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

Today

  • Mundell: SNP spoiling for Brexit fight
  • More Scots living past 100
  • Crack appears in breakaway councils’ unity
  • Davidson attacks Sturgeon on fracking stance 

Front pages

The Herald:

Exclusive: In The Herald, UK political editor Michael Settle speaks to Scottish Secretary David Mundell ahead of the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. 

The FT leads on concerns over Deutsche Bank, Germany’s largest lender, as shares continue to fall. 

The Times says ministers and footballing authorities are at odds on how to punish crowd disorder. 

The Herald: Exclusive: In the Evening Times, Hannah Rodger reports on a less than pleasant journey on an overnight bus to Glasgow. 

The Scotsman says the first frosts of autumn will hit Scotland this weekend. 

“Another SNP MP is quizzed by police” is the headline in the Mail, while the Record, which broke the story, says the FM has given her support to Dundee West MP Chris Law. 

The Telegraph pictures Princess Charlotte in Canada and there are more revelations in its investigation into “football for sale”. 

Camley’s Cartoon

The Herald:

Hip, hip, hooray for Camley, marking the fact that more Scots are living to 100. 

FFS: Five in five seconds

1. What’s the story? An important anniversary takes place today – it is 100 days since the Brexit vote.

2. Seems longer. How are we doing? Two competing juries are punting alternative verdicts. The first, made up of Leavers, highlight each piece of positive economic news as proof that the sky didn’t fall in after all. Others, Remainers, reckon it’s early days yet and the worst of the pain is yet to come. 

3. But a date for starting exit talks has been set? No. Article 50, which will start the two-year clock ticking, has not yet been triggered. Leavers want it done by Christmas; PM Theresa May is keeping her own counsel. 

4. And politics abhors a vacuum, right? Indeed. Former Chancellor Ken Clarke, in an interview with the New Statesman, reckoned "Nobody in the government has the first idea of what they're going to do next on the Brexit front”, while Nicky Morgan, another former Minister, is today urging Mrs May to elaborate on her now famous motto, “Brexit means Brexit”. There has been movement in one area, though. 

5. Yes? The number of bodies throwing themselves at the matter. Besides the three Brexiteer ministers in Westminster (Boris Johnson, Liam Fox, David Davis), Scotland has a minister for Brexit in Michael Russell. In addition, there are new Leave and Remain campaigns, such as Change Britain (for a speedy Brexit) and the pro-EU Open Britain.  So the campaign continues ….

Afore Ye Go

The Herald:

“This year, one of the candidates - Republican nominee Donald Trump - is, by unanimous consensus of the Editorial Board, unfit for the presidency. From the day he declared his candidacy 15 months ago through this week’s first presidential debate, Trump has demonstrated repeatedly that he lacks the temperament, knowledge, steadiness and honesty that America needs from its presidents.”

For the first time in its 34-year history, USA Today, the Herald’s sister paper, takes a side in the presidential race. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Michelle Mone, billed as Baroness of Mayfair OBE on the posters, announces her latest project: lectures which promise to share “the tried and tested secrets to success (or “sucess” as it says on the welcome email).” The tour reaches the UK next year.

The Herald:

"It isn't an endorsement of right-wing political views, or probably any political views."

David Shrigley, also the creator of Partick Thistle's mascot, on a giant thumbs-up which has become the 11th sculpture to feature on Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the thumbs-up would cheer up the city after the Brexit vote. Philip Toscano/PA Wire

From the Times' Michael Savage

The Herald:

16.8 million

Number of working age people in UK who have less than £100 in savings, according to independent body the Money Advice Service (MAS). Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

The Herald:

"I don't think Strictly Come Dancing will help Ed Balls politically. He didn't lose his seat because he couldn't do the quickstep. The problem is, his political career was more like the last tango in Paris.”

Ex-Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

From the BBC's Philip Sim.

The Herald:

“As heart warming and delightful that this birth is, it also makes us ever more determined to help their wild counterparts.”

Ailsa McCormick, head keeper of Blair Drummond Safari Park’s large mammals, notes the birth of their fifth southern white rhino. The park is supporting OSCAP (Outraged South African Citizens Against Poaching) and the work they do with rhino orphans. The calf, as yet unnamed weighed 60kg. Well done mum. Dave Warren/Blair Drummond Safari Park/PA Wire

Downing Street Larry's not daft. From PoliticalPics.

An oldie but goldie reworked by BuzzFeed's Jamie Ross

Actor Alec Baldwin is to play Mr Trump on Saturday Night Live. You Tube video

The Herald:

The decision to allow Sooty to have a girlfriend called Soo was passed up to the highest echelons of the BBC, reveals a new documentary, Sooty Ungloved, which has its world premiere in Yorkshire tomorrow. Matthew Corbett, son of creator Harry, said bosses eventually okayed the move in 1965 but ruled that the two puppets “must never touch". Above, the old BBC Television Centre. 

And with a similar move, The Midge is off. Back Monday. Thanks for reading. Twitter: @alisonmrowat