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, UK political editor Michael Settle says Nicola Sturgeon is increasing the pressure for Scotland to have its own Brexit deal following reports the UK government is pushing for one for the City.
“BBC’s bad call” is the headline in The National. The paper says the Call Kaye show on the Ched Evans case has been criticised for allowing offensive calls on the air. Campaigners Zero Tolerance said the show had gone “badly wrong”.
The Mail says Scots families are facing a £164 “green tax” on energy bills to subsidise wind farms.
In the Evening Times, crime reporter Stacey Mullen reports on a robbery at a shop in Paisley.
The FT says the value of the UK government’s stake in Royal Bank of Scotland is to be written down substantially, adding to the public debt.
Still on matters RBS, the Times says the bank “caved in to the Kremlin” and withdrew a threat to close the account of broadcaster RT (Russia Today). The Scotsman says RBS had denied freezing the accounts.
The Telegraph pictures Sir Cliff Richard and Paul Gambaccini leaving the Commons after calling for anonymity for people suspected of sex crimes before any charge. Both men were subjected to false sexual assault allegations.
Camley’s Cartoon
Camley spies a dash for a bespoke Scottish Brexit deal. Read the story here.
FFS: Five in five seconds
What’s the story? Melania Trump has done a Tammy Wynette.
D.I.V.O.R.C.E? No, she’s standing by her man, giving an interview last night to CNN defending her husband over his comments about women in a leaked video.
What did she say? Essentially, a wee boy (then Access Hollywood host Billy Bush, now sacked by NBC) instigated the “boy talk” and ran away. The third Mrs Trump told Anderson Cooper: “He was led on, like, egged on, from the host to say dirty and bad stuff” and that was “not the man that I know”.
What about the subsequent allegations made against him? Lies, she says. “This was all organised from the opposition.”
Now she wants to move on? You guessed it. Trump has said sorry and that’s enough."I accept his apology. I hope the American people will accept it as well. And it was many, many years ago.” And don’t worry about her, she says. “I'm very strong. And people - they don't really know me. People think and talk about me like, ‘Oh, Melania, oh poor Melania’. Don’t feel sorry for me. I can handle everything.”
Afore Ye Go
"I have come to the conclusion that Ukip is ungovernable without Nigel Farage leading it and the referendum cause to unite it.”
Following that Strasbourg altercation, Steven Woolfe abandons his leadership bid and quits the party. Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Candidates for next Ukip leader looking strong. pic.twitter.com/4uuef3yS3m
— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) October 17, 2016
From the FT's Jim Pickard
TOMORROW: Stephen Woolfe suddenly realises he's missed the deadline to resign, and thus actually hasn't.
— Hugo Rifkind (@hugorifkind) October 17, 2016
From Hugo Rifkind, the Times
"It is becoming clear that many politicians and others are unwilling to accept the democratic decision of the British people to leave the EU. Brexit must not be put at risk in the years and decades ahead.”
Christian Holliday, a Conservative councillor in Guildford, Surrey, explains why he has started a petition on the Commons website to make opposing Brexit an act of treason, complete with a maximum punishment of life imprisonment. So far it has 150 signatures, some way short of the 100,000 required to trigger a parliamentary debate. Carl Court/Getty Images
This idea that a narrow 52% majority justifies shutting down discussion of an issue for all time is totalitarian, absurd & intimidatory https://t.co/sl8FMeuJjH
— Robert Harris (@Robert___Harris) October 17, 2016
"The prime minister has full confidence in the chancellor and the work that he is doing.”
In another busy day for the Downing Street spokeswoman, she dismisses talk of tensions between Phillip Hammond and more pro-Brexit ministers. Carl Court/PA Wire
Donald Trump updates list of things to blame for looming defeat:
— HaveIGotNewsForYou (@haveigotnews) October 17, 2016
Media
Drugs
Voter Fraud
Aliens
Canada
Sunshine
Moonlight
Good Times
Boogie
"I really appreciate this … His journey was so difficult, it was by walking, by bus to Calais. He gets a new life now, because there are many people who died in Calais.”
Asif Khan, above, who fled Afghanistan and has been living in the UK for 11 years, welcomes the arrival in Britain of his younger brother from the “Jungle” camp at Calais. The 14-year-old is among some 100 unaccompanied children who will be transferred this week from a variety of countries, including Syria and Sudan. Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
Julian Assange's internet link has been intentionally severed by a state party. We have activated the appropriate contingency plans.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 17, 2016
When your mum changes the WiFi password because you won't leave your room https://t.co/upOXSUO66F
— TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) October 17, 2016
TechnicallyRon is on the case of Julian Assange's severed internet connection.
“Our accounts in the UK have been closed. All accounts. ‘The decision is not subject to revision’. Praise be to freedom of speech.”
Margarita Simonyan, editor of the Kremlin-backed Russia Today, on what she said was moves by NatWest to freeze the broadcaster’s accounts. According to the Times, the move was later reversed by RBS, part of the NatWest group.
Just like EU when you can't offer an alternative opinion it is the end of a free society @RT
— David Coburn MEP (@DavidCoburnUKip) October 17, 2016
Ukip’s David Coburn leaps to RT’s defence.
Hope folks enjoy tonight's BBC4 show on paperback heroes. made by brilliant hard grafting doc heroes in Bristol. Who have just been sacked
— Andrew Marr (@AndrewMarr9) October 17, 2016
Trouble at the BBC too, according to a tweet from Andrew Marr
Here is Daniel The Emotional Support Duck in all his red-shoed glory. pic.twitter.com/rBkK0QnBKr
— Mark Essig (@mark_essig) October 17, 2016
Heard about the duck that flew on a plane? Twitter user Mark Essig took this picture of the bird, allowed on the aircraft because it was a fellow passenger’s “assistance animal”. Some have questioned the growing number of animals being allowed on aircraft to give “emotional support”, with one comedian, Jimmy Kimmel, joking it was easier to get a horse on a plane than a bottle of mouthwash. BBC World Service
Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat
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