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

Front pages

The Herald:

In The Herald, UK political editor Michael Settle highlights new research saying families will see almost no growth in incomes before the 2020 General Election. 

The National pictures Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, and says the SNP is demanding an apology after a speech in which she said indyref2 could start another “yet another fratricidal conflict”. See Afore Ye Go, below. 

“Top schools in abuse inquiry” is the splash in the Mail.

The Times hails the “biggest overhaul of rail ticket pricing” in 30 years and looks forward to cheaper fares for long-distance trips. Virgin is taking part in the trials. 

The Telegraph and the FT report that Germany has moved into the Trump administration’s sights, with one adviser accusing the country of taking advantage of a “grossly undervalued” euro to boost exports at America’s expense. 

The Guardian and FT picture former Tory minister Kenneth Clarke speaking in the Art 50 debate. “Today’s Tory party would amaze even Enoch Powell,” Mr Clarke told the Commons. 

The Express says there is a “sneaky plot” afoot by Remain MPs to thwart Brexit at the last minute. 

The Herald:

The Evening Times reveals another blow to Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street. 

Camley’s cartoon

The Herald:

Camley drops in on a boardroom massacre in America. Camley … you’re hired. 

FFS: Five in five seconds

What’s the story? The viewing figures are in for BBC Scotland’s new current affairs show, Timeline, which made its debut last Thursday. 

And they are? 76,000.

Impressive? They scored higher than the second half of Channel 4 News, which had 72,000. BBC Scotland 2016, in some ways the show’s late night predecessor, could only average 30,000 at best. Still not enough to beat STV’s Scotland Tonight, which averages 85,000 a night, but the magazine-style Timeline is in the right half of the pitch. 

Reasons? Time slot could have been important: 7.30pm as opposed to Scotland 2016’s 10.30pm.

While we’re here, where are we on the Scottish Six? Still no word from BBC director-general Tony Hall. A story in the Sunday Times this week speculated that it was not going to happen, and that one alternative being considered by the BBC was to start Reporting Scotland at 6.20pm, and give it more money. An “informed source” quoted by the paper said there had been a lukewarm response to the pilots for a Scottish Six. 

Afore Ye Go

The Herald:

“People do not want Brexit to be used to start yet another fratricidal conflict. I do not want Scotland to join post-Trump America and pre-election France as this year’s focal point for global instability.”

Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson, speaking in Edinburgh last night, on the prospect of an indyref2. The SNP criticised the “inflammatory” language used. Read the story by political editor Tom Gordon, here. 

A well-kent SNP supporter delivers his review.

The Herald:

“We asked the people of the UK if they wanted to leave the EU. They decided they did. So at the core of this Bill lies a very simple question. Do we trust the people or not?”

Brexit Secretary David Davis opens the debate on Article 50. Jack Taylor/Getty Images

The Herald:

“Nice men like President Trump and President Erdogan are just impatient to abandon their normal protectionism and give us access. No doubt there is somewhere a Hatter holding a tea party with a dormouse.”

Tory MP Ken Clarke slates notions of a sunny future for the UK outside the EU. 

The Herald:

"I’m not surprised that he left because he offered us a political strategy that was based on all the ethos and ethics of the Bullingdon Club: smash up the place, leave some cash on the table and leave it to others to clear up."

Former Labour minister Liam Byrne, whose jokey note about all the money being gone was often cited by David Cameron, has his revenge in the Article 50 debate.

Fascinating, non-alternative fact there from the FT. 

How Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick was revealed. Thanks to the Sun's Harry Cole.

The Herald:

“It’s like watching the first episode of Breaking Bad and thinking, ‘Oh it’s just a science teacher cooking meth, it can’t get any crazier’.”

Hasan Minhaj of the Daily Show on Donald Trump’s first week as president. Above, BB star Bryan Cranston with a Walter White lookalike. Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for BFI)

Showing you are never too old to protest. 

From the Chicago Tribune

The Tories' Murdo Fraser keeps an eye on transfer day comings and goings.

Finally, having fought Ewan McGregor last week, Piers Morgan has acquired a new Twitter enemy in the formidable form of novelist Robert Harris.

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