this is bbc news, the headlines... iran's president has vowed to punish israel for an air strike in damascus that killed five iranian revolutionary guards. syrian activists say a total of ten people were killed in the blast. and felix tshisekedi is sworn in for a second term as president of the democratic republic of congo after an election his opponents described as a sham. norfolk police has referred itself to an independent watchdog for not responding to an emergency call from a house where a man, woman and two young girls were later found dead. police forcibly entered the home near norwich on friday after a call from a concerned member of the public. british communications regulator ofcom reviews whether to allow royal mail to give up its universal service obligation, which could mean an end to saturday postal deliveries.

now on bbc news, political thinking with nick robinson. hello and welcome to political thinking. a conversation with, rather than a news like interrogation of someone who shaped our political thinking about what has shaped the layers. my guest this week made the cover of time magazine when they profiled the first muslim leader of a western democracy. he is at the headline put it, the new face of scotland. the youngest leader this country has had in course of a century of having a devolved scottish government. but this, admits humza yousaf, here in glasgow, has been a difficult year for him. difficult for his party,

too, don't buy a police investigation, criticised for failing to deliver, and divided about when independence might actually be possible. humza yousaf, first minister, thanks forjoining me. my pleasure. it has been quite a year! you're telling me! how much do you feel you have aged in that time? i think people can probably look at pictures of before i became first minister and since, i suppose hogmanay was an interesting point when nadia and i were seeing in the new year, she said to me, could you imagine last year when we were at my parents�* house, they live in the south side glasgow, east renfrewshire, my mum and dad had gone to bed at 11, to old for this, happy new year, kids! it was me, my wife had my stepdaughter. we had

jules holland's hootenanny on the television, did a bit of a dance around the living room, much to the disgust of my stepdaughter, and at 1230 we are in bed and would never have envisaged hogmanay, what 2023 would have in store for us personally, let alone for the country that we love and it has been a whirlwind. country that we love and it has been a whirlwind-— a whirlwind. looking back at that ear, as a whirlwind. looking back at that year. as first _ a whirlwind. looking back at that year, as first minister, _ a whirlwind. looking back at that year, as first minister, not - a whirlwind. looking back at that year, as first minister, not quite| a whirlwind. looking back at that | year, as first minister, not quite a year, as first minister, not quite a year, what is the best bits of the job? what are the worst bits of the job? what are the worst bits of the “ob? , , job? what are the worst bits of the 'ob? , , , , job? what are the worst bits of the “ob? , , , , ., , . job? what are the worst bits of the “ob? , job? the best bits are very much and easil the job? the best bits are very much and easily the fact _ job? the best bits are very much and easily the fact that _ job? the best bits are very much and easily the fact that every _ job? the best bits are very much and easily the fact that every single - easily the fact that every single day, without a shadow of a doubt i get to make somebody�*s day. it can be something really small, a selfie, or somebody saying, i didn't expect to see you here, can i get a picture with the kid? it can be something quite transformational, a policy we are bringing forward, something that has literally changed somebody�*s live. but every single day as first minister you get to make somebody�*s day, if not many people. that is the

good thing. the bad thing is to press intrusion, no getting away from it, yourfamily and children being in the public eye, i mentioned my 14—year—old stepdaughter, she is in school, at that age. you can't really protect her from what is going on, what is in the newspaper. i can do that with my four—year—old, easier. but you can't do it with a 1a—year—old. constantly being under the spotlight can be difficult. at a different level than even being a cabinet minister. you different level than even being a cabinet minister.— different level than even being a cabinet minister. you always going to be in the — cabinet minister. you always going to be in the spotlight, _ cabinet minister. you always going to be in the spotlight, you - cabinet minister. you always going to be in the spotlight, you are - cabinet minister. you always going to be in the spotlight, you are a i to be in the spotlight, you are a politician, a difficult time for the snp, first minister, but then comes garzo. and your wife's family are stuck when the bomb start to fall —— then comes gusts are. i don't think i can imagine how difficult automatic that must be. traumatic is the riaht automatic that must be. traumatic is the right word- _ automatic that must be. traumatic is the right word. we _ automatic that must be. traumatic is the right word. we woke _ automatic that must be. traumatic is the right word. we woke up - automatic that must be. traumatic is the right word. we woke up on - the right word. we woke up on october the 7th and i sought for my

wife's phoned multiple messages from her mum who was in gaza, saying, i think you better check why there are 15 messages. i was worried because daddy are's gran is in gaza, 93, still there —— nadia's grand. we began to panic my no other word for it. nadia's mother was declaring what had happened in terms of the dreadful, apparent terror attack in israel. and immediately their worry was the retaliation, what was going to be the reaction from israel. the? to be the reaction from israel. they had some sense _ to be the reaction from israel. they had some sense of _ to be the reaction from israel. they had some sense of what _ to be the reaction from israel. they had some sense of what might be coming? had some sense of what might be cominu ? ., , , had some sense of what might be comina? ., , , ., ., , coming? undoubtedly, nadia's family travelled to gaza _ coming? undoubtedly, nadia's family travelled to gaza every _ coming? undoubtedly, nadia's family travelled to gaza every year - coming? undoubtedly, nadia's family travelled to gaza every year in - coming? undoubtedly, nadia's family travelled to gaza every year in the - travelled to gaza every year in the summer, before the blockade began. she has been there when there has been gunfire or the audit air strike here and there, but they knew by the fact that israel has not... hamas

had taken the number of hostages they had, the retaliation would be severe. that was immediately thought of how do we get, is anyway of getting nadia's mum and dad and the widerfamily, to get getting nadia's mum and dad and the wider family, to get them getting nadia's mum and dad and the widerfamily, to get them out? it became very apparent early on that the borders were sealed. i became very apparent early on that the borders were sealed.— the borders were sealed. i quite often the communications - the borders were sealed. i quite - often the communications workouts. you must have had nights, your wife must have had nights where you had no idea, whether they would be alive the next morning. that no idea, whether they would be alive the next morning.— the next morning. that is not -auttin the next morning. that is not putting it _ the next morning. that is not putting it strongly, _ the next morning. that is not putting it strongly, that - the next morning. that is not putting it strongly, that is - the next morning. that is not - putting it strongly, that is exactly what it was like. i will be frank, the four weeks my mother and father—in—law were in gaza with the lowest points of my life, and of nadia's life. precisely because day by day, night by night we did not know if they would live or not. i can remember the time at the snp conference, i got a call thursday into the conference, first night, my

mother—in—law out 1am saying that their neighbour has been told that they are about to get hits, to evacuate. the whole neighbourhood, because of the impact of that strike that they are worried about, the whole neighbourhood is wandering the streets. it turns out that was a false message. but i got a call monday morning, my mother—in—law crying and saying, i will never forget it, she said, you take care of my girls. and for me that was really tough. of my girls. and for me that was really tough-— really tough. she thought you thou . ht really tough. she thought you thought that _ really tough. she thought you thought that was _ really tough. she thought you thought that was the - really tough. she thought you thought that was the last - really tough. she thought you | thought that was the last call? really tough. she thought you - thought that was the last call? she was phoning _ thought that was the last call? file: was phoning me thought that was the last call? 5ie: was phoning me to thought that was the last call? 5“ie: was phoning me to say her goodbyes. 1am uk time. 3am in gaza. she was phoning me to say, you just make sure you take care of my girls. and i thought, how do i respond to that? thankfully, touch wood, they were fine. but we had moments like that, multiple phone calls in the middle of the night, thinking that was the last time we would speak to them. you said how difficult it was for

you being at the snp party conference, constant interviews and people talking to you. what it difficult to do the job when that was happening? whether mornings when you thought, i don't want to get out of bed led alone face the cameras, have meetings? at}! of bed led alone face the cameras, have meetings?— have meetings? of course it was difficult, have meetings? of course it was difficult. that _ have meetings? of course it was difficult, that is _ have meetings? of course it was difficult, that is why _ have meetings? of course it was difficult, that is why i _ have meetings? of course it was difficult, that is why i am - have meetings? of course it was difficult, that is why i am so - difficult, that is why i am so grateful to the team, i have got a wonderful, amazing talented cabinet and ministers, many of them who would step in and say, you don't need to do that. i can go shake their hands, do the speech, you go back to nadia and make sure you are there for her and the kids. you back to nadia and make sure you are there for her and the kids.— there for her and the kids. you went to a synagogue _ there for her and the kids. you went to a synagogue very _ there for her and the kids. you went to a synagogue very soon _ there for her and the kids. you went to a synagogue very soon after - there for her and the kids. you went to a synagogue very soon after the l to a synagogue very soon after the 7th of october, and it was a pretty powerful message, i think most people would agree. what was it he wanted to tell them? the people would agree. what was it he wanted to tell them?— wanted to tell them? the jewish community? _ wanted to tell them? the jewish community? very _ wanted to tell them? the jewish community? very simply - wanted to tell them? the jewish community? very simply to - wanted to tell them? the jewish community? very simply to that j community? very simply to that community, who i had grown up with, i grew up in a part of the country

that has the biggestjewish population in the entire country, i grew up in the arms of thejewish community. went to school in a school with a largejewish population, or did at the time. my message was simple, that their grief was my grief. i was feeling grief and when the ravai and i spoke, he and when the ravai and i spoke, he and i embraced and we cry —— a rabbi. we shed tears. and i embraced and we cry -- a rabbi. we shed tears.— and i embraced and we cry -- a rabbi. we shed tears. unlike keir starmer, you _ rabbi. we shed tears. unlike keir starmer, you have _ rabbi. we shed tears. unlike keir starmer, you have been - rabbi. we shed tears. unlike keir starmer, you have been much i rabbi. we shed tears. unlike keir i starmer, you have been much more critical of israel than the prime minister. 0r indeed the leader of the opposition in westminster. you have talked about israel's military action being tantamount to ethnic cleansing. action being tantamount to ethnic cleansina. , , ., ., , ., cleansing. very strong words. that is not what — cleansing. very strong words. that is not what i _ cleansing. very strong words. that is not what i said, _ cleansing. very strong words. that is not what i said, i _ cleansing. very strong words. that is not what i said, i said _ cleansing. very strong words. that is not what i said, i said that - cleansing. very strong words. that is not what i said, i said that the i is not what i said, i said that the statements from certain senior members of the israeli government, the national security minister, the finance minister, when they make statements that are saying that gazans should be resettled and in gazans should be resettled and in gaza that they should be israeli

settlements, that is textbook ethnic cleansing, there is no ifs or buts about it. if you are saying one homogenous group should be removed from their land had another ethnically homogenous group should be there, there can't be any argument about the fact that is ethnic cleansing. i5 argument about the fact that is ethnic cleansing.— argument about the fact that is ethnic cleansing. is what seeing genocide? _ ethnic cleansing. is what seeing genocide? that _ ethnic cleansing. is what seeing genocide? that would _ ethnic cleansing. is what seeing genocide? that would be - ethnic cleansing. is what seeing genocide? that would be for - ethnic cleansing. is what seeing | genocide? that would be for the ethnic cleansing. is what seeing - genocide? that would be for the icj to determine. _ genocide? that would be for the icj to determine. your _ genocide? that would be for the icj to determine. your wife _ genocide? that would be for the icj to determine. your wife nadia - genocide? that would be for the icj to determine. your wife nadia says| to determine. your wife nadia says what we're — to determine. your wife nadia says what we're seeing _ to determine. your wife nadia says what we're seeing is _ to determine. your wife nadia says what we're seeing is textbook - what we're seeing is textbook genocide in real—time. what we're seeing is textbook genocide in real-time.- what we're seeing is textbook genocide in real-time. nadia is responsible _ genocide in real-time. nadia is responsible for _ genocide in real-time. nadia is responsible for her— genocide in real-time. nadia is responsible for her comments, j genocide in real-time. nadia is. responsible for her comments, we have gone far past the time when husbands speak for wives and have to explain what it is that their wives say. nadia speaks for himself and very powerfully and articulates herself very powerfully. she might sa , or herself very powerfully. she might say. or others. _ herself very powerfully. she might say, or others, final, _ herself very powerfully. she might say, or others, final, that? - herself very powerfully. she might say, or others, final, that? what l herself very powerfully. she might| say, or others, final, that? what is imortant say, or others, final, that? what is important for— say, or others, final, that? what is important for me _ say, or others, final, that? what is important for me to _ say, or others, final, that? what is important for me to do _ say, or others, final, that? what is important for me to do is - say, or others, final, that? what is important for me to do is to - say, or others, final, that? what is| important for me to do is to respect international law and save the crime, any breach or potential breach of international law should be investigated. all the way up to and including genocide. it is right

and including genocide. it is right and that the icj, i have no equivocation is that the icj should absolutely be investigating this matter. they will come to a judgment no doubt in due course. interestingly the politics of the middle east, as you alluded to, have followed you throughout your life. at school you mentioned, 9/11, it becomes a formative experience for you at school. completely. it is becomes a formative experience for you at school. completely.- you at school. completely. it is the da that you at school. completely. it is the day that changed _ you at school. completely. it is the day that changed my _ you at school. completely. it is the day that changed my life, - you at school. completely. it is the day that changed my life, i - you at school. completely. it is the day that changed my life, i know. day that changed my life, i know that sounds strange being thousands of miles away from the event. but 9/11 took place on a tuesday and i get to school on wednesday morning and my two friends that i sit beside and my two friends that i sit beside and registration class are asking me, bombarding me with questions that i have no idea the answer to. why do muslims hate america? who did these attacks? it wasn't malicious theyjust these attacks? it wasn't malicious they just assume that these attacks? it wasn't malicious theyjust assume that being muslim, i must know the answer. i remember that night, sitting down with my

dad, he still watches the ten o'clock news to this day, and this time i sat down 19 said, you watching the news with me? i wanted to know what was going on. that was an absolute pivotal moment where i had to make a decision and think about, do i hide away, say it has nothing to do with me, which 9/11 didn't, but say as a community, do wejust shy away, didn't, but say as a community, do we just shy away, and do we, our faith condemns in the strongest possible terms the taking of any as listen live to belittling the thousands we saw in 9/11? that was a moment where i thought i am going to become politically active. i can understand _ become politically active. i can understand entirely _ become politically active. i can understand entirely why - become politically active. i can understand entirely why you i become politically active. i can understand entirely why you say 9/11 might be... confronting these questions. that doesn't explain high politics? your dad, you mentioned, wasn't in politics.— politics? your dad, you mentioned, wasn't in politics. your mum wasn't. the were wasn't in politics. your mum wasn't. they were not _ wasn't in politics. your mum wasn't. they were not on — wasn't in politics. your mum wasn't. they were not on the _ wasn't in politics. your mum wasn't. they were not on the front _ wasn't in politics. your mum wasn't. they were not on the front line - they were not on the front line politics but they were very

political in the sense that... my father was the first member of the snp from an asian background in glasgow. joint in the 1970s when joining the snp was almost seen as an act of betrayal. the asian community, we voted labour, that is what we did in the 1970s. my dad came a bit of a black sheep from the community for daring to even go against the political tide. ih against the political tide. in scotland, the idea of being a nationalist is not a phrase that often people in the snp like but it is something of pride, pride and identity, pride in country, a belief in self—government. escaping from being ruled from down south. and yet most other parts of the world, nationalism is often seen in a very different way, as a kind of hostile to others, aggressive. i different way, as a kind of hostile to others, aggressive.— different way, as a kind of hostile to others, aggressive. i have never been comfortable _ to others, aggressive. i have never been comfortable with _ to others, aggressive. i have never been comfortable with the - to others, aggressive. i have never been comfortable with the fact - to others, aggressive. i have never| been comfortable with the fact that we have national in our party's name, not because i think the

founding members of the snp had any part right inclination, they didn't have any nationalist inclinations in the way that you express it but because it can be misinterpreted. but we are the scottish national party, we have a very strong brand, very strong identity, but we have worked very hard to make it clear. this is well understood that we are a civic national party, we believe it doesn't matter pay you come from, it doesn't matter pay you come from, it is where we are going together, and there's no doubt about our politics rooted in the left and centre—left of political discourse. interestingly say the centre—left, you have said in the past... is hero too strong a word?— too strong a word? inspiration? gordon brown. _ too strong a word? inspiration? gordon brown. i— too strong a word? inspiration? gordon brown. i don't - too strong a word? inspiration? gordon brown. i don't think- too strong a word? inspiration? gordon brown. i don't think i i too strong a word? inspiration? i gordon brown. i don't think! have gordon brown. i don't think i have set either of those things! i think i was told admire... i set either of those things! i think i was told admire. . ._ i was told admire... i think we would agree — i was told admire... i think we would agree on _ i was told admire... i think we would agree on much - i was told admire... i think we would agree on much more i i was told admire... i think we would agree on much more on i was told admire... i think we i would agree on much more on which i was told admire... i think we - would agree on much more on which we can work together, you once said. mr;

can work together, you once said. if! political approach can work together, you once said. m“(j political approach always from day one that i've entered politics as tried not to look at the party label of an individual and try to see whether unlike you get along with them, work with them and collaborate.— them, work with them and collaborate. �* , ., , . them, work with them and collaborate. “ , ., , . , collaborate. beyond independence, is there anything — collaborate. beyond independence, is there anything you — collaborate. beyond independence, is there anything you disagree _ collaborate. beyond independence, is there anything you disagree with i collaborate. beyond independence, is there anything you disagree with him| there anything you disagree with him on? i there anything you disagree with him on? ., �* 4' ., there anything you disagree with him on? ., �* ~ ., ., ., ., on? i don't know, i have to examine his pulses — on? i don't know, i have to examine his pulses and _ on? i don't know, i have to examine his pulses and all _ on? i don't know, i have to examine his pulses and all that _ on? i don't know, i have to examine his pulses and all that much - on? i don't know, i have to examine his pulses and all that much detail. | his pulses and all that much detail. can you think of anything you wouldn't feel perfectly comfortable with in the labour party other than independence? the with in the labour party other than independence?— independence? the current labour pa , independence? the current labour party. there _ independence? the current labour party. there are — independence? the current labour party, there are a _ independence? the current labour party, there are a number- independence? the current labour party, there are a number of- independence? the current labour| party, there are a number of things i would disagree with, didn't think they are serious about tackling poverty, otherwise they would commit to... �* , poverty, otherwise they would commit to... “ , , ., to... but these debates happen all the time. to. .. but these debates happen all the time- i— to... but these debates happen all the time. i don't _ to... but these debates happen all the time. i don't think _ to... but these debates happen all the time. i don't think they - to... but these debates happen all the time. i don't think they are i the time. i don't think they are a -a the time. i don't think they are a party- -- they _ the time. i don't think they are a party... they don't _ the time. i don't think they are a party... they don't generally i the time. i don't think they are a | party... they don't generally read and progressive taxation in the way that i do. there is a lot more in our politics that unites our stand divides us. the constitution is not a small matter. that is fundamentally an issue here in scotland. that is why a large part of my message, those who believe in

independence, setting off around 50-50, independence, setting off around 50—50, depending on which poll you look at, keir starmer will be the next prime minister, there is no ifs or buts. he will be the prime minister. if you believe in independence, but for what you believe in, a party that is going to help you to deliver and advise that because of independence. then;r help you to deliver and advise that because of independence. they say if ou live in because of independence. they say if you live in keir— because of independence. they say if you live in keir starmer _ because of independence. they say if you live in keir starmer being - because of independence. they say if you live in keir starmer being prime l you live in keir starmer being prime minister, you better vote for him because you can't take the result for granted. what you can say is the general election is nothing to do with independence, it is about who occupies in about ten. i(eir with independence, it is about who occupies in about ten. keir starmer doesnt occupies in about ten. keir starmer doesn't need _ occupies in about ten. keir starmer doesn't need scotland _ occupies in about ten. keir starmer doesn't need scotland to _ occupies in about ten. keir starmer doesn't need scotland to win, i occupies in about ten. keir starmer doesn't need scotland to win, he i occupies in about ten. keir starmer doesn't need scotland to win, he isj doesn't need scotland to win, he is ahead in the polls, if you show me a single pole or tell me in a single pill that does not show a sweeping victory for keir starmer, i have not seen it. i victory for keir starmer, i have not seen it. .., victory for keir starmer, i have not seen it. .. , ., victory for keir starmer, i have not seen it. , ., ., victory for keir starmer, i have not seen it. i. ., , seen it. i can tell you that peer said something _ seen it. i can tell you that peer said something similar- seen it. i can tell you that peer said something similar in i seen it. i can tell you that peerj said something similar in 2017. seen it. i can tell you that peeri said something similar in 2017. it doesn't matter what she said, the polls... he doesn't need scotland to win. what scotland needs is

westminster listening to our country, and the only way that will happen, doesn't ignore us as we have a large cohort of snp mps. let’s a large cohort of snp mps. let's talk about _ a large cohort of snp mps. let's talk about some _ a large cohort of snp mps. let's talk about some of _ a large cohort of snp mps. let's talk about some of the - a large cohort of snp mps. let's talk about some of the hurdles you have to overcome and introduction, i said you have a few. 0ne you will say is for the police but briefly, on this police investigation, our people entitled to know the outcome of that before they go to the ballot box? ., ., , box? that would be me interfering in the olice box? that would be me interfering in the police investigation _ box? that would be me interfering in the police investigation because i. the police investigation because i would be saying, the police have to conclude that investigation at certain times. i have to let the police do what they have to do in the time they have to do it. i suppose it is fair to say, and i'm not going to treat your listeners as fools, the police investigation has been one of the most difficult times for the party, no sr buts. there has been clearly been an impact in terms of how we are perceived by the public on issues of trust. i have to

work hard as i hope i have been, working hard to make sure people know whatever the outcome of the investigation, the snp as a party that contrast. it has been difficult no doubt for those involved, certainly no doubt about that. difficult for us as a party and it has been a challenge for me and in my first ten months.— has been a challenge for me and in my first ten months. problem tucuman ou were my first ten months. problem tucuman you were clear— my first ten months. problem tucuman you were clear and _ my first ten months. problem tucuman you were clear and tapping _ my first ten months. problem tucuman you were clear and tapping clear, i my first ten months. problem tucuman you were clear and tapping clear, it i you were clear and tapping clear, it is all about delivery. you said, if we deliver, we are credible and people will carry on supporting us. when you look, though, at the record, this isn't the interview go into detail on this policy, but when you look at the record on public services or health, education, which allowed the woman who ran against you to be leader to say when you are transport minister, trains were never on time, as health minister, we had record waiting times, do you

have to look at the electric in the high and say, we haven't delivered well enough? ida. high and say, we haven't delivered well enough?— high and say, we haven't delivered well enou~h? ., ~ ., well enough? no, i think what we say to the electorate _ well enough? no, i think what we say to the electorate is _ well enough? no, i think what we say to the electorate is 16.5 _ well enough? no, i think what we say to the electorate is 16.5 years - well enough? no, i think what we say to the electorate is 16.5 years in i to the electorate is 16.5 years in government, here is what we'd delivered. i don't go through all of the detail but talking about the fact that last year alone we lifted 90,000 children out of poverty. he was what we are delivering in the mist of a cost of living crisis from free education to not paying a penny for your prescriptions, etc. free education to not paying a penny foryour prescriptions, etc. i free education to not paying a penny for your prescriptions, etc. i go through the record, but then the honesty bit, a legitimate question, saying we haven't achieved everything we wanted to. where we have had failures, not stepped up to the mark, we have been upfront about that, open about that and we endeavour to learn from that. if you can point to any government that has beenin can point to any government that has been in powerfor16.5 years can point to any government that has been in power for 16.5 years as long as we have been, and hasn't had setbacks, in the face of extraordinary headwinds, and some of

those are due to funding decisions and cuts made from westminster, some of them are wholly our mistakes. we will own them, hold our hands up and make sure we deliver better. the snp have been in — make sure we deliver better. the snp have been in power— make sure we deliver better. the snp have been in power for— make sure we deliver better. the snp have been in power for a _ make sure we deliver better. the snp have been in power for a very - make sure we deliver better. the snp have been in power for a very long i have been in powerfor a very long time, longerthan have been in powerfor a very long time, longer than the tories in westminster. someone said to me the other day, did you realise the iphone hadn't been invented when the snp came into power? and then you look and say, educational results in scotland is slipping, it in england it is rising. the life expectancy for scots has seen the sharpest fall in a0 years. you would have to give yourself a school report of most do much better. i yourself a school report of most do much better-— much better. i would look at it and sa that much better. i would look at it and say that we — much better. i would look at it and say that we have _ much better. i would look at it and say that we have lifted _ much better. i would look at it and say that we have lifted 90,000 i say that we have lifted 90,000 children out of poverty last year, under the snp there has been not only record starting in the nhs but the best paid staff, more gps per head than the rest of the uk. if i look at gdp per income, adjusted for

population, we are growing since we have been in power 10%, the uk has been at 6%, productivity growth, 1% a year, uk 0.5% a year. i can point to where we have delivered but all of that has been characterised by our social contract that we have never shied away from. that is meant in that social contract that if you are at top 5% owner in scotland you may well pay more in tax, you will pay more in tax but the social contract means that there are a number of universal benefits only available in scotland, not paying a single penny for university tuition, some of the best universities in the world, free childcare, prescription charges i have mentioned, bus travel, free for under 22. hospitals and schools _ travel, free for under 22. hospitals and schools are _ travel, free for under 22. hospitals and schools are not _ travel, free for under 22. hospitals and schools are not succeeding. i and schools are not succeeding. that's not the case, if you look at our a&e performance, it has been better than those in england and

wales last eight years. we better than those in england and wales last eight years.— better than those in england and wales last eight years. we will not challen . e wales last eight years. we will not challenge each _ wales last eight years. we will not challenge each other _ wales last eight years. we will not challenge each other on _ wales last eight years. we will not challenge each other on this, i wales last eight years. we will not challenge each other on this, that l challenge each other on this, that is for another day. another sort of interview. throughout this you have said you believe keir starmer is the next prime minister. i'm not sure he yet believe that. he in a way is in the position you were in hogmanay, two hogmanays i go, not knowing what would happen. he is your particular opponent but i guess you have some empathy with the position he is in, what would you advise him about? taking power. iwould what would you advise him about? taking power. i would advise him to be radical and bold. taking power. i would advise him to be radicaland bold. he taking power. i would advise him to be radical and bold. he is 20—25% ahead in the polls, he will be their prime minister. i have not found a person in the country, a political analyst member of the public who thinks keir starmer will not be the next pm. give scotland an opportunity to say, if you want to get rid of tory mps in scotland,

vote snp because we are second place in every single tory seat north of the border. but for what you believe in. but i say to keir starmer, why not come forward with a bold and radical plan? this is exactly the time to do it. you know you will be the next prime minister, entertained what we see is a triangulation of pulses from the conservatives, and only policy of difference that i have seen is the green prosperity fund. and even that has gone from being a plan to an ambition and beginning to roll back. i am very willing as first minister to work with the uk labour government in order of the best interests of scotland. i will continue to push for the powers for the second referendum, that goes almost without saying, but in terms of unleashing scotland's potential in renewables, i would work with labour to lift the two child limit, so there's lots can work together on but i would say, show a bit of backbone, be bold,

radical, don't dump all your pulses and if that is what the country is probably looking for.— probably looking for. personal advice about... _ probably looking for. personal advice about... nor _ probably looking for. personal advice about... nor as - probably looking for. personal advice about... nor as a i probably looking for. personal advice about... nor as a party| advice about... nor as a party animal, not a politician, advice about... nor as a party animal, nota politician, but advice about... nor as a party animal, not a politician, but as a human being. animal, not a politician, but as a human being-— animal, not a politician, but as a human beinu. , ., i. ., , human being. draw your boundaries and make sure _ human being. draw your boundaries and make sure you _ human being. draw your boundaries and make sure you spend _ human being. draw your boundaries and make sure you spend time i human being. draw your boundaries and make sure you spend time with| and make sure you spend time with yourfamily. i have been a government ministerfor yourfamily. i have been a government minister for 11.5 years in various different offices. i would say in 2016, towards the end of 2016, i had burnt both ends of the wick. and not ashamed to say, i went to counselling because i was near breakdown point. i did it for any boundaries in terms of my personal relationships, effectively lost a marriage over it, and other issues. sacrifices of your family relationships. it is not worth it. your family is always going to be there for you. i made a deliberate decision thereafter, certainly as first minister, to draw those boundaries. my team knows monday,

between seven and eight, we don't disturb him because he is giving his four—year—old bath and he is reading a book to put his little one to bed. they know that, they boundaries are they are. if i say anything to keir starmer on a personal level, from the very beginning draw those boundaries and make sure you don't overly sacrifice time with your family. overly sacrifice time with your famil . ., ,. overly sacrifice time with your famil . ., ., , family. you said at the beginning that ou family. you said at the beginning that you were — family. you said at the beginning that you were worried _ family. you said at the beginning that you were worried about i family. you said at the beginning that you were worried about the l that you were worried about the impact on your two girls. your teenage stepdaughter and your four—year—old. he has said, keir starmer, that it is the biggest worry, so on this programme, how to protect his children. is there a way, is it possible or do you just have to plead with people like me and others to say, give us the space? it and others to say, give us the sace? . ., and others to say, give us the sace? , ., ., , ., space? it is hard and it is not actually even _ space? it is hard and it is not actually even the _ space? it is hard and it is not actually even the overt i space? it is hard and it is not i actually even the overt intrusion, because to some extent you have to

accept that as part of the job, it is the hard part of the job. you are just kind of going out of the park, i see the person coming out with a mobile phone and take a picture, you just feel a bit unsettled. you know that your four—year—old can see, they can see it. it is slightly unsettling. there is that difficulty and balance between people understandably wanting to know who you are as a human being and they can't understand me, ora you are as a human being and they can't understand me, or a super keir starmer without knowing our family, to such a big part of who we are. but where do you draw the line? i think that is the difficulty, and you can protect your four—year—old a little bit more, 1a—year—old who is on various different social media sites, even though we try to protect her from that, that is a little bit harder, more difficult to protect. humza yousaf, first minister of scotland, thank you forjoining me on political thinking. scotland, thank you for “oining me on politicalthinking._

hello. storm isha looks to be one of the strongest storms of the �*23/�*2a season. it is likely to lead to transport disruption as well as probably damaged power networks. here is the rapidly deepening area of low pressure travelling beneath a powerful atlantic jet stream, and it's this combination that rapidly strengthens this area of low pressure. severe gales will be widespread, and so will a threat of disruption. we'll take a look at that in a bit more detail injust a moment. but first of all, this night, a band of rain pushes eastwards, follows by showers. the south—westerly winds bringing us relatively mild air. a to 7 degrees celsius, so nowhere near as cold a night as it was for many of the nights that we had last week. a mild start then to sunday, sunshine to start the day in northern and eastern scotland and across most of england and wales. northern ireland sees outbreaks

of rain turning heavy quickly and this wet and windy weather will then spread its way northwards and eastwards. the south—southwesterly winds bringing very mild air. the mild air will set off a thaw of the lying snow, which combined with the heavy rain, could bring some concerns with the localised flooding. however, it's the strength of the winds sunday evening, sunday night and into the early hours of monday morning that are cause for concern. storm isha will bring gusts of wind of around 60 to 70 miles an hour quite widely across western areas, maybe 80 miles an hour for northwest wales and perhaps parts of northern ireland. but the strongest winds will be going across scotland, where we could see gusts reaching 85 miles an hour across the north and west, maybe even a little bit stronger than that. now, the amber warning in scotland for storm isha is in the highest impact column weather—wise. if the likelihood or confidence grows, then we may well see a red weather warning follow. so, in other words, stay in touch with the latest forecasts because there could be updates to the weather warnings as we go through sunday. it then gets very windy for a time sunday night across parts of the coast of southeast england,

that will likely disrupt the ferries. and then from monday, we're looking at a very blustery day. the strong winds very slow to ease down. a day of sunshine and heavy thundery showers. some of the showers turning to snow across the high scottish mountains. it will feel a colder kind of day with temperatures ranging between eight and 11 degrees celsius. it then looks like we'll see more rain come our way for tuesday. wednesday, drier and sunnier. in the short term, though, please pay attention to the warnings for storm isha. live from london.

this is bbc news. iran's president vows to punish israel for an air strike in damascus that killed five iranian revolutionary guards. norfolk police refers itself to an independent watchdog for not responding to an emergency call from a house where a man, a woman, and two young girls were laterfound dead. and felix tshisekedi is sworn in for a second term as president of the democratic republic of congo after an election his opponents described as a sham. and later this hour we set our focus on stunning images from the close—up photographer of the year awards. hello, i'm kylie pentelow. iran's president, ebrahim raisi, has vowed to punish israel for an airstrike in syria that killed five members of tehran's revolutionary guards.

israel has not commented on the attack in damascus