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

Front pages

The Herald:

Exclusive: In The Herald, UK political editor Michael Settle has an interview with Defence Secretary Michael Fallon. Asked if the Government would facilitate a second independence referendum, the minister said: “No, forget it.”

In another front page exclusive, chief reporter David Leask reports that the new partner of Tory peer Michelle Mone sold tax avoidance schemes brought to an end by the Government. 

The headline in the National is “Westminster’s day of infamy”, with a small picture of Scottish Secretary David Mundell, the only Scottish MP to back the bill to trigger Brexit. 

The Herald:

The Scottish Mail goes for “PM gets the green light for Brexit”, while the Mail in England, above, opts for a more red, white, and blue tone. 

The Times says Tory MPs want guarantees on a number of matters, including the right of EU citizens to stay in the UK, or they will rebel next week. 

“A fifth of Labour MPs defy Corbyn as Brexit bill passes” is the splash in the Guardian.

The Telegraph pictures the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev Justin Welby, and reports that he has apologised after admitting the church had failed to report abuse of teenage boys. 

The Herald:

In the Evening Times, Stewart Paterson reports on the share of extra school cash coming to pupils in Glasgow.  

Camley’s cartoon

The Herald:

Camley records a false start in the race towards indyref2. 

FFS: Five in five seconds

What’s the story? The protest against Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK has acquired high-profile backers calling for “one of the biggest demonstrations in British history”.

Explain? Three letters sharply critical of the visit were published in The Guardian this morning. Among the signatories to one letter are Frankie Boyle, the SNP’s Mhairi Black MP, former Labour leader Ed Miliband, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood, and a host of union leaders. 

What does the Boyle/Black letter say? “We are dismayed and shocked by the attempt of the British Government to normalise Trump's agenda. People in Britain never voted for this. It is our duty as citizens to speak out. We oppose this state visit to the UK and commit ourselves to one of the biggest demonstrations in British history, to make very clear to our Government, and to the world, that this is not in our name.”

Why is that last phrase familiar? It was the motto of the Stop the War campaign, many of whose supporters are now behind the Stop Trump’s Muslim Ban protest.  

What’s next? A demonstration in London on Saturday at the US Embassy, moving on to Downing Street. It will have to go some way to beat the biggest protest to date: the march on February 15, 2003, against the Iraq war which drew a million people in London and 50,000 in Glasgow. 

Afore Ye Go

The Herald:

"All this talk of a second referendum is a diversion by the SNP away from the day job which I know Ruth Harrison ... Ruth Davidson​ ... and the Conservatives have been harrying them on."

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, interviewed this morning on The Herald's front page exclusive today, flubs the name of the Scottish Conservatives leader before recovering. BBC Good Morning Scotland. Listen here from the 2:14:00 mark. 

The Herald:

"Former prime minister John Major referred to the like of the former secretary of state for work and pensions as b*******. He could not have known that his party would become a whole Government full of b******* who are absolutely causing economic damage.”

Shortly after, Labour MP Neil Coyle had to apologise for his unparliamentary language during the Art 50 debate. PA Wire

The SNP's Joanna Cherry is unimpressed by the Government victory.

The BBC's James Landale has his eye on something else, and political ed Laura Kuenssberg responds:

The SNP's Hannah Bardell chooses to get her point across in Trainspotting speech style. Thanks to Grant Costello. 

The Herald:

"It would be hugely appreciated if colleagues didn't keep coming up to the chair, either asking explicitly when they are going to be called or doing so implicitly by enquiring whether it is all right if they go for lunch, repair to the loo, consume a cup of tea or eat a biscuit.”

Speaker John Bercow (above, centre), presiding over the long-running Brexit debate, gets a taste of being a teacher. Matt Dunham - WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Herald:

£34-£51 billion

The UK’s bill for leaving the EU, Sir Ivan Rogers, Britain's former ambassador to the EU, told MPs. Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

Molly McGlew finds Dubya's inauguration day fashion has been picked up by the singer Beyonce, who announced yesterday she is expecting twins.

The Herald:

Labour London MEP Seb Dance holds up a sign saying "He's lying to you" as Nigel Farage, speaking in the European Parliament in Brussels, accused EU leaders of "anti-Americanism" for their criticism of Donald Trump. European Parliament TV/PA Wire 

The Herald:

“Donald Trump spent the afternoon at the White House watching Finding Dory with his family. Apparently in this version Dory couldn't be found because she was being detained at the airport.”

Conan O’Brien. Michael Reynolds - Pool/Getty Images

This new parody Trump account might get boring after a while, but not yet Lord, not yet.

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