Good morning and welcome to The Midge, your first bite of the day’s politics from Scotland and elsewhere.
Top stories today
- Scottish Labour says no to Trident renewal
- Living Wage rate increases 40p to £8.25
- Vetoes "out" of Scotland Bill
- No date with Clooney for SNP MP
- Sturgeon more popular than Queen and David Attenborough
- Erdogan triumphs in Turkey’s re-run poll
The front pages
The Herald splashes on Scottish Labour’s historic vote against the renewal of Trident.
The National calls the vote a “nice try” but claims only independence can get rid of Trident.
The Evening Times reports Shelter Scotland’s warning that more than 1000 children in Glasgow will be homeless at Christmas, up 15 per cent on last year.
The Financial Times leads with the Erdogan victory and reports that Sir Michael Hintze, a hedge fund tycoon, is considering donating a hefty sum to the Out camp.
The Times goes with the Trident vote, as does the Daily Record, i, The Scotsman, and the Scottish Daily Mail.
The Daily Telegraph leads on Home Secretary Theresa May’s refusal to rule out leading the Out campaign in EU poll.
The Guardian has a picture of Simone Biles, who secured two golds at the World Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow, taking her tally to 10 world golds.
The Independent reports that budget worries are likely to reduce access to NHS IVF in England.
Finally, the Daily Express says researchers are close to a new test that would predict the likelihood of developing diabetes.
06.00 BBC Radio 4 Today headlines
Bodies from Russian plane crash in Egypt flown home to St Petersburg … AKP scores decisive victory in Turkey poll … So-called “Snoopers Charter” returns this week - has it changed? … 15 years since first crew went to the International Space Station … Are we throwing away too much food?
07.00 BBC Good Morning Scotland headlines
Cults Academy in Aberdeen re-opens following death of pupil last week … Russian plane crash victims flown home to St Petersburg … Scottish Secretary David Mundell to publish amendments to Scotland Bill ... AKP victory … Chancellor George Osborne due in Berlin for talks with German counterpart over EU reform … Attacks on TV Licensing officers up from 37 last year to 89… Highlands and Islands Development Board marks 50th year.
Behind the news
Just say no to Trident: When it comes to contentious issues, parties have tended to heed the advice of Abraham Lincoln, political architect supreme, that “a house divided against itself cannot stand”. Not so Scottish Labour, which has chosen to accommodate those worrying cracks in its Trident policy by voting to build a granny flat and a conservatory, with planning permission for a loft conversion on the way.
As The Herald’s political editor Magnus Gardham reports, the decision, backed by just over 70 per cent of the party at yesterday’s conference in Perth, puts Scottish Labour at odds with the UK party. This is in addition to the split between UK leader Jeremy Corbyn (unilateralist, CND vice-president) and Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale (multilateralist), and unions north and south of the border.
Can everyone continue to live in the same house? The Financial Times believes the vote will buoy supporters of unilateralism in the UK party and quotes Ian Murray, Shadow Scottish Secretary, as saying the commitment “should be in the manifesto” for next May’s Holyrood elections.
The Scottish Daily Mail calls the move a “nuclear disaster” and reports that the Scottish Tories will today stage a “day of action” in Helensburgh, close to the Clyde Naval Base at Faslane. Writing in the paper, Gemma Doyle, the former MP for West Dunbartonshire, said the vote was “self-indulgent navel-gazing with a debate on a decision to be taken in another parliament”.
The Tories were quick to say the vote jeopardised national security and jobs, while an SNP spokesman wondered in the Daily Record whether Scottish Labour would be dictated to by “UK bosses” over Trident. Though anti-nuclear campaigners within and without the party see the Scottish move as bolstering a Corbyn push for a change in UK policy, it remains the case that, when given the chance to influence policy at the UK conference in Brighton, party managers kicked the matter into the long grass.
Who now in London has the courage to retrieve the ball and run with it?
David Mundell, Scottish Secretary
The Vow revisited: Scottish Secretary David Mundell’s publication today of amendments to the Scotland Bill is set to reopen the row over how much of the Smith Commission’s promises on increased powers for Scotland are being delivered.
As The Herald reports, Mr Mundell has chosen to focus on the dropping of vetoes from the Bill, and says Holyrood will also be given greater flexibility over creating new benefits for carers. “We are making the Scottish Parliament one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world,” says the Scottish Secretary, but the SNP insists that promises made before the referendum are not being delivered.
What to watch out for: will the veto remain over the power to vary the housing element of Universal Credit, thus scuppering Scottish Government plans to scrap the “bedroom tax”? Deputy First Minister John Swinney, quoted in the Financial Times, has his own watch list, which also includes the scrapping of restrictions on employment support. Interviewed on BBC Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland this morning, Mr Mundell said the Bill was all about enabling Westminster and Holyrood to “work together” on benefits. Full debate November 9.
George Clooney will be at the Scottish Business Awards even if Michelle Thomson MP won't
Not tonight Michelle: As the Sunday Herald reported yesterday, SNP MP Michelle Thomson will not be attending the Scottish Business Awards this month following an investigation into her property dealings. Guests who will be attending include George Clooney and Sir Chris Hoy.
Ms Popularity: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is now the number one official national treasure, beating figures including Sir David Attenborough, The Queen, Andy Murray and Billy Connolly in a YouGov poll selecting the most popular celebrities in Scotland.
The Diary
Scotland
- Fair Work Secretary Roseanna Cunningham announces new living wage rate, Glasgow
- Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil and entrepreneur Tom Hunter visit mobile foodbank, Kilmarnock
- Health Secretary Shona Robison addresses STUC women’s conference, Dundee
- Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee, Dumfries
- Sir Tom Hunter to deliver guest lecture at the Scotland Office in London entitled "Scotland's future: The 2nd enlightenment”
- Scottish Affairs Committee inquiry into creative industries in Scotland takes evidence at the Scottish Youth Theatre in Glasgow from Bill Matthews, Chair, Audience Council Scotland; Charlotte Wright, Director of Business and Sector Development, Iain Hamilton, Head of Creative Industries, Highlands and Islands Enterprise; Peter Honeyman, Subject Network Leader, Creative and Cultural Industries, University of the Highlands and Islands; Janet Archer, Chief Executive, Creative Scotland, David Smith, Director of Creative Industries, Scottish Enterprise, David Martin, Creative Industries Sector Manager, Skills Development Scotland; Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, Scottish Government
Westminster
- Iain Duncan Smith questioned by MPs at Work and Pensions Questions
Afore Ye Go
“Sorry, are we able to do that again?”
“We are live by the way.”
Gordon Brewer teaches Angela Constance, Education Secretary, the difference between pre-record and live, BBC Sunday Politics Scotland
“I feel like I’m trapped in an episode of ‘Allo ‘Allo.”
BBC Radio 4’s Susan Rae introduces this morning’s Tweet of the Day featuring the blue-footed booby.
Thank you for reading The Midge, your first bite of the day’s politics from Scotland and elsewhere. See you tomorrow.
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