Hello and welcome to The Midge, your first bite of the day’s politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Today
- Scots life expectancy figures make countless millions mourn
- Sturgeon rejects Treasury’s fiscal framework offer
- Labour MSP facing disciplinary action after “liar” jibe
- US-Russia table Syria peace plan
- Firms to reveal gender pay gap
- Which animal are you, Chancellor?
06.00 BBC Radio 4 Today
Truce plan for Syria but Russian bombing will continue … League tables on gender pay differences on way … Cameron in EU speech in Hamburg.
07.00 BBC Good Morning Scotland
Syria … Gender pay gap … Digital tech workers in Edinburgh highest paid after London … Number of nursery teachers drops … Farming Minister addresses NFU conference.
Front pages
The Herald leads on a study showing Scots die younger than people from any other western European country.
The National highlights the discovery of gravitational waves and the part played in the find by Scots scientists.
The Scottish Daily Mail says the Scottish Government has hit the pause button on a scheme that would force criminals to compensate victims.
The Daily Record turns the spotlight on Labour MSP Neil Findlay, reprimanded for calling the FM a “liar”. See Need to Know, below.
The Telegraph says continuing stock market turbulence has sparked a rush for gold and government bonds, while the FT reports fears that more countries will follow Japan into negative interest rates territory.
The Guardian says junior doctors in England will “fight on” despite Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt imposing new contracts.
The Times reports that Lord Smith, of Smith Commission fame, is urging a settlement on the fiscal framework, saying it would be “a terrible shame” if the new powers were to fall away.
Camley's cartoon
Camley ponders the meaning of life expectancy in Scotland
Need to know
The Commons has been no stranger to rows over parliamentary language over the years, but it was something of a first for Holyrood yesterday when Labour MSP Neil Findlay (above) called out “liar” while First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was speaking. Around the world, elected representatives can be shown the red card for many a phrase. In Canada, for example, it is beyond the pale to call a fellow parliamentarian “a trained seal”, India is not keen on “Communist” and in the Commons “pipsqueak”, “sod” and “rat” will earn a member a row from the Speaker. All assemblies are pretty much united in their disapproval of the word “liar”. The Scottish Parliament’s code of conduct does not go into specifics, preferring to state: “Members shall at all times ensure that their choice of language in the Chamber is appropriate and meets the high standards expected by the general public." Mr Findlay was this morning given a warning. A parliamentary spokesperson told The Herald's Daniel Sanderson: "The Presiding Officer has written to Mr Findlay making clear that any repeat of his behaviour and language in the Chamber yesterday will mean an automatic referral about his conduct to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee."
Diary
- Edinburgh: George Freeman, UK Minister for Life Sciences, to unveil project hosted by the University of Edinburgh which aims to develop new cancer treatments with fewer side effects.
- Commons: recess
- London: Education Secretary Nicky Morgan sets out plans to tackle the gender pay gap.
- Munich: international security conference with Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon.
- Hamburg: David Cameron speech, German Chancellor Angela Merkel attending.
Talk of the steamie: the comment pages
In The Herald, Alison Rowat wonders if there is the goodwill left for a deal to be done on the fiscal framework, while Rab McNeil tunes into Alex Salmond’s phone-in show.
Kenny Farquharson in the Times reckons opportunity is knocking for the Scottish Conservatives.
The Guardian's Martin Kettle says there are lessons for politicians in Liverpool fans’ victory on ticket prices. “Smart politicians need to understand what makes people indignant and why.”
In the Mail, Jan Moir spurns that loving feeling for an “anti-Valentine’s quiz” where readers are asked to identify such hearts and flowers quotes from the movies as: “If you ever come near my family again I’ll kill you.”
Afore ye go
"I don't have the figure but I will happily provide it.”
Appearing before a Commons committee, Matt Brittin (above), Google CEO for Europe, gives a version of “search me” when asked by chairwoman Meg Hillier how much he is paid.
Now that she is no longer Scottish Labour leader, Johann Lamont can have a social life again. After winning the raffle at the Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year event last night, she is off to see Peter Andre in concert. Lucky lady (insert own tone here).
“There was the use of a word which was clearly unparliamentary.”
Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick demands to know who shouted “Liar” at Ms Sturgeon during FMQs. The Scottish Parliament's Official Report of First Minister's Questions later named Labour's Neil Findlay (above, right).
“During the Super Bowl, Quicken Loans debuted a new app that lets people get a mortgage instantly on their phones by just tapping the screen. The app is called, "What could possibly go wrong?”
Conan O’Brien
$6m
The amount raised online in one day by Democrat hopeful Bernie Sanders (above, right, with the Rev Al Sharpton). All hail the six million dollar man.
Larry Sanders
Not the fictional talk show host (above) but Bernie’s brother, who lives in the UK and has become the Green Party’s health spokesman.
Born to Run
The title of an autobiography by, who else, Bruce Springsteen, music legend and Obama supporter, to be published on September 27.
“Now many members may or may not know that the Chancellor is a pig, quite literally he's a pig."
Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft shows the Commons she has been studying the Chinese zodiac so that she can wish happy new year to some of her constituents.
#einsteinwasright
The hashtag trending after scientists confirmed what Einstein said in 1916 about gravitational waves.
One
The number of women in the seven-strong line-up of the new Top Gear show. Racing driver Sabine Schmitz joins the crew led by Chris Evans.
Thank you for reading The Midge. See you Monday.
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