Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Front pages
Exclusive: In The Herald, health correspondent Helen Puttick reports on a call for the Scottish Government to lead the way in the UK by adding folic acid to flour. Dr Linda de Caestecker, director of public health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, writes for the paper inside.
Exclusive: David Pratt reports for The National from the front line in Mosul, speaking to some of those who have escaped the brutal rule of IS.
Exclusive: In the Evening Times, Catriona Stewart reports on residents’ disappointment that the new community centre they wanted is on hold.
“Houdini Hillary gets out of jail” is the Mail’s take on the news that the FBI has found no evidence of criminality in newly discovered emails. The Telegraph says the move gives a “huge boost” to Clinton’s White House hopes, while the FT reports that Trump is targeting white, working class voters in the hope of flipping Democratic strongholds.
The Express splashes on the scrapping of a £10 billion deal between the Scottish Government and two Chinese firms. Read The Herald's story here.
The Times says Theresa May is being urged by Ministers to push through a parliamentary vote on Article 50 in a day if it loses its Supreme Court appeal.
Camley’s cartoon
Camley finds Donald Trump’s security detail knows the right moment to duck and cover.
FFS: Five in five seconds
What’s the story? The FBI has found no evidence of criminality in the new batch of Hillary Clinton’s emails. FBI director James Comey made the declaration in a letter to Congress last night. Read the story here.
Ah, Mr Comey, the man praised so highly by Donald Trump? That was a week ago, when he announced the probe into 650,000 emails found on a laptop belonging to the estranged husband of a Clinton aide. Then, the Republican nominee said it had taken “a lot of guts” to make such a move so close to an election.
And now? Mr Trump is furious, saying it would be impossible for the bureau to get through so many emails so quickly, and that the whole episode reeks of a fix. He told a rally in Detroit: “You have to understand. It’s a rigged system and she’s protected.”
Did the episode have much of an impact? We’ll find out for certain when the election result is called, but it did narrow the gap in the polls and gave Mr Trump momentum in the final stretches.
FBI now relieved it’s over? For the FBI, it is not. Whoever wins now is not going to be happy with the bureau, and Mr Comey in particular.
Afore Ye Go
"Philip Green and these people who avoid paying tax, I would rather see us chasing after them than the vulnerable."
SNP MP Mhairi Black is to present a private member's bill to parliament calling for the benefits sanctions system, condemned in the Ken Loach film, I, Daniel Blake, to be scrapped. ITV Peston on Sunday.
Saturday Night Live takes its last pops at the US presidential election candidates, and it turns out to be a very smoochy affair.
“I am sure she is a delightful girl, kind to animals, helps old ladies across the road, but she shouldn’t be anywhere near being Lord Chancellor.”
Former Cabinet Minister David Mellor on Lord Chancellor Liz Truss, who took more than a day to respond to press attacks on the judges involved in the Article 50 ruling. Mail on Sunday. Carl Court/Getty Images
"Ultimately when the vote comes Labour will support Theresa May to trigger Article 50.”
Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson in an interview with BBC 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics. In another interview, leader Jeremy Corbyn, above, appeared to suggest the party would refuse to back any plan that did not guarantee access to the single market. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
“If the people in this country think they're going to be cheated, they're going to be betrayed, then we will see political anger the likes of which none of us in our lifetimes have ever witnessed in this country.”
Ukip leader Nigel Farage is interviewed on BBC Andrew Marr. Asked if there was a risk of “disturbance on the streets”, Mr Farage said, "Yeah I think that's right.” Jeff Overs/BBC/PA Wire
Jeremy Corbyn ducks question on general election; accuses @LibbyWienerITV of 'harrassment'https://t.co/6IPEIahDbj pic.twitter.com/ZUsiTrBbRX
— ITV News (@itvnews) November 5, 2016
Total pro Libby Wiener 1, Labour press officer 0.
"She is not perfect - what politician, anywhere, is? But she will be a great role model for women the world over. What's more she'll be a president. I wish her luck on Tuesday.”
FM Nicola Sturgeon on Hillary Clinton. Sunday Mail. Above, with singer Katy Perry in Pennsylvania. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Spotted at Hillary Clinton rally in South Florida- Michael Gove. pic.twitter.com/le3B7WWwop
— Cordelia Lynch (@CordeliaSkyNews) November 5, 2016
Michael Gove, staying out of trouble stateside.
Courtesy of @MikeRossArt. Yes please. pic.twitter.com/DX56WVBE05
— Susan Calman (@SusanCalman) November 6, 2016
"Nobody said it was going to be easy for us. But we will never be stopped. Never ever be stopped.”
Donald Trump, after being rushed off the stage during a rally in Nevada after someone wrongly shouted “gun”.
“Former KKK leader David Duke told reporters that if he’s elected to the Senate, he would be Donald Trump’s most loyal advocate. When asked what he’d do if Trump loses, Duke said, ‘I’ll burn that cross when we come to it’.”
Late Night with Seth Myers, above. Craig Barritt/Getty Images for New York Magazine
"I can't believe I'm actually saying this. You are improving" - Craig on @EdBalls @Mrs_katjones #Strictly https://t.co/oDY5pZtuhp
— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) November 5, 2016
Strictly Judge Craig Revel Horwood to Ed Balls after his quickstep.
Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat
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