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, political editor Tom Gordon reports on an analysis which says there could be 30 billion barrels of oil still in the North Sea, but the chances of extracting it depend on fixing fundamental problems now.
The National pictures Nigel Farage becoming the first UK politician to meet Donald Trump with the headline: “Thick as a brick”.
The Times and the Telegraph say there are splits within the Tory party over whether to use Nigel Farage as a go-between with Trump, and the FT reports an EU rift as France and the UK refuse to attend a summit to discuss the Trump victory.
There are bargains to be had in 2017 summer holidays, says the Mail, as travel firms try to get ahead of an expected economic crunch next year.
Exclusive: In the Evening Times, Stewart Paterson reveals that funding to tackle childhood obesity in Glasgow has been cut by 20% in four years.
The Record launches a campaign against eligibility assessments for Personal Independence Payment benefits. The paper says the test are ruining the lives of thousands of disabled people.
Camley’s cartoon
The usual first class effort from Camley as he looks at the FM's letter to America.
FFS: Five in five seconds
What’s the story? President-elect Donald Trump has made two cornerstone appointments to his team.
Introductions please? Reince Priebus as chief of staff, and Steve Bannon, below, as chief strategist. Think of Priebus as a one-man Toby and Josh from The West Wing and Bannon as ...
As?
No-one is sure how the appointment of Bannon, former Navy officer turned investment banker turned Hollywood producer, will pan out.
Why?
As the head of the website Breitbart News he was rabble-rouser in chief for Mr Trump before formally joining the team last August. Breitbart has made its name as a right-wing attack site, prompting criticism in the US and abroad. Describing Breitbart In an interview with the Washington Post, Mr Bannon said: “We call ourselves 'The Fight Club'. You don't come to us for warm and fuzzy. We think of ourselves as virulently anti-establishment, particularly 'anti-' the permanent political class.”
So he’s a rock the boat kind of guy?
As far as the Republican party is concerned he was a burn the boats kind of guy, once calling the party leadership a word not fit to publish in a family e-bulletin. But now he is ready to work in peace and harmony with the party, saying yesterday: “We had a very successful partnership on the campaign, one that led to victory. We will have that same partnership in working to help President-elect Trump achieve his agenda.”
Afore Ye Go
“If I’m honest, there was an element of holding my nose a bit when I voted Remain.”
What SNP MP Mhairi Black said at a public meeting in Aberdeenshire, as reported by the Telegraph. SNP MSP Alex Neil revealed recently he had voted Leave and said he knew of others in the party in the same position.
Interesting that SNP disaffection with EU is growing ... #takebackcontrol https://t.co/IFdOg9vJxY
— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 13, 2016
The former Justice Secretary, who played a key role in the Leave campaign before his widely condemned decision to challenge for the Tory leadership, also repeated Mr Neil's tweet, entitled: "Why the last 10 days of the EU referendum campaign convinced me to vote Leave".
"There could be some fencing.”
In his latest row-back from campaign comments, president-elect Trump said his wall on the Mexican border need not be all wall. Above, the existing start-stop US-Mexico border fence at Fort Hancock, Texas. John Moore/Getty Images
It was a great honour to spend time with @realDonaldTrump. He was relaxed and full of good ideas. I'm confident he will be a good President. pic.twitter.com/kx8cGRHYPQ
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) November 12, 2016
Obama: you told him Nigel Farage was British Foreign Secretary didn't you?
— Katie Curtis (@KatieCurtis) November 13, 2016
Biden:
Obama: Joe pic.twitter.com/npQFY2QNyB
Nigel Farage: UK Opposition Leader. pic.twitter.com/CuQFGMri5p
— Ben (@Jamin2g) November 12, 2016
“You’re not irrelevant to him because you are the inventors of the game of golf so he has a special place in his heart for you. He looks at Britain like one giant golf course.”
Filmmaker Michael Moore on the 'special relationship' between the UK and the US. Times. Above, at the premiere of 'Michael Moore In TrumpLand in October. Jemal Countess/Getty Images
Say what you want about Donald but his wife is easily the most beautiful lady in world politics!! pic.twitter.com/XpkFl6NfPy
— Peter Stringfellow (@PJStringfellow) November 13, 2016
"I'm looking forward to the conversation between my wife and Donald Trump. She is a proud Mexican.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who is married to Laura Alvarez, above. Andrew Marr Show. Leon Neal/Getty Images.
Saturday Night Live's ace Hillary Clinton impersonator Kate McKinnon combines tributes to the defeated Democrat and the late Leonard Cohen.
"In the end we are a news programme and I don't think the best way to honour the fallen is to fail to report on the next big challenge to Western security.”
Andrew Marr defends his decision to interview far-Right leader Marine Le Pen on Remembrance Sunday after complaints from viewers, including MPs. Le Pen told Marr: “Donald Trump’s victory is an additional stone in the building of a new world destined to replace the old one.” Above, a Remembrance Sunday service at the Commando Memorial near Fort William. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
Marine Le Pen speaking on #Marr Remembrance Sunday? Why not interview our veterans who fought fascists&lost so many comrades?So wrong BBC!
— Angela Rayner MP (@AngelaRayner) November 12, 2016
From Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner.
Here's @edballs and @Mrs_katjones doing the Gangnam Style! #Strictly pic.twitter.com/2L8cxiQ2C8
— StrictlyComeDancing (@SCD_UK) November 12, 2016
“No-one voted for him when he was an MP, now the whole ****ing country’s voting for him.”
Catherine Tate’s ‘Nan’ character on Ed Balls. The Catherine Tate Show Live. Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire
“There’s talk that Donald Trump may appoint Sarah Palin as secretary of the interior, which means she would oversee the National Park Service. When they heard that, bears were like, ‘Well, we had a good run’.”
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Palmerstone turned up just in time for the Queens arrival at the Foreign Office this morning seen here helped to move on by security !! pic.twitter.com/SuC0a5CdcA
— Political Pictures (@PoliticalPics) November 13, 2016
Jeremy Corbyn Christmas single!
— Corbyn Xmas single (@RobbJohnson7) November 13, 2016<
Let's get 'JC for PM for me' in the charts! Please share!
Money raised goes to Trussell Trust. pic.twitter.com/ohLYfw8Fao
Buy now before stocks run out.
Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat
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