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, senior reporter Gerry Braiden says bishops are being accused of “ignoring” the findings of a report into child sex abuse at Catholic churches. The criticism comes in a letter to The Herald by Dr Andrew McLellan, former moderator of the Church of Scotland.
Exclusive: In The National, Janice Burns discovers that BBC Scotland has been told it is not being allowed to send its own journalists to the US presidential elections next week. See Afore Ye Go.
“We’ll defy poppy ban” is the headline in the Mail, reporting that Scotland and England players will sport the tributes at next week’s match.
The Evening Times reports on an incident at the Carmelite Monastery in Kirkintilloch during which a statue of Mother Teresa was pushed over.
The Times says the pensions regulator has told former BHS owner Philip Green to pay hundreds of millions to fill a pensions gap.
The Record says disabled people phoning a sanctions appeal telephone number are being charged up to £9 a call.
“Souter dismisses SNP fears over Brexit” is the headline in the Telegraph, which reports a speech by the Stagecoach tycoon to business leaders in Edinburgh.
The Guardian pictures The Monarch of the Glen, which is to be put up for auction in December. Estimated price: £10 million.
The FT says President Obama is issuing a rallying cry to black voters as the polls narrow.
Camley’s cartoon
Camley reckons the ba’ is burst on the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.
FFS: Five in five seconds
What’s the story?
It’s the final, sweaty stages of the US presidential campaign, with dire warnings to the fore.
Shall we start with the apocalypse?
Campaigning for Clinton in the battleground state of North Carolina, president Obama told the crowd: “The fate of the republic rests on your shoulders. The fate of the world is teetering and you, North Carolina, are going to have to make sure that we push it in the right direction.”
Any others?
In a blog, the Scottish actor Alan Cumming compares the rise of Trump to fascism. “If Donald Trump gets in we are entering a maelstrom of ignorance, bigotry and abuse on a scale of which we can only begin to conceive by looking at the rises of Fascism and other forms of extremism that now we look at, rightfully, with utter abhorrence and shame. We are not just going to become like them, we are going to supercede them in our fervour and lust to become the very worst of humanity. For that is what Donald Trump and his supporters represent.”
And moving on to the personal attacks?
Susan Sarandon, below left, the star of Thelma and Louise, is being told by some to go take a running jump.
Why?
he long-time prominent Democrat supporter says she won’t be voting for Clinton, preferring to go Green Party instead. In an open letter, Sarandon wrote: “Fear of Donald Trump is not enough for me to support Clinton, with her record of corruption.” In response, she’s been accused on Twitter of opening the door wider to a Trump victory, with one user saying: “I can't believe Susan Sarandon made Rocky Horror Picture Show and now she's become a political horror.”
Afore Ye Go
“This flies in the face of everything they have been talking about with having international news from a Scottish perspective. It just epitomises why we need the Scottish Six.”
National Union of Journalists national organiser Paul Holleran on news that BBC Scotland is not sending any staff to the US to cover the presidential election. The BBC said a Gaelic-speaking correspondent was going from BBC Alba, and former BBC Scotland reporters, James Cook and Laura Bicker, were also there. Janice Burns, The National. Read The National story here.
"First of all can I congratulate you on the birth, I understand, of your granddaughter. No? Sorry…"
Bit of a fox's paw for Theresa May at PMQs when she wrongly congratulates Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on a new arrival. It was one of his MPs, Conor McGinn, who recently became a father. PA Wire
A new trailer for Trainspotting 2 has just been released. The film is a sequel to the 1996 Danny Boyle picture that as been credited with playing a part in the re-awakening of interest in Scottish identity. Images: Sony/PA.
"I think we are struggling at the moment, there is no point in denying it."
Ukip donor Arron Banks on how the party is faring. Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
“When a government or the leader of a government presents a case with all the powers of advocacy that he or she can command, and in doing so goes beyond what the facts of the case and the basic analysis of that can support, then it does damage politics, yes.”
Sir John Chilcot, author of the report into the Iraq War, has Tony Blair in his sights when giving evidence to the Commons Liaison Committee.PA Wire
.@KayBurley has a special guest called Minnie to help discuss the topic of infertility between couples https://t.co/qLSwX2UTXL
— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 2, 2016
Sky News' Kay Burley defies that old children/animals ruling.
“I was never guilty of anything. I was only guilty of being born only able to love or be in love with another man.”
George Montague, 93, says he wants an apology rather than a pardon (as the latter would mean an admission of guilt) from the Government for himself and the 49,000 others who he estimates have outstanding criminal convictions from before homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK. He delivered his Change.org petition, with more than 6,500 online and 8,000 written signatures, to Downing Street yesterday. Above, Mr Montague and partner Somchai Phukkhlai. Jemma Crew/PA Wire
"Speaking as an individual, not as a representative of the Government, I would not be voting for Donald Trump.”
Fortunately for the Republican nominee, UK employment minister Damian Hinds does not have a vote in the US presidential election. BBC World at One. Above, Edenbridge Bonfire Society unveils this year’s celebrity guy. Leon Neal/Getty Images
Anthony Weiner has checked into a cybersex addiction rehab center https://t.co/0ze0b3kwHp pic.twitter.com/ZVFwEZQd0p
— New York Post (@nypost) November 2, 2016
Lest you were wondering what was going on with the former Congressman at the centre of the new Clinton email row.
"Now we've just got to beat Spurs on Sunday"
— Esther Webber (@estwebber) November 2, 2016
- Commons mic picks up Speaker Bercow and Jeremy Corbyn talking football after #PMQs pic.twitter.com/pCOAzevwFY
One to file under 'lads will be lads'? From the BBC's Esther Webber
“There are just days left until the election. So if anyone's still thinking of running, now's the time.”
Is that a hint of desperation from the host of Late Night with Seth Myers? Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Blimey, Stirling's a long way. No wonder the English were knackered when they got here and took a good hiding that time.
— Mark Steel (@mrmarksteel) November 2, 2016
From comedian Mark Steel
Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat
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