hello — you're watching bbc news. welcome to an election special across of polls opening across england and scotland next week. the political leaders will be taking part in a bbc debate making their case to the government in the welsh assembly. we will be looking at the keyissues assembly. we will be looking at the key issues for voters to consider in all the elections which take place next thursday. they include the scottish parliament elections and we will hear the thoughts of the political scientists and pollster sirjohn curtis on how hollywood could change and the issues most concerning voters. and in england polls will decide who runs more than 140 councils and districts and as a by election in hartlepool and there

are also 30 mayoral contests taking place including in london, birmingham, and liverpool. you are watching bbc news. in a week voters across the country will cast their ballots in a series of interactions. there are local councils and mayoral elections across england and national elections in scotland and wales. tonight it will be there voters in wales to hear from the leaders of the main parties in the bbc rails debate. we will be building up to that debate which starts in just under half an hour time. let us take a more detailed look at the elections. it is the biggest elections. it is the biggest election day until the next general election. and because of the

cancellation of last year at�*s local elections, i may the 6th, thousands of seats across the uk are up for grabs. in england, people will be voting in 143 local authorities. with about 5000 feet in contention. counsellors are in charge of many services from being connection for social care, sports facilities, and libraries. there are also 13 male —— mayoral elections including greater manchester, west midlands, london, and for the first time in west yorkshire. voters in london will also elect 25 members of the london assembly. it scrutinises the mere�*s decisions. voters in england and wales will also be asked to enact parties and crime credit —— commissioners. they set the budget and parities for police in their area. there are also national elections in scotland and wales. 129 seats are up for grabs in the scottish parliament. that is made up

of 73 constituencies. and a further 56 seats made up from regionalists. i'm in wales, 60 seats are in play, 40 constituencies, and a further 20 seats and i made up from the regional lift system. the election is unmated sex but due to the coronavirus restriction, it would be a few days until we find out the results. —— the election is on may six. as i said earlier — we'll be hearing from the political leaders in wales in the bbc wales debate — let's take a look at how power is devolved in wales. the powers of the welsh senedd have been devolved from the uk parliament. the welsh government has power to make law on a range of issues. they include the running of the nhs in wales. the running of nurseries, school, colleges and universities. the welsh government also has some tax—raising powers. but unlike equivalent administrations in scotland & northern ireland 7 the responsibility over policing and justice in wales remains the responsibility of the uk government.

let's speak to the bbc wales political editor felicity evans. the —— the debate is starting in a few minutes�* time. set the scene for us. few minutes' time. set the scene for us. ., , few minutes' time. set the scene for us. ., ., few minutes' time. set the scene for us. you may hear some theme music -la in: us. you may hear some theme music playing very — us. you may hear some theme music playing very shortly _ us. you may hear some theme music playing very shortly because - us. you may hear some theme music playing very shortly because there i playing very shortly because there are actually sound checks going on ahead of that debate going life. it is taking place just behind ahead of that debate going life. it is taking placejust behind me in the atrium of bbc rails new headquarters and central square. in terms of the format, we are going to hear from five parties for an hour and they will be taking questions from voters. those parties will be welsh labour, the welsh conservatives, the nationalist party, the welsh liberal democrats, and the abolished the wells assembly party. and then for half an hour after that, they will be a smaller debate with a smaller party including the greens, ukip, and

reform uk. that is the format. i like to pay forjust before putting day for all the party. to like to pay forjust before putting day for all the party.— day for all the party. to what extent has — day for all the party. to what extent has been _ day for all the party. to what extent has been dominated l day for all the party. to what l extent has been dominated by day for all the party. to what - extent has been dominated by the pandemic? it extent has been dominated by the andemic? ., , , extent has been dominated by the andemic? . , , ., ., _ pandemic? it has been dominated by the pandemic— pandemic? it has been dominated by the pandemic both _ pandemic? it has been dominated by the pandemic both in _ pandemic? it has been dominated by the pandemic both in terms - pandemic? it has been dominated by the pandemic both in terms of - the pandemic both in terms of practicality and in terms of that extensive issues under discussion. as you know the restrictions that have been imposed throughout the united kingdom have really scuppered the parties in terms of the sort of preparations that they would normally be making ahead of this set of elections taking place right across united kingdom. in wales specifically, door—to—door canvassing, and deflating was only around in a of april and in normal times he would have had parties with activists having their feet on the ground pounding the pavement many months before that will stop so there's a sense in which the parties have been operating more in the dark that they usually would in terms of how people are feeling and how messages are landing and that sort of thing plus there also having to

compete with the restrictions being lifted and people being excited to be able to travel to see loved ones for example go out and have a pint outside in a pub garden and all that sort of thing. but recovering from the pandemic has been one of the key pms and it dominates the manifesto. what are the other key issues would you say? what are the other key issues would ou sa ? , , you say? interestingly the constitution _ you say? interestingly the constitution is _ you say? interestingly the constitution is a _ you say? interestingly the constitution is a big - you say? interestingly the constitution is a big issue| you say? interestingly the l constitution is a big issue in you say? interestingly the - constitution is a big issue in this campaign will perhaps many people might not regard it as such. within this dynamic of the conversation that's been going on, welsh independence is a bigger issue than it ever has been before. in terms of what is being discussed. we also have a party at the other end of the constitutional detriment i could put it pathway who wants to scrap devolution altogether. so these things are into discussion in la they have not been before although polling suggests that the majority of voters are somewhere in the senate ground. so either status or some moderately increased powers for

the senate. but nevertheless, these things are under discussion as they never have been before.— things are under discussion as they never have been before. thank you very much- — never have been before. thank you very much- we _ never have been before. thank you very much. we will _ never have been before. thank you very much. we will be _ never have been before. thank you very much. we will be back- never have been before. thank you very much. we will be back with i never have been before. thank you | very much. we will be back with you very much. we will be back with you very shortly. let's turn to scotland, where the outcome of the vote there could have a big impact on the uk as a whole, if pro independence parties win they will demand another referendum. but the economic recovery after the pandemic is also a key issue. 0ur political correspondent nick eardley reports from aberdeen. welcome to coming back indoors. a warm welcome back after a long winter lockdown. i hope you are hungry. hospitality on aberdeen's beachfront is back up and running. anyway, enjoy your lunch. despite a tough time recently, susie remains optimistic. we have to be positive going forward as from now with the reopening of everything. but it has been a very scary time this last year for everybody in aberdeen, aberdeenshire. do you think it's important that politicians focus on getting

the economy moving again? 0h, first, yes. firstly and mostly, yes. there are green shoots here. shoppers back on union street, but aberdeen has been hit hard and local business groups want politicians to act. unemployment has been the highest in scotland. 0ur number ofjob vacancies has fallen the most. this is a vital election, possibly the most important of our lifetimes because i think the policy decisions that are determined now. that are determined now will see how we recover. we are asking for our business to be trusted by government, to be seen as part of the solution. after the challenges of the last year, economic recovery is playing a big role in the election debate. how to protectjobs and livelihoods when some of the emergency support schemes come to an end. but in scotland, it's also about independence, how strong is the economy here? would it suffer if scotland left the uk? over the country be able

to make better, perhaps better economic decisions? aberdeen is no stranger to economic challenges. after the boom years of oil, they suffered when the price fell. that also had an impact on the economic debate around independence. and increasingly, scotland's energy sector is investing in renewables. sir ian wood made his money from the oil boom, more than £1 billion of it. he says it still has a role to play, but diversification will be key for the city's future. i think we are in better shape than we were. we were to dependent on oil and is. frankly, the whole of the uk has been too dependent on oil and gas in our economy. so we are in a transition period, it's going to be challenging but i'm reasonably confident we'll work our way through that. but i can't think of anywhere else in the uk better to actually make a serious go at renewables. if you had your time again or if you are starting off now, rather, would you invest all your money in renewables?

yes, i would. scotland is hosting a major climate change conference in november. world leaders trying to figure out how to make the move to green energy. that's one of the questions aberdeen is trying to answer right now, but after the pandemic it's not the only one for this city and its politicians. with me now is professor laura mcallister from cardiff university and professor sirjohn curtice from strathclyde university. sta rt start with you since we were just having that report from aberdeen in scotland. to what extent do you see the whole issue of another independence referendum as dominating the elections in scotland? it dominating the elections in scotland?— dominating the elections in scotland? ., ., , ., dominating the elections in scotland? ., ., ., scotland? it dominates as an actual choice quite — scotland? it dominates as an actual choice quite a _ scotland? it dominates as an actual choice quite a lot _ scotland? it dominates as an actual choice quite a lot of— scotland? it dominates as an actual choice quite a lot of the _ choice quite a lot of the conversation but not all of the campaign. the reason why it seems to

dominate election choice is if you actually look at how those people who say they would vote yes for independence in a referendum which is nearly half of scotland, about 87% of them say they are going to vote for the snp but conversely on the other half of the country it is supposed to independence and only 8% say they will vote for the snp. this is the constitutional question is an absolutely sharp dividing line between the parties. much of a rails, yet there has been a lot of conversation or sell in scotland about recovering from the pandemic. and those are the unionist side of the argument say it's what the scottish government should be focusing on. it should not be contemplating our independence referendum at all. but if they do want to vote for a party on the basis of its policy of health or education or whatever, isn't this a remarkable similarity across all the parties including the snp about what

they are proposing. they're all saying we need to spend more on the health service, particularly on mental health facilities and they're all saying we need to reduce the gap between kids from poor backgrounds and their think is important to protectjobs. so the truth is although the parties are saying this is the issue that matters because they had not been able to differentiate themselves and each other on these other post pandemic issues and i'm not sure in the and many voters are going to be able to vote very explicitly on them. professor lara mcallister from cardiff university, we were hearing from our political editor in wales saying how the pandemic has really dominated this election in wales. is that what you say as well? i dominated this election in wales. is that what you say as well?— that what you say as well? i think it is. that what you say as well? i think it is- mainly _ that what you say as well? i think it is. mainly because _ that what you say as well? i think it is. mainly because there - that what you say as well? i think it is. mainly because there has i that what you say as well? i think i it is. mainly because there has been so limited _ it is. mainly because there has been so limited campaigning on the ground and second _ so limited campaigning on the ground and second media campaign that has happeneo _ and second media campaign that has happened. it's been very difficult by the _ happened. it's been very difficult by the parties to get any real traction— by the parties to get any real traction or reach with militaries. i think_ traction or reach with militaries. i think the — traction or reach with militaries. i think the extent to which covid—19

is dominating has been on the record of the _ is dominating has been on the record of the welsh labour government on hundred _ of the welsh labour government on hundred and dependent care which incidentally gained much greater approval— incidentally gained much greater approval than the handling of the covid-i9 — approval than the handling of the covid—19 pandemic in england. mark drakeford. _ covid—19 pandemic in england. mark drakeford, first minister here, has consistently polled higher approval levels _ consistently polled higher approval levels on _ consistently polled higher approval levels on the back of his policies on covid—19. i think what is interesting if it isn't really elevated public awareness of devolution here which is pretty well, _ devolution here which is pretty well, let's be honest, before the pandemic — well, let's be honest, before the pandemic. people know who their first minister is, they know that the welsh — first minister is, they know that the welsh government has authority over health, over education, over transport— over health, over education, over transport and so on. i think that should — transport and so on. i think that should at— transport and so on. i think that should at least elevate the debate around _ should at least elevate the debate around choices in this election. in some _ around choices in this election. in some respect, it has protected welsh labour— some respect, it has protected welsh labour from _ some respect, it has protected welsh labour from some greatest within any which _ labour from some greatest within any which i _ labour from some greatest within any which i think what had come into force _ which i think what had come into force if— which i think what had come into force it we — which i think what had come into force if we had not been hit by the dreadful— force if we had not been hit by the dreadful pandemic from the last 30 months _ dreadful pandemic from the last 30 months. we dreadful pandemic from the last 30 months. ~ ., ., �* �* ., ,

months. we have got the bbc rails debate coming _ months. we have got the bbc rails debate coming up _ months. we have got the bbc rails debate coming up in _ months. we have got the bbc rails debate coming up in a _ months. we have got the bbc rails debate coming up in a few- months. we have got the bbc rails| debate coming up in a few minutes. those issues will be brought into focus in that debate? i those issues will be brought into focus in that debate?— those issues will be brought into focus in that debate? i think they will. he focus in that debate? i think they will- he is _ focus in that debate? i think they will. he is going _ focus in that debate? i think they will. he is going to _ focus in that debate? i think they will. he is going to be _ focus in that debate? i think they will. he is going to be a - focus in that debate? i think they will. he is going to be a messy i will. he is going to be a messy debate — will. he is going to be a messy debate to— will. he is going to be a messy debate to handle. that is to be franlc — debate to handle. that is to be franlc we _ debate to handle. that is to be frank. we had expected split into two phases and the first one is with the three _ two phases and the first one is with the three main parties but also to very small— the three main parties but also to very small parties, the liberal democrats who are registering between — democrats who are registering between four and 6% in the polls. and abolished the smb party has never— and abolished the smb party has never fought a national election and contested _ never fought a national election and contested every seat and then following that we have the other small— following that we have the other small parties and quite a large group — small parties and quite a large group of— small parties and quite a large group of them in an aligned debate so i group of them in an aligned debate so i don't _ group of them in an aligned debate so i don't know what the rest will make _ so i don't know what the rest will make of— so i don't know what the rest will make of that. but the truth of the matter— make of that. but the truth of the matter is— make of that. but the truth of the matter is this the three main parties — matter is this the three main parties and their credibility. their leader's_ parties and their credibility. their leader's credibility as potential first ministers.— leader's credibility as potential first ministers. john, talk about the election _ first ministers. john, talk about the election in _ first ministers. john, talk about the election in england. - first ministers. john, talk about the election in england. how. the election in england. how important are they? and to what extent generally do you think

national politics, and it's a febrile time in national politics at the moment, d —— how much influence those that have on voters when they make election choices? i those that have on voters when they make election choices?— make election choices? i think we are talking _ make election choices? i think we are talking about _ make election choices? i think we are talking about england - make election choices? i think we are talking about england as i make election choices? i think we are talking about england as an i are talking about england as an important consideration. it is not the only consideration. if there is a particular issue or particular local authority that people have concern about, and that local authority might deviate from the general line. what we tend to find is that the broad performance of the parties across tends to be pretty close to that of the current opinion and difficulty facing labour is that so far at least the number ten flat does not make any difference and we are getting opinion polls with beads for the conservatives between eight and 10%. and that will transpire to next week and it's likely to mean that labour will be making significant glossies and in those areas where the election last fourth in 2016 at this of course is not the backdrop that circular storm i would

want for his first election as a labour leader. at the moment, it looks as the borisjohnson's position may be strengthened by a government at least holding its own in local elections. he does not usually do that. labour in contrast is finding life difficult. it's also a difficult by election for hartlepool as well. a difficult by election for hartle ool as well. . ,, , ., ,., hartlepool as well. thank you both so much per— hartlepool as well. thank you both so much per your— hartlepool as well. thank you both so much per your analysis. - we touched on the elections taking place in england there — but let's take a closer look at two of the mayoral contests. in a moment we'll hear from paul barltrop — political editor for bbc west on the race in bristol. but first here's tim donovan, bbc london's political editor on the race in the capital. the race for city hall has inevitably been conducted so far in the shadow of covid—19 and much of the shadow of covid—19 and much of the debate has been focusing on how nontender covers. how you get back on its feet canonically and a lot of

talk about what you do about the city. the financial sector which has been absolutely deserted the last few months. it's notjust about getting workers back in. it about getting workers back in. it about getting visitors back to domestic sites in the capital. and then there is the creative sector, arts and theatre, this is the bridge theatre which has been dark for many months. it accounts for one in six jobs in the capital. so, a lot of use from the capital. so, a lot of use from the mayor of candidates about how you revive that sector. and then of course it is the issue of crime. sean david, the conservative candidate is insisting that sadiq khan from over five years in that job is not enough to get on top of violent crime, particularly crime among the young. it's an issue there for him and that is around trends because under many categories of crime, i think is where coming down before the lockdown and besets any went down during lockdown. but that

has been an issue for fierce debates and the other parties and the liberal democrats and the greens have been critical of their handling of protests. there is inevitably the issue of housing. it is notjust about numbers and whether too many penthouses like this one next to city hall are being there. it's about what the right balance to be between shared ownership, homes where you can buy and renting cheaper social counsel rented homes a range of views on that. and then there is transport. a system in london which has been really badly affected because it has lost billions in revenue because no one had been coming in and out of the centre of the capital. it's been dependent on short—term government bailout so far but all the candidates have had a view on what should happen long—term. 0ne you can say is that a lot of interest in doing thisjob. there is a record field of 20 candidates and a range of shades of opinion on anything

from lockdown to animal welfare. it's going to be one very, very busy ballot paper. the people of bristol chose nine years ago to have an elected mayor to leave their city. at position in a referendum still proves controversial. the incumbent is marvin reese and in a city which last election and at that for labour his team is feeling very confident. but there is discontent including from some labour counsellors will be ignored. the main challenges —— the main challenger is say they will seek to abolish the role. the conservative and liberal democrats believe it puts too much power in one person times. they also believe it is confusing because there is also a regional mayor who because last year's boats where possible and is also up for election. so yes there is a separate west of england mayor who covers a reminder area of south gloucestershire and south somerset. the responsibilities

include allocating money for transport, infrastructure, and training and recent survey shows many people around here don't know the difference. the other pole is taking place on the same day may increase the confusion. voters around here also are choosing police and crime commissioner for somerset and crime commissioner for somerset and to represent them on the council. local issues ought to be important and there are plenty that get people around here fired up. the city streets are badly congested and put it that. tens of thousands of driver —— driver will be affected by a clean—air zone which is arriving in the autumn. and then there is housing, whether buying or renting it in short supply and too expensive for many. the campaign has so far they might mutated. the titanic cast a shadow over the normal political point scoring. it all reached a confusing climax on election day with voters trying to choose between thousands of candidates using four different ballot papers. now — there's only a few minutes

to go until the start of the bbc wales leaders' debate — it'll be presented by bethan rhys roberts and nick servini — who've given us a look back stage and a preview of what to expect. welcome to bbc cymru wales home in the heart of cardiff city centre. tonight here in central square, the stage is set for the election of leaders debate. just one week away from the election for the welsh parliament, which will decide who governs wales for the next five yea rs. and that government with an annual budget of around £20 million will be in charge of area such as health, education, the environment, and local government. but they too of course will be tasked with driving wales this recovery from coronavirus. and it is then that the pandemic which is likely to dominate the discussion tonight. labour's mark drakeford, the first minister, he has seen his profile increase hugely over the past year as his government has been making most of the decisions about how to tackle covid—19 here.

including of course the timings of lockdown and when to reopen schools, shops and pubs. facing him tonight will be andrew rt davies and his second stint as leader of the welsh conservative. he is hoping that his party can repeat its success in the uk general election in 2019 when a smash that redwall and a number of labour seats, especially in northeast wales, they turned blue. then plaid cymru's adam price is hoping and increased interest in welsh independence will result in a good election for his party. he is promising a referendum if he leaves to government after polling day. we will also be joined byjane dodds, the leader of the welsh liberal democrats, the party which in recent elections has seen a support string to just one seat in the senedd. and we will be joined by the leader of the party which wants to get rid of the parliament altogether, richard suchorzewski, is from abolish the welsh assembly, which asked the name suggests, thinks devolution from westminster has gone too far.

with three parties hoping to gain one or later tonight i will be with three parties helping to gain some seats up parties helping to gain some seats up for grabs parties helping to gain some seats upfor grabs in parties helping to gain some seats up for grabs in this election. they are most likely moving through one of the 20 seats on the regionalists which are decided via a type of proportional representation. 0n the stage will be an area for the greens alongside a familiar name from ukip. this is the party that shook up welsh politics five years ago by winning seven seats. and form jamie jenkins a to be a past making night and you can follow it on the bbc can out as well on bbc wales 830. with me now is professor laura mcallister from cardiff university and professor sirjohn curtice from strathclyde university. you touched on it before. it's

interesting that i have not been the many positives outside of the pandemic but one has been aching for people exactly what the evolve powers are in the country and what their government does.— their government does. there is a much greater— their government does. there is a much greater awareness - their government does. there is a much greater awareness now i their government does. there is a much greater awareness now not | their government does. there is a i much greater awareness now not only of the politicians who make the decisions but the scope of the powers that they have. in many respects it's a pity we are not further beyond covid—19 to actually test out some verdicts on that government must �*s intervention and in the vaccine brought out and a recovery programme. this has made it quite difficult for both of the main opposition parties to really! as one would normally in a political election. the first minister has been a team approach setting in between cumbria and labour it during the pandemic and that has made it extremely difficult for them to carve out any independent territory of its own. the party might still do well because you could pick up some

seats from the regional list and put it in a powerful position around negotiations over a coalition or ideally labour but it has not made the breakthrough that it would have been aiming at during the pre—covid—19 pandemic. john been aiming at during the pre-covid-19 pandemic. been aiming at during the re-covid-19 andemic. , ., . . , pre-covid-19 pandemic. john craig as ou have pre-covid-19 pandemic. john craig as you have seen _ pre-covid-19 pandemic. john craig as you have seen everything _ pre-covid-19 pandemic. john craig as you have seen everything in - pre-covid-19 pandemic. john craig as you have seen everything in politics l you have seen everything in politics and elections but i suppose you have not seen elections in the middle of a pandemic. that's a bit different. it is different. it’s a pandemic. that's a bit different. it is different.— it is different. it's made things much more — it is different. it's made things much more difficult _ it is different. it's made things much more difficult here i'm i it is different. it's made things| much more difficult here i'm in it is different. it's made things i much more difficult here i'm in i think— much more difficult here i'm in i think one — much more difficult here i'm in i think one of the consequence it is never— think one of the consequence it is never have — think one of the consequence it is never have i— think one of the consequence it is never have i seen so many daffodils being _ never have i seen so many daffodils being to _ never have i seen so many daffodils being to buy so many politicians and the pursuit— being to buy so many politicians and the pursuit of votes because politicians in particular, yes they have _ politicians in particular, yes they have been— politicians in particular, yes they have been able to do things outside and they— have been able to do things outside and they can come up with pretty pictures— and they can come up with pretty pictures but the thing above all they find — pictures but the thing above all they find it difficult to do is to talk to— they find it difficult to do is to talk to voters as in wales, it's only— talk to voters as in wales, it's only recently that the parties have been _ only recently that the parties have been allowed to campus although the truth is _ been allowed to campus although the truth is that we have been deluged with reflex. as in rails of course

the handing out —— handling of the pandemic— the handing out —— handling of the pandemic has one of the backdrops of this election. i'm very much as in wales, _ this election. i'm very much as in wales, nicola sturgeon, the price "5 handling has been rated highly "s handling has been rated highly by voters — "s handling has been rated highly by voters. but that said, last year and this— by voters. but that said, last year and this year it looks as though that perception that nicola sturgeon was having during the pandemic has been dragging and increasing support for independence and support the snp _ for independence and support the snp that — for independence and support the snp. that now seems to have dissipated and to that extent it means— dissipated and to that extent it means standing of the parties and standing _ means standing of the parties and standing up support for independence now seems— standing up support for independence now seems to have gone back to pre—pandemic levels and that's what berries— pre—pandemic levels and that's what berries and — pre—pandemic levels and that's what berries and international movement we are _ berries and international movement we are hoping for. we berries and international movement we are hoping for.— we are hoping for. we have got this very debate. _ we are hoping for. we have got this very debate. a _ we are hoping for. we have got this very debate, a lot _ we are hoping for. we have got this very debate, a lot of _ we are hoping for. we have got this very debate, a lot of time _ we are hoping for. we have got this very debate, a lot of time from i very debate, a lot of time from various leaders but how much difference do you think it will make and how much attention of the voters think? ., ., , ., ., ., think? one would hope a lot of attention- _ think? one would hope a lot of

attention. but _ think? one would hope a lot of attention. but of _ think? one would hope a lot of attention. but of course - think? one would hope a lot of attention. but of course of i think? one would hope a lot of. attention. but of course of postal ballots have already gone out and probably have been returned and we are just seven days a week now from the senate election. i think in fairness that where welsh labour and marked this has been a defensive election and particularly over the handling of the covid—19 pandemic. the pressure is on the two opposition leaders for the conservatives and adam price for cumbria because they need to make a mark tonight, particularly price. he needs to really show that he has credibility and he is regarded as charismatic and we have not seen much of that for obvious reasons in this campaign. he is going to appeal to that audience and emphasise the need for change because that is the principal that cumbria has contested this election upon that we have a neighbour in powerfor 22 this election upon that we have a neighbour in power for 22 years and now is a time as we emerge from the pandemic to give someone else an opportunity to change.— pandemic to give someone else an opportunity to change. thank you so

much. let's speak to bbc wales political editor felicity evans once more. i suppose given the restrictions of covid—19 in terms of a election campaigning, this is the ideal opportunity for geathers to talk directly to the voters? i opportunity for geathers to talk directly to the voters?— opportunity for geathers to talk directly to the voters? i think you have hit the _ directly to the voters? i think you have hit the nail— directly to the voters? i think you have hit the nail on _ directly to the voters? i think you have hit the nail on the _ directly to the voters? i think you have hit the nail on the head. i have hit the nail on the head. debates are always important in election campaigns, particularly when this is only seven days before polling day as lara mentioned some people will have already have voted if they register for postal votes but for those who have not, security this time around when covid—19 has made direct contact with both there is so difficult to achieve for so many months, this is the chance by the party the various to reach out to try to win the hearts and minds of the undecided and they're going to be doing that. i think in terms

of the different agendas of the parties, just picking up on what laura said, this is a defensive election for a variety of reasons and i think we that we can expect mark drake fred to try to stay above the fray a little bit and expect the writing be made by adam price who are going to be trying to land punches and land blows in terms of attacking labour�*s record in government. we attacking labour's record in government.— attacking labour's record in government. attacking labour's record in rovernment. ., ., ., government. we have got and minute left before the — government. we have got and minute left before the debate. _ government. we have got and minute left before the debate. apart - government. we have got and minute left before the debate. apart from i left before the debate. apart from the pandemic what will be the key issues and what are voters looking ahead to life after the pandemic? that's one of the things that both most conservatives and company have been arguing is that it's time for change and the pandemic left wales at a crossroads and labour in power they have to try something new. labour is saying you can trust us. we have prevented that from the way we handled the pandemic and those are the narratives that there is parties are trying to urge upon

them. . ~ parties are trying to urge upon them. ., ,, ,., parties are trying to urge upon them. ., ,, y., . parties are trying to urge upon them. ., ,, . . ., them. thank you so much. we are auoin to them. thank you so much. we are going to watch _ them. thank you so much. we are going to watch the _ them. thank you so much. we are going to watch the debates - them. thank you so much. we are going to watch the debates right l them. thank you so much. we are i going to watch the debates right now because it's about to start and the wales debate. let's listen in. good evening and welcome to the bbc wales leaders debate. tonight, exactly one week before wales goes to the polls, we hearfrom exactly one week before wales goes to the polls, we hear from the exactly one week before wales goes to the polls, we hearfrom the main parties in the senedd election. i'm joined by the leaders of the welsh conservatives, the welsh liberal democrats, plaid cymru, welsh labour and abolish the welsh assembly as they debate the issues that matter to you. we also joined by a virtual