Scotland's papers: Cricket racism claims and Tory race turns 'toxic'
Several of Monday's front pages lead on a report into claims of racism in Scottish cricket. The Herald says the entire board of Scottish cricket's governing body resigned on the eve of the publication of a review that is expected to find it institutionally racist. The paper reports the 50-page independent review into Cricket Scotland, which will be published on Monday, will reveal significant areas of concern over racism and serious failings at leadership level.
The Scotsman says directors sent the letter of resignation to the interim chief executive officer on Sunday. A spokesperson for the body said it will work closely with SportScotland "to ensure appropriate governance, leadership and support is in place for the organisation and the sport in days ahead".
The racism investigation, which was commissioned by funding body SportScotland last year, comes after several allegations of racism and discrimination. The Metro says some were made by all-time leading wicket-taker Majid Haq. He represented Scotland on more than 200 occasions but did not play again after being sent home from the 2015 World Cup. At the time he hinted he felt victimised on grounds of race.
In other news, the i says the Conservative leadership race has become "increasingly bitter" as the briefing war ramps up. It says Rishi Sunak's campaign accused rival Liz Truss of flip-flopping on the threat of China, while Team Truss claimed Beijing was "effectively endorsing [Sunak] for PM".
The Daily Telegraph believes the briefing war has become "increasingly frenetic and negative" in recent days, and says Mr Sunak has accused Ms Truss of helping to enable Beijing's "infiltration" of British universities.
The Scottish Daily Express says Ms Truss will later reveal plans to "turbocharge" economic growth by building a string of "low-tax new towns". The foreign secretary envisages high-tech but low-regulation investment areas where businesses can "flourish", the paper reports.
The Scottish Daily Mail reports that the SNPs has been criticised for a bill it published in June which would restrict the power of sheriffs to refuse bail, leading to the release of more alleged offenders. Tory justice spokesman Jamie Greene told the paper Scotland is "sleepwalking towards a huge spike in crime", after it was revealed that minsters had failed to carry out any research into the potential impact of the bail changes on crime rates.
The National reports that Mr Sunak and Ms Truss have been criticized for delivering speeches targeting refugees, after they both voiced their support for the Rwanda scheme and pledged fresh measures to tighten the rules.
The Times Scotland says British holidaymakers should prepare to wait for hours in queues at Dover and Folkestone for the rest of the summer, with cross-Channel infrastructure on a "knife-edge" because of surging demand and more border checks.
A librarian at the high security state hospital, Carstairs, was forced to help cover a shift on a ward due to staff shortages, according to the Daily Record. The paper says a whistleblower said the librarian was basically a tick on a sheet to make the numbers "look good." Staff said dieticians, psychologists and occupational therapists have also been drafted in to help out with ward deficits despite not being trained.
The Press and Journal says dozens of motorists were left angry after a crater-like pot hole on the A9 caused thousands of pounds in damage to cars. The paper adds about 10 vehicles were left lined-up along the Inverness to Perth road on Sunday after suffering punctures near Carrbridge. After reporting the damage emergency repairs were carried out on the road by Bear Scotland workers.
The Sun has spoken to reality TV star Lauren Goodger, whose newborn baby died earlier this month. She tells the paper she is having a post-mortem on her daughter Lorena to find out exactly why she died - something she says she needs to do "for my own sanity".
A Perthshire farmer is due in court accused of failing to keep animal carcasses away from other animals and obstructing inspectors from visiting his croft, reports The Courier. The paper says Robert Young, 69, is facing a 14-charge complaint, which outlines a string of alleged failures at his farm between November 2021 and February this year.
Venue operators have said they are concerned the recovery of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is under threat from slower than normal ticket sales, reports the Edinburgh Evening News. The late publication of the official programme and marketing of the event, concerns about Covid, the cost-of-living crisis and the price of overnight accommodation are all thought to have dampened demand and left the festival on "a knife-edge".
The Evening Express says a court has heard how a "brutal and controlling abuser" allegedly broke his wife's ribs when he "rugby tackled" the nurse into a kitchen unit. The paper says the nurse was "too embarrassed" to have her bruised ribs examined in a hospital.
Police are hunting for a man seen acting suspiciously moments before a car burst into flames in a Dundee street in the early hours of Sunday, according to the Evening Telegraph.
And "Heat! Wave after wave" is the headline in the Daily Star of Scotland, as it says "scorched Brits" face another four heatwaves over the summer as Saharan heat "frazzles us" from next weekend.
