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 reports on yesterday’s “feisty” talks in Downing Street. Exclusive: On the wing, Daniel Sanderson, political correspondent, reveals that Scottish Government officials are drawing up plans for a public sector body to bid for Scotland’s rail franchise.
“Don’t drive us off Brexit cliff” is the headline in The National over a picture of FM Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Brexit minister Michael Russell leaving Downing Street.
The Evening Times, Mail, Record, and Express picture the scene in Knightswood, Glasgow, where two police officers were seriously injured in a hit and run. The incident is being treated as attempted murder.
The Guardian says one in four councils in England are refusing to accept refugee children from Calais.
The Times reports the UK Government is to back down on plans to make newspapers pay all court costs in libel cases.
Heathrow expansion opponent (and Foreign Secretary) Boris Johnson will make a speech today confirming his stance, says the Telegraph, just hours after the UK Government is expected to back the plan.
Attitudes towards Chinese investment are hardening in the west, reports the FT, with $40 billion of acquisitions blocked since mid-2015.
Camley’s Cartoon
Camley looks at the push-pull forces surrounding Brexit.
FFS: Five in five seconds
What’s the story?
Theresa May's Government has backed the building of a third runway at Heathrow.
What was the alterative?
Expanding Gatwick.
I thought David Cameron rejected Heathrow expansion six years ago? No ifs, no buts?
Let us not go into the comings and goings in the Heathrow debate or we will be here till Ne’erday. Enough to say it is game on again, albeit a very slow game - it will be at least another year before the Commons votes.
Where stands Scotland?
The Scottish Government has backed Heathrow, saying it will lead to more jobs in Scotland (16,000 said Economy Secretary Keith Brown) and a greater number of flights for holidaymakers and business flyers.
So all clear for lift-off?
Hardly. Two prominent members of Theresa May’s Cabinet, Education Secretary Justine Greening and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson are against the moves, with the latter pledging to lie down in front of the bulldozers if the £18 billion build at Heathrow goes ahead. A more immediate worry for a PM with a whippet-like majority is the threat of Zac Goldsmith, the Tory MP for Richmond Park in south west London, to trigger a by-election if Heathrow is chosen. All in, the turbulence over Heathrow could be as big a headache for Theresa May as FM Nicola Sturgeon's insistence on a bespoke Brexit deal.
Afore Ye Go
"I can't undermine something that doesn't exist.”
FM Nicola Sturgeon after “a frank exchange of views” with Theresa May in Downing Street. Number Ten had earlier warned the leaders of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales not to “undermine” a UK approach to Brexit.
"There is a large amount of uncertainty and when you run different models it ranges from bad, to awful, to catastrophic.”
In evidence the Scottish Affairs Committee, Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, principal of Edinburgh University, describes what he sees as the potential impact of Brexit on higher education if it does not get a “special deal”. Above, author Ian Rankin opens a redevelopment of the university’s main Library in 2009. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
TeeHee pic.twitter.com/ufMGqvtDB9
— Tim Montgomerie (@MontieUSA) October 24, 2016
The latest edition of the New Yorker
Following Gary, Tank Commander’s interviews with Scottish politicians, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, will make a cameo appearance in the new series of Citizen Khan when it begins next month, it was announced yesterday. Dan Istitene/Getty Images
Labour's Helen Goodman asked about the implications of Brexit for birds trying to have sex pic.twitter.com/da32r6OL7e
— Esther Webber (@estwebber) October 24, 2016
Labour MP Helen Goodman tries to make a point about light pollution and the sex lives of birds during questions to the Communities and Local Government Secretary, only to have a fit of the giggles. Courtesy of the BBC's Esther Webber.
Ukip's John Rees-Evans, who once said a 'homosexual donkey' tried to rape his horse, joins party's leadership race https://t.co/leNV6oaxsi pic.twitter.com/8BpOR0A16E
— ITV News (@itvnews) October 24, 2016
And so the Ukip leadership race continues.
"Look, I know I'm a white, privileged actor but I also have a profile and a lot of attention on me and I gladly shine the spotlight on those who need that attention and not me.”
Benedict Cumberbatch expresses his concern over what is happening with child refugees as the ‘Jungle’ camp in Calais is dismantled. LBC. Above, with Tilda Swinton at the LA premiere of their new film, Doctor Strange. Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney
As a study finds heading a football can damage memory, one contributor asks "what Iraq War?" pic.twitter.com/yWbl9ErPKE
— HaveIGotNewsForYou (@haveigotnews) October 24, 2016
"Ken Loach has long been one of the great bores of our time.”
Charles Moore, Margaret Thatcher's biographer, clearly won't be rushing to see Loach's latest, I, Daniel Blake. Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Donald Trump’s Twitter insults: The complete list, printed in today’s paper https://t.co/zQCa5LnbBj pic.twitter.com/fuwoypcDoF
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 24, 2016
One to keep for the grandkids?
RIP Jimmy Perry, Dad's Army creator and comedy genius. Here's the @ColdstreamBand tribute at #changingoftheguard this morning @RoyalFamily pic.twitter.com/UPELW4rknK
— The Army in London (@ArmyInLondon) October 24, 2016
And one for Dad's Army fans.
"This verdict is a defeat for freedom of expression.”
Campaigner Peter Tatchell on an Appeal Court ruling that found against a Christian bakery which refused to make a pro same-sex marriage cake. Mr Tatchell said he disagreed with Ashers Bakery in Belfast but argued that gay bakers could now theoretically be compelled to bake cakes carrying homophobic slogans. Nick Ansell/PA Wire
Early this morning Larry and Palmerston had this fox corned before he made a break for St James park all ended well, peace in our time ! pic.twitter.com/bW54g7bDh8
— Political Pictures (@PoliticalPics) October 24, 2016
Wildlife news from Downing Street
Waterstones in Oxford pulling no punches, eh pic.twitter.com/1SWh9h798c
— Emily Brand (@EJBrand) October 23, 2016
Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here