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, health correspondent Helen McArdle reports that the number of births to mothers over 45 is growing faster in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK. 

“The fight for self-determination in Europe” is the headline in The National, spotlighting today’s Holyrood vote on Art 50, and the trial in Barcelona of a former head of Catalonia’s regional government for holding an independence vote in defiance of a ban. 

The Mail splashes on plans to set up cadet units in Scottish state schools.

“Trump unfit to address MPs, says Bercow” is the lead in the Guardian, while the Telegraph reports that the Speaker has been accused by one source of playing “student politics”. 

“Fillon ‘fake jobs’ scandal shakes French bonds as Le Pen fears rise” is the headline in the FT reporting on the turmoil in France’s presidential race. See Afore Ye Go, below. 

The Herald:

Exclusive: The Evening Times' Hannah Rodger reports on trouble at the school gates in Penilee, Glasgow. 

Camley’s cartoon

The Herald:

No pregnant pause for Camley as the number of older mothers in Scotland increases. Read the story here. 

FFS: Five in five seconds

What’s the story? Scots political journalist Andrew Marr has ever so politely thrown down the gauntlet to his peers. 

How? In an interview with the Radio Times, Glasgow-born Marr spoke of how his gentlemanly interviewing style had been compared to the more aggressive approaches of Andrew Neil, Robert Peston and Jeremy Paxman, with the implication that it was somehow wanting.

What’s his point? He got more results with honey rather than vinegar. Marr said: “Look at the sheer number of news stories that come out of my show: it's vastly more than anybody else’s. I think my job is to get the person in the studio to say the most interesting thing that he or she can say on the big subjects on that day. I think you get that by being polite.”

Why was Marr talking to the Radio Times? He has a new documentary coming out, Andrew Marr: My Brain and Me (BBC2, February 14), which charts his progress since suffering a stroke in 2013 when he was 53. The experience gave him “a sense of mortality” he says. “Paradoxically, as everyone says the stroke was caused by me working too hard, I sort of want to cram a lot of things in.”

Will Marr’s defence of his interviewing style by the last word on the subject? Hardly. News anchors, of the male variety anyway, have a habit of locking antlers. Marr once described Paxman’s style as “disdainful and contemptuous”, while Paxman hit back, saying Marr was “not the font of all wisdom”. Then there was the spat between the BBC’s Huw Edwards and ITV’s Tom Bradby over who had the biggest viewing figures. As for that tussle between Gordon Brewer and Brian Taylor over the last of the hair gel… 

Afore Ye Go

The Herald:

“As far as this place is concerned I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations in the House of Commons.”

Commons speaker John Bercow comes out against Donald Trump addressing both Houses of Parliament during his state visit. His declaration was met with applause. PA/PA Wire

SNP MP Alex Salmond adds his approval:

But later, Mr Salmond was less impressed with Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle for cutting short SNP MP Joanna Cherry during the Brexit debate:

Piers Morgan was critical of Mr Speaker:

The Herald:

Which brings a former Labour spin doctor into the fray:

And back to Morgan:

From former Labour MP Tom Harris.

The Herald:

"Nothing will change my mind [about running]”

French conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon comes out fighting, apologising for employing his wife and children from the public purse but insisting he would not quit the race. AP Photo/Christophe Ena

The Herald:

“According to President Trump’s doctor, Trump takes four different pills every day. Well, it’s actually one pill cut into four pieces that are small enough for him to hold.”

Late Night with Seth Myers. Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images

The Herald:

Nigel Farage is hit by an egg while campaigning in Stoke-on-Trent with Ukip leader Paul Nuttall. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images. Meanwhile, the dress sense of Mr Nuttall and David Coburn has Rob Francis recalling a classic Fast Show pairing:

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