I mean, honestly, I have brilliantly – I have brilliantly used those laws.”

Donald Trump responds to the New York Times story which revealed he had made a loss of more than $900m in 1995. The paper estimated this could have meant he had avoided paying federal taxes for almost two decades.

Yes, from THAT Jerry Springer

The Herald:

"She, like me, was on the different side of the argument to the side that won. She, like me, is disappointed with the result. But she can't wish away the idea that this is going to happen, because it is going to happen.”

Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson on FM Nicola Sturgeon's approach to Brexit. Carl Court/Getty Images

The Herald:

1.28 USD

What a pound was worth after Theresa May announced the Government will trigger Article 50 by March next year. The figure is close to a 31-year low. Joe Giddens/PA Wire

Don't spend it all at once, lads.

The Herald:

"Don't be fooled by her accent. Whenever I've chatted to her she's always been sharp as a pin and funny too."

Channel 4's Cathy Newman, above, plugging a Telegraph piece on Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner MP, who was brought up on a council estate in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The tweet is no longer on Ms Newman's timeline. As luck would have it, The Spectator's Steerpike had earlier managed a screen grab of it. Danny Martindale/Getty Images

The Herald:

"They made up that particular title  - 'aristocracy coordinator'. Not ideal for someone who went into politics I have to say.”

Home Secretary Amber Rudd describes how she came to hire well-dressed friends of friends as extras for the film Four Weddings and a Funeral. Times.  Neil Hall - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Cycling wars at Westminster attract attention across the pond.

The Herald:

“Bernie Sanders is campaigning with Hillary. He asked a crowd at one of her rallies, ‘Is everybody here ready to transform America?’ Followed by his next question, ‘Does anybody here remember where I parked?’”

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Herald:

“Hillary Clinton has vowed to crack down on hackers who launch cyberattacks. She said, ‘If anyone’s going to abuse US government computers, it’s gonna be me’.”

Conan O’Brien. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Herald: "Merkel must go”/“Traitor”

Some of the abuse hurled at German Chancellor Angela Merkel as leaders gathered in Dresden to celebrate the anniversary of the country's reunification 26 years ago. AP Photo/Jens Meyer

The Herald:

“He’s got two left feet.”

Chancellor Philip Hammond explains why Jeremy Corbyn was turned down for Strictly in favour of Ed Balls. It was one of several “jokes” which fell flatter than Mr Balls’s feet. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Shop early for Christmas at the Tory conference in Birmingham

The Herald:

"No matter how infuriating and shamelessly anti-Brexit they sometimes can be, I think the BBC is the single greatest and most effective ambassador for our culture and our values”.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson attempts the ultimate backhanded compliment. Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat