Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Today
- Crisis in child abuse inquiry as chair quits
- Tory leadership contest begins
- Watson in last-ditch bid to avoid Labour leadership race
- Sturgeon and Scottish Secretary to meet business leaders
- Parents 'may sue' over failing pupils
06.00 BBC Today headlines
Tory voting starts … Labour deputy leader Tom Watson to meet unions … Juno spacecraft enters into orbit around Jupiter … Suicide bombings in three cities in Saudi Arabia … Foreign clothing companies reviewing investment in Bangladesh after terror attack … Identity fraud cases double … MPs say Britain and Nato must do more to respond to Russian aggression in Ukraine.
07.00 BBC Good Morning Scotland headlines
Tory vote ... Watson ... Survivor groups shocked at child abuse inquiry resignation ... Business leaders meet FM and David Mundell amid signs of slowdown ... Saudi bombings... Space probe ... Staff at four universities strike over pay ... Stone bench presented to Queen for birthday.
Front pages
In The Herald, social affairs correspondent Stephen Naysmith reports on the resignation of Susan O’Brien QC as chairwoman of Scotland’s national child abuse inquiry.
The Mail also leads on the story, noting that the four-year inquiry has already cost £1 million.
The National says Tory leadership hopeful Theresa May is being urged to guarantee that three million EU nationals living in the UK can stay.
The Evening Times finds unhappiness among Glasgow commuters over the replacement bus service for the Subway, which is closed for a month.
The Sun and several other papers picture Chris Evans, who quit yesterday as the host of Top Gear. The FT says the programme is worth £50m a year to the BBC in global sales.
The Guardian says a ConservativeHome website poll puts Andrea Leadsom a percentage point ahead of Theresa May among party members, while the Times splashes on Boris Johnson’s support for Leadsom.
The Express says Nigel Farage quit as Ukip leader after a series of death threats.
Camley’s Cartoon
Camley finds a pair of likely lads making a great escape.
Five in five seconds: And they’re off…
1. What’s happening? The first round of voting in the Tory leadership contest begins this morning. Theresa May, Andrea Leadsom, Michael Gove, Stephen Crabb and Liam Fox are the candidates, the Tory leadership, and occupancy of Number Ten, are what they are after.
2. Process? Voting takes place among MPs on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The candidate with the least support is eliminated, and so on until two remain. This pair then appeal to the party in the country, with a winner announced by September 9.
3. Millions of voters? More like 150,000.
5. The other one to watch? Banker turned Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom, above. Although she only has some 36 declared backers, she won the support of Boris Johnson last night, with the former London mayor and ex-leadership hopeful said she had “the zap, the drive, and the determination” to do the job and was "able, kind and trustworthy". She also stole a march on other candidates by saying EU citizens already living in the UK should have their right to stay protected.
Afore Ye Go
“The major thing is, how did we get into this mess in the first place? If it's a whitewash I will be hugely disappointed.”
Roger Bacon, whose son Matthew, 34, was killed in 2005, speaks ahead of the publication tomorrow of the Iraq report.
“Never mind buyers remorse, you should feel ******* ashamed to have been for so long part of a giant propaganda machine which has helped the country make a potentially self-destructive decision that future generations will have to live with when you and I are long gone … But hey, it’s all a bit of fun eh? **** off.”
Former Blair spin doctor Alastair Campbell takes issue with ex-Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie saying he now regretted voting Leave. Campbell, above, with ex-Burnley turned Rangers player Joey Barton at a winner’s bus parade in May.
“I think of the two of us, the one that knows most about ‘giant propaganda machines’ would be Campbell by some distance.”
MacKenzie strikes back, citing the WMD that never were. Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images.
£101,198
The amount earned by Tory leadership hopeful Stephen Crabb MP in the year to April 2015, as shown in his tax return. Fellow contender Andrea Leadsom said she would release her return if she made it to the final two. Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images
"We're all Brexiters now.”
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, who is backing Theresa May. BBC R4 World at One. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.
It was inevitable once Chris Evans resigned... pic.twitter.com/DWG3duPHgl
— HaveIGotNewsForYou (@haveigotnews) 4 July 2016
"There are many people, MPs, party members up and down the country, asking me to resolve the impasse and I will if something isn't done soon.”
Labour MP Angela Eagle. Nope, still hasn’t launched her leadership challenge. Sky News
In a Twitter video, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said that having been elected leader by 60% of the votes, he had a responsibility to stay. One critic said the mini film looked like “a hostage video”.
“During the referendum campaign, I said I want my country back. What I'm saying today is I want my life back.”
Ukip leader Nigel Farage resigns. Marina Hyde of the Guardian says he’ll be back. “Think of it as Glenn Close going under the bathwater in Fatal Attraction. You know she’s going to rear back up soon enough.”
😎
— Douglas Carswell MP (@DouglasCarswell) 4 July 2016
Douglas Carswell, Ukip's only MP, and Farage critic, is clearly gutted at the news.
Surely @DavidCoburnUKip must stand for @UKIP leader? No one else better demonstrates modesty, diplomacy and intellectual rigour in his Party
— Jackson Carlaw MSP (@Carlaw4Eastwood) 4 July 2016
Touch of sarcasm there from Mr Carlaw?
Presenting a corporate video for Hamilton's Water breaks... "Water-way to have a good time!"#SuggestAJobForFarage pic.twitter.com/g9hV71tWxD
— Political Partridge (@PoliticalAP) 4 July 2016
"You cannot deny geography. The UK is in Europe. How can you take it out?”
Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, in Paris, sends a message of support to the 30,000 people who took part in the March for Europe rally in London at the weekend. Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Thank you for reading. See you tomorrow
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