Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Front pages
In The Herald, Michael Settle and Kate Devlin report on Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Autumn Statement declaration that the cost of Brexit will be £60 billion over the next five years.
The Telegraph reports unhappiness among Tory backbenchers over the Office for Budget Responsibility's forecasts about low growth. “We were told we would be in a recession. We are not. These predictions are worthless,” one minister told the paper.
The National celebrates its second birthday with a special souvenir edition, complete with glossy magazine-style cover. Inside, it is newsprint business as usual with a look into “The Brexit black hole”.
The Mail thinks FM Nicola Sturgeon should cut taxes after being given £800 million more to spend.
The Evening Times has all the pictures from Celtic’s 2-0 defeat to Barcelona last night.
The Guardian pictures the MP Jo Cox on her wedding day. The neo-Nazi who murdered her will never be freed from prison, reports the paper. The Times reports police concerns about the rise of the far-right.
The FT says Mr Hammond has put aside £27 billion in case of Brexit rainy days.
FFS: Five in five seconds
What’s the story?
President-elect Trump has declared an official start to the season of goodwill.
How?
Through a message urging Americans to unite and put a divisive campaign behind them; and by appointing two women, both critics of his, to high-profile positions.
They are?
South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, as US ambassador to the United Nations, and Betsy DeVos as education secretary.
Critics?
Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, once said Mr Trump was everything a governor didn’t want in a president; he, in turn, said the voters of South Carolina must be embarrassed by her. DeVos, a billionaire philanthropist and Republican donor, took a long time to swing her support behind the party’s choice.
And the message of peace and goodwill?
Delivered by the increasingly traditional (for the President-elect) medium of a video message, in which he told Americans gathering for Thanksgiving that it was time “to begin to heal our divisions”. He also reminded Americans that it was Lincoln who declared the Thanksgiving holiday in the midst of a civil war, adding: “President Lincoln called upon Americans to speak with one voice and one heart. That's just what we have to do.”
Camley’s cartoon
Capability Camley finds everything is not coming up roses for Chancellor Philip Hammond.
Afore Ye Go
“I will personally be closely monitoring Abellio and their progress on the improvement plan until performance returns to acceptable contractual standards.”
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf tells MSPs he is on the case. Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament/PA Wire
£2 trillion
What the UK national debt will be after Chancellor Philip Hammond added £122 billion to it in the Autumn Statement. Leon Neal/Getty Images.
With the cost of Brexit to the Exchequer now estimated at £60bn, this is unquestionably the biggest lie in British political history https://t.co/caIr4JfXUY
— Robert Harris (@Robert___Harris) November 23, 2016
Author Robert Harris on the Leave campaign's promise that leaving the EU would deliver £350 million extra a week for the NHS.
“Untrue”.
A spokeswoman for Elton John dismisses the announcement, made by Anthony Scaramucci, a member of Donald Trump's transition team, that the singer would perform at the presidential inauguration. Sir Elton, a Clinton supporter, once said of Mr Trump: “We cannot let this barbarian (Mr Trump) in office.” PA. Theo Wargo/Getty Images.
Not sure @MrTCHarris enjoyed John McDonnell's #AutumnStatement
— Asa Bennett (@asabenn) November 23, 2016
response https://t.co/MXsxJuBmuY pic.twitter.com/AezYgxrVAQ
Former Labour MP Tom Harris's first sweep of the McDonnell response.
Let me be clear: I don’t actually think John McDonnell *was* hung over… Me for the @Telegraph https://t.co/kXzAbgSChV
— Tom Harris (@MrTCHarris) November 23, 2016
And a later clarification.
President Obama, in his last Thanksgiving turkey pardon, bids for the world record in making terrible jokes. It is usually the job of his daughters to stand behind him looking pained at the puns, but this year, reported the president, they suddenly had a "scheduling conflict". Obama's nephews, still young enough not to have been tainted by DC cynicism said the president, were his wing men instead.
Trump is hawking a $149 gold-trimmed Christmas ornament shaped like a hat. https://t.co/WuFViRslfk pic.twitter.com/XXlKtIjTLD
— Slate (@Slate) November 23, 2016
That's my Christmas shopping solved. https://t.co/D137NfUEEk
— JOHN NICOLSON M.P. (@MrJohnNicolson) November 23, 2016
Two million plus
The number of votes Hillary Clinton is now ahead by in the popular vote in the US election. Cook Political Report/USA Today
“It's hard to argue that how well celebrities can dance is an important national issue. But you could certainly describe the former shadow chancellor doing the salsa on primetime, Gangnam Style, as something of a national moment.”
BBC director-general Lord Hall, addressing the Voice of the Listener and Viewer autumn conference on broadcasting in the “post-truth” era. Lord Hall said the BBC was “a trusted voice in a crowded arena”. Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images.
“Vice President-elect Mike Pence went to see “Hamilton” and was booed by people in the audience when he entered the theatre. And if the crowd wasn't mad enough already, Pence waited until a quiet scene to open up a bag of Skittles.”
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Drew Angerer/Getty Images.
“The Ferrero Rochers are very important. We have done them in pyramids and the going-away gift is a box of Ferrero Rocher. If we are going to take the p*** out of him – Ambassador Farage – we may as well do it properly.”
Andy Wigmore, communications director of Leave.EU, explains the pyramids of chocs decorating the room at a party at the Ritz last night for Nigel Farage. The bash was thrown by well-wishers including Ukip donor Aaron Banks and the Barclay Brothers. The Times reports today that Farage is planning a move to the US. Andrew Woodcock/PA Wire
Just a man of the people sticking it to the elite during a party at the Ritz pic.twitter.com/s4ZmahHUcH
— Alan White (@aljwhite) November 23, 2016
Read-through of the FT Xmas panto script going well pic.twitter.com/oaXzfPnxDn
— General Boles (@GeneralBoles) November 23, 2016
All together now - oh no it isn't...
Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat
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