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

Today

  • Four police shot dead in Texas during protest
  • British troops sent to Russian border
  • Swinney assures abuse survivors of inquiry independence
  • Davidson backs May for Tory leader

06.00 BBC Today headlines

Four police shot dead by snipers in Dallas … British soldiers deployed on Russian border … 30 killed in Iraq attack … Prison officers in England and Wales in walkout … Business Secretary to meet Tata Steel reps in Mumbai; announcement due … Wales football team welcomed home to Cardiff. 

07.00 BBC Good Morning Scotland headlines

Dallas police in stand-off with armed man ... Iraq attack ... Tory leadership vote ... 650 British soldiers to Russian border ... Two dead in A710 crash ... State Department to review Clinton email use ... Paisley unveils lion statues.

Front pages

The Herald:

In The Herald, UK political correspondent Kate Devlin reports on David Cameron’s attendance at his final Nato summit in Warsaw today as questions mount over Brexit’s impact on defence. 

The National pictures Tory leadership contenders Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom with the headline, “Get us out of here!”

The Mail says Mrs May is “the overwhelming favourite to fill Margaret Thatcher’s shoes”, while the Telegraph runs a quote from Mrs Thatcher from 1965: “If you want something said, ask a man … If you want something done, ask a woman.” 

The FT reports on a post Brexit-vote survey showing consumer confidence recording its biggest fall since the 1990s. 

Camley’s Cartoon

The Herald:

Camley on manoeuvres

Ten in ten seconds: Leadsom the heir to Thatcher?

1. And then there were two left in the running for PM - one known quantity in Theresa May, the longest serving Home Secretary of the modern era, and one unknown, energy minister Andrea Leadsom (below).

2. Bio? Age 53, born Buckinghamshire, grammar school educated, degree in political science from Warwick, worked in finance. Elected 2010 as MP for South Northamptonshire, married, three children. Describes herself as a "very committed Christian".

3. Know her from? Was prominent Leave campaigner. Not always a Eurosceptic, though. Used to believe leaving EU would be a "disaster" but now insists she has been on a “journey”. 

4. Likes to change her mind? Yes. After taking the job of energy minister she admitted previously doubting whether climate change was real, telling the website Drill or Drop during a parliamentary hearing: "When I first came to this job one of my two questions was: 'Is climate change real?' and the other was 'Is hydraulic fracturing safe?' And on both of those questions I now am completely persuaded."

The Herald:

5. CV? Sensitive area. Has been accused of exaggerating her experience during 25 years in the City. In one case, said she was a director of her brother-in-law’s hedge fund when Companies House had her registered as the marketing director. 

6. Any more controversy? Against gay marriage. She told ITV News’ Carl Dinnen: “I believe the love of same sex couples is every bit as valuable as that of opposite sex couples, absolutely committed to that. But nevertheless, my own view actually, is that marriage in the biblical sense is very clearly from the many Christians who wrote to me can only be between a man and a woman. I would have preferred for Civil Partnerships to be available to heterosexual and gay couples and for marriage to have remained as a Christian service for men and women who wanted to commit in the eyes of God. I don't think the Anglican Church should be forced down a route where many Christians aren't comfortable about it.” Has also said she would hold vote to repeal fox hunting ban. 

7. Wants to be? The new Thatcher. In that she has the backing of Lord Tebbit, who told the Telegraph: “If you look at her background, her beliefs and her record she is essentially a Thatcherite figure.” Of the former PM she has said: “To give young women the confidence to think ‘I can do this’ – as Margaret Thatcher did to me – is great.”

8. Her chances? Ladbrokes have her at 10/3, with May on 2/9, but beware the Tory outrider. 

9. Why? The vote is now with 150,000 Tory party members, who have a record for going against the MP vote. As Nick Boles, Michael Gove’s campaign manager, said in a text message before the last round of voting in the Commons: “I am seriously frightened about the risk of allowing Andrea Leadsom on to the membership ballot. What if Theresa stumbles? Are we really confident that the membership won’t vote for a fresh face who shares their attitudes about much of modern life? Like they did with IDS [Iain Duncan Smith].”

10. Where does IDS stand? He’s backing Leadsom. 

Afore Ye Go

The Herald:

"There's a big chunk of our fellow citizenry that feels because of the colour of their skin that they are not being treated the same. And that hurts.”

President Obama speaking after the shootings of two black men by police and before the attacks in Dallas which have left four officers dead. Win McNamee/Getty Images

The Herald:

“Politics: Is it all over for men?”

CNN headline following the news the UK’s next PM will be a woman after a contest between Theresa May, above, and Andrea Leadsom.

The Herald:

"There may be people who believe that until I say I took the wrong decision, I am not properly sorry. I understand that. But I don't think this struggle was in vain in the end.”

Tony Blair, BBC Radio 4 Today.

The Herald:

"My husband sees these messages. My children read this garbage. My staff are required to wade through this sickening filth each day to get to the important information they need to do their jobs.”

SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, second left, hits out at the abusive letters, calls, and emails sent to her since becoming MP for Ochil and South Perthshire 14 months ago. 

The Herald:

"I stand ready to do anything I can to save and serve the party.”

Labour MP Owen Smith, understood to be considering a leadership challenge against Jeremy Corbyn, changes his mind. Angela Eagle still has not declared her candidacy, though she said yesterday that Mr Corbyn "needs to go”. The Daily Mail online asked: “Is this the worst coup ever?”

The Herald:

"I try not to get political, but if I am I might as well run myself because I've got the hair for it ... and they could always use more boobs in the race”.

Dolly Parton on the US presidential election. Rich Diamond/Getty Images.

The Herald:

“The best moment of seeing the Queen today was, by far, auld Betty’s face when the wifey next to me handed her a ripped B&M bag with toys for George and Charlotte.”

A man in the crowd as the Queen visited Dundee yesterday reports the experience on Facebook. Telegraph.

The Herald:

"He is extremely timid and his instinct will be to stay away from people, so we are asking the public to be vigilant and inform the police on 999 if they see him.”

No, not a humbled Michael Gove but Flaviu, aa two-year-old Carpathian lynx who escaped from Dartmoor Zoological Park near Plymouth, Devon.

Thank you for reading. See you on Monday.