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

Camley’s cartoon

The Herald:

Away in a manger, Camley discovers council cuts biting hard. 

Front pages

The Herald:

Exclusive: In The Herald, Gerry Braiden reports on a think-tank warning that councils should brace themselves for cuts of £700 million in the next few years. 

The National says it is boom time in the Highlands as Inverness is named as one of the world’s top ten tourist destinations. 

The Mail leads on Tory claims that overspends under SNP ministers have led to £1 billion being wasted. 

The Herald: The Evening Times has all the pictures from yesterday’s charity dash in Glasgow. 

The Guardian reports that bed shortages mean patients with eating disorders in England are having to be sent to Scotland for treatment. 

In the Times, former SNP minister Alex Neil says indyref2 should wait till after Brexit. 

The FT reports Donald Trump’s criticisms of the CIA over its finding that Russia intervened in the presidential election to help him win.

FFS: Five in five seconds

What’s the story? Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson has stuck a leg into Trousergate.

Trousergate? The row between MP Nicky Morgan and Downing Street which began after the former minister questioned the PM’s wearing of £995 leather trousers, a £495 jumper and £295 trainers in an “at home” photo. The tiff worsened yesterday after it emerged tweets had been traded between Ms Morgan and Mrs May’s Scots gatekeeper, Fiona Hill. See Afore Ye Go, below.  

How has Ruth Davidson become involved? She spoke to Carolyn Quinn of BBC’s Westminster Hour in an interview broadcast night. It was a wide-ranging chat taking in such subjects as Brexit and getting the best deal for the UK as a whole; plus Boris Johnson’s criticisms of Saudi (Davidson backed him, adding that she has been “pleasantly surprised” at his performance in government). But it is her comments on those leather trousers that are likely to be a talking point given the story continues to run today with the revelation in the Mail that Ms Morgan, a soft Brexiteer, has a handbag almost as expensive as Mrs May’s trousers. Fellow Tory MP, and hard Brexiteer, Nadine Dorries has called Ms Morgan’s comments “sexist” as she did not criticise David Cameron’s expensive suits.

Is Trousergate showing up the split seams in the Tory party over Brexit? Some might say that.  

And Ms Davidson’s contribution? Asked what was the most expensive item of clothing she had ever worn, she said: “Probably my bridesmaid’s dress from my sister’s wedding … but it wasn’t anywhere near £1000, I’ll tell you that. I’m more of a workhorse than a show pony, I don’t tend to buy an awful lot of stuff and it’s all out of high street shops. I’m not really a designer person.” She zipped up further discussion on the matter by saying far too much attention is paid to such things, particularly when it comes to women politicians. 

Afore Ye Go

The Herald:

“Don’t bring that woman to No 10 again.”

Theresa May’s adviser, Fiona Hill (above, right) in a text to Alistair Burt MP after Nicky Morgan MP criticised the PM for wearing leather trousers costing £995. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire. Mail on Sunday

The Herald:

“If you don’t like something I have said or done, please tell me directly. No man brings me to any meeting.”

Ms Morgan, who is leading a Tory campaign group for a soft Brexit, responds to Ms Hill. Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire 

The Herald:

“The new b*******”. 

Inspired by John Major’s battles with the Eurosceptics of old, what Team May has taken to calling the soft Brexiters. Sunday Times. Above, Major, centre, at a thanksgiving service for the Queen’s birthday in June. Matt Dunham, WPA Pool/Getty Images).

The Herald:

"It was a short call, but one I was happy to take.”

FM Nicola Sturgeon on her Friday night call from president-elect Donald Trump. She had previously said she would “be on the other line” in the unlikely event of him calling after winning the election. Scotland's Talk-in, Bauer Radio. Above, during the 2015 election. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

The Herald:

“Britain supports the Saudi-led campaign to restore the legitimate government.”


Boris Johnson, at a press conference following meetings with King Salman and Saudi ministers. The Foreign Secretary added the UK continued to “have a deep concern for the suffering of the people of Yemen”. Carl Court/Getty Images

The Herald:

"Boris is much more cut out for Strictly than he is for Foreign Secretary. Boris would win Strictly because he would make a fool of himself.”

Former Tory Cabinet minister Kenneth Clarke.

What Shadow Attorney General Shami Chakrabarti might, just might, have been saying to party leader Jeremy Corbyn as protesters invaded a Labour event to demand help for suffering Syrians.

The Herald:

“Donald Trump’s campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said she cannot take a position in the Trump administration because she has four young children. She said: ‘This would mean taking care of one more’.”

Conan O’Brien. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The Herald:

“He does massive deals in Russia not for himself, but for the company.”

President-elect Donald Trump on Rex Tillerson, above, the ExxonMobil boss who has been linked with the Secretary of State job. Mr Trump also called CIA findings that Russia meddled in the election to help him against Hillary Clinton “ridiculous”, adding: “It's just another excuse.” Fox News. Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Saturday Night Live reflects on some of Mr Trump's provocative Cabinet picks by imagining the new head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, a Mr Walter White ... 

Tory MP Nadine Dorries puts up her Christmas tree.

Only to find best laid plans going awry.

Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat