anas sarwar. itjust emphasises - is a wildcat referendum. anas| sarwar. — would block it anyway. douglas' approach is _ would block it anyway. douglas' approach is a _ would block it anyway. douglas' approach is a gift _ would block it anyway. douglas' approach is a gift to _ would block it anyway. douglas' approach is a gift to the - would block it anyway. douglas' approach is a gift to the snp . would block it anyway. douglas'l approach is a gift to the snp and would block it anyway. douglas' i approach is a gift to the snp and if he leads— approach is a gift to the snp and if he leads the — approach is a gift to the snp and if he leads the opposition _ approach is a gift to the snp and if he leads the opposition after - approach is a gift to the snp and if he leads the opposition after this i he leads the opposition after this election. — he leads the opposition after this election. he— he leads the opposition after this election, he will— he leads the opposition after this election, he will be _ he leads the opposition after this election, he will be

— tonight is asjohn curtis said, anas sarwar has — tonight is asjohn curtis said, anas sarwar has rehearsedes. i think the — still lagging behind the tories. i think the thing is, if it really is in peoples _ think the thing is, if it really is in peoples minds about that independence, perhaps the stern unyielding face of douglas ross seems — unyielding face of douglas ross seems to be more like what you would want to— seems to be more like what you would want to stand up to, a pretty powerful — want to stand up to, a pretty powerful and articulate snp leader like nicola sturgeon. sol powerful and articulate snp leader like nicola sturgeon. so i think it will be _ like nicola sturgeon. so i think it will be fascinating to see what leader— will be fascinating to see what leader unionists and scotland actually— leader unionists and scotland actually want because anas sarwar is certainly— actually want because anas sarwar is certainly coming across as more personable and get actually, that might— personable and get actually, that might not be helping him in the end. that's_ might not be helpin

hold that— backed up the way anas sarwar has.e daily record, which is seems to merge his face with that of nicola sturgeon. and says "scotland united" exclusive, sturgeon, "i can work with labour". i want to use this stoushie phrase can but i'm not sure if i'm using it in the correct way. sure if i'm using it in the correct wa , ., sure if i'm using it in the correct wa . . ,, ., sure if i'm using it in the correct wa. ,, ., , sure if i'm using it in the correct wa. ,, ., , way. nicola sturgeon is a saint she doesnt way. nicola sturgeon is a saint she doesn't want _ way. nicola sturgeon is a saint she doesn't want to _ way. nicola sturgeon is a saint she doesn't want to have _ way. nicola sturgeon is a saint she doesn't want to have a _ way. nicola sturgeon is a saint she doesn't want to have a stoushie . way. nicola sturgeon is a saint she i doesn't want to have a stoushie with labour, she and want to power up and have a stoushie with the conservatives. this is a really interesting idea... look if there is this a super majority,

— make sure the vote held up and anas sarwar will— make sure the vote held up and anas sarwar will put said that she would be back at - the majority. she repeatedly said that she would be back at work i the majority. she repeatedly said| that she would be back at work on monday dealing with the pandemic and she is not prepared to discuss or move forward on the idea of a referendum until the recovery from the pandemic. but if they do better today, the pressure will absolutely be on from all wings of the party to move ahead more aggressively because borisjohnson will certainly be moving more aggressively the other way if he is taking heart from what is happening in england. that way if he is taking heart from what is happening in england.— is happening in england. that is riaht and is happening in england. that is right and what _ is happening in england. that is right and what you _ is happening in england. that is right and what you will - is happening in england. that is right and what you will hear - is happening in england. that is. right and what you will hear from nicola _ right a

the difference between anas sarwar— back onside. sarwar and the team _ back onside. the difference between anas sarwar and the team around i back onside. the difference between. anas sarwar and the team around him is concentrating on the issues that really— is concentrating on the issues that really matter to the people. what are the _ really matter to the people. what are the priorities of the scottish people? — are the priorities of the scottish people? let's be clear, people vote for a range — people? let's be clear, people vote for a range of issues in the election. _ for a range of issues in the election, notjust a referendum. it is not _ election, notjust a referendum. it is not a _ election, notjust a referendum. it is not a referendum, no matter how the snp _ is not a referendum, no matter how the snp and — is not a referendum, no matter how the snp and the conservative see it. there _ the snp and the conservative see it. there are _ the snp and the conservative see it. there are a — the snp and the conservative see it. ther

. —— anas sarwar of the new scottish labour leader.e region of, they're going to have to turn at for voters. thank you for that. i think we can go to professor sirjohn curtice. professor of politics at the university of strathclyde. can you hear me? i university of strathclyde. can you hear me? . . university of strathclyde. can you hear me? u, _, ., university of strathclyde. can you hear me? _, ., hear me? i can indeed come a good evenina. hear me? i can indeed come a good evening- thank _ hear me? i can indeed come a good evening. thank you _ hear me? i can indeed come a good evening. thank you for _ hear me? i can indeed come a good evening. thank you forjoining - hear me? i can indeed come a good evening. thank you forjoining us. l evening. thank you for 'oining us. so ou've evening. thank you for 'oining us. so you-ve been h evening. thank you for 'oining us. so you've been reading]— evening. thank you forjoining us. so you've been reading the - evening. thank you forjoining us. i so you've been reading the political ruins _ so y

as i say, up against anas sarwar.party, there were concerns that the election was just going to become an ongoing row between nicola sturgeon and alex salmond, but that didn't actually emerge. so she benefited also from the fact that alex salmond didn't really manage to gain a lot of coverage for his campaign. specifically, if we can talk about the idea that there was a lot of talk about the snp getting a majority. the snp themselves downplayed that really. was that strategic and what was the benefit of that? well, it's not strategic. i think this is one of the main frustrations of the coverage. particularly in scotland watching coverage. this framing that the snp failed to win a majority and it's just become repetitive, this mantra, someone will say that, someone else sticks up to correct it. the scottish parliamentary system is set up to having a majority government so when the majority previously under alex salmond, that was a freak event. it was not supposed to happen. and so when nicola sturgeon was saying she wa

, has been popular~ _ labour leader, anas sarwar, has been popular~ he _ labour leader, anas sarwar,tivate last night. but some in the labour party would acknowledge that his personal popularity isn't translate into votes — popularity isn't translate into votes. you get two votes in the scottish— votes. you get two votes in the scottish parliament election. 0ne votes. you get two votes in the scottish parliament election. one is for scottish parliament election. 0ne is for your— scottish parliament election. one is for your constituency, so that is where _ for your constituency, so that is where the — for your constituency, so that is where the snp are focusing to try and get _ where the snp are focusing to try and get a — where the snp are focusing to try and get a majority through those seats _ and get a majority through those seats. but the conservatives and labour _ seats. but the conservatives and labour will target some local areas. they are _ labour will target some local areas. they are focusing on the regional list, they are focusing on the regional list. the — they are focu

they're hoping under their new leader, anas sarwar, to get back into the game. is that likely?ect how that might look in terms of the chamber, how it might look on may the 7th, we can see from the last few poles, it would give the snp slightly up on the 63 seats, just shy, though, of that 65 magic staging post for a majority. but look at the greens, look at the scottish greens, doing very well indeed according to that projection, doubling their seats to ten seats. that would leave a pro—independence majority overall in hollywood, putting the snp and the greens together of 73, which would be, by far, the biggest pro—independence majority we've seen in holyrood since it was created. both the main other parties, the conservatives and labour going down a little bit. conservatives maintaining their position as the main opposition party. very interesting scottish political situation to come. very different situation in wales, of course. welsh labour have been in office even longer than the snp has in scotland. they've been in office since the welsh parliament was created, back in 199

labour leader anas sarwar is standing against nicola sturgeon in glasgow southside.ing to beat her in that constituency, or to overtake the snp is the largest party in holyrood. make sure you vote covid safe, and make both votes labour. both votes, because there's two ballot papers. one to elect a constituency msp, and one for the regional list vote, which is used to elect members on a proportional basis. snow in may across much of scotland doesn't appear to have deterred too many voters. and of course there are dogs at polling stations. on twitter. and in real life. which can pose a hazard for some. i'm a bit scared of dogs. 0pinion polls suggest nicola sturgeon should be pretty confident she will continue as first minister. the big question is whether the snp can secure an overall majority and claim a mandate for a referendum on scottish independence. former first minister alex salmond is attempting a comeback with his new party alba. will they win any seats at all? 0n golf courses as well as in schools and community halls, the decisions voters have made today coul

anas sarwar has only been scottish labour leader for less than three month, in that short time it appearsansformed labour's really poor recent results. compared to where we were ten weeks' _ recent results. compared to where we were ten weeks' ago, _ recent results. compared to where we were ten weeks' ago, it _ recent results. compared to where we were ten weeks' ago, it is _ recent results. compared to where we were ten weeks' ago, it is a _ were ten weeks' ago, it is a magnificent turn round, but i am not pretending this journey is complete, alex salmond had hoped to make a come back with his new party, but now admits they are unlikely to win a single seat. remember, we have only had less than half of the results in scotland, tomorrow we will get far more, including on ten regional list, and that will change the picture a lot because the tories, labour and the scottish greens pick most of their seats there. it is only once we have had those results we will see just how large the pro independence majority in this new parliament is and where that takes the argument for another referendum

it feels to me as i though the impact of anas sarwar and labour's _ though the impact of anas sarwarsues of recovery, building back, _ those issues of recovery, building back, jobs. — those issues of recovery, building back, jobs, growth, productivity. these _ back, jobs, growth, productivity. these are— back, jobs, growth, productivity. these are big things and they will be the _ these are big things and they will be the central theme for keir starmer— be the central theme for keir starmer and his team for the next few years — starmer and his team for the next few years in — starmer and his team for the next few years in the uk because the only question— few years in the uk because the only question in— few years in the uk because the only question in british politics was the pandemic— question in british politics was the pandemic is fully under control and managed. — pandemic is fully under control and managed, the only question is growth and the _ managed, the only question is growth and the only question is productivity, otherwise with a decline — productivity, otherwise with a d

should anas sarwar supported as a democratic— should anas sarwar supported as a democratic mandate as there are other priorities that should come in front of such a referendum and there will be ample opportunity, i am certain, for scottish colleagues to debate the issue and to come to a conclusion amongst themselves. i don't think they will need advice from me in doing so. they will need advice from me in doint so. , , ., ., . they will need advice from me in dointso. ., . ., doing so. diplomatic to the last, first minister. _ doing so. diplomatic to the last, first minister. thank _ doing so. diplomatic to the last, first minister. thank you - doing so. diplomatic to the last, first minister. thank you to - doing so. diplomatic to the last, | first minister. thank you to mark drakeford. and now the three o'clock news. here is a summary of the news. the snp is expected to win a fourth term in scotland, but its leader, nicola sturgeon, admitted the prospect of a majority for the party is on a knife edge. in wales, labour maintain control of the assembly. labour happened in my euro elec

anas sarwar— scotland makes it harder. anas sarwar is — scotland makes it harder.as— are sour is probably the best labour party has got an even he can't turn around _ party has got an even he can't turn around in _ party has got an even he can't turn around in scotland. but i wouldn't want _ around in scotland. but i wouldn't want to _ around in scotland. but i wouldn't want to go— around in scotland. but i wouldn't want to go along with paul mason's doom _ want to go along with paul mason's doom and _ want to go along with paul mason's doom and gloom about, if you can't .et doom and gloom about, if you can't get labout— doom and gloom about, if you can't get labour votes in scotland then labour _ get labour votes in scotland then labour can— get labour votes in scotland then labour can never win. tony blair win in england. — labour can never win. tony blair win in england. it— labour can never win. tony blair win in england, it can be done, itjust requires — in england, it can be done, itjust requires the _ in england, it can be done, itjust requires the right pol

the new leader in scotland for scottish labour, anas sarwar, seems to have been able to get some kind tactical voting, which it is very hard to find evidence of, is a big factor. but if turnouts on both sides is high, as nick suggested, that may be something that has come together. that may be something that has come touether. ., that may be something that has come touether. . ., ., . together. thanks, laura. we will talk to laura _ together. thanks, laura. we will talk to laura again _ together. thanks, laura. we will talk to laura again a _ together. thanks, laura. we will talk to laura again a little - together. thanks, laura. we will talk to laura again a little later. talk to laura again a little later in the day. there should be some results coming on as we approach lunchtime, so let's explain what we are expecting and we will talk to some more guests, including john mcdonnell, the former shadow chancellor. he willjoin us from labour in a few minutes. we will ask him for his perspective on hartlepool and some of these local authority results as well. in the meantime, let's head

let's hear now from anas sarwar — leader of scottish labour.were nine weeks ago when i became leader, and we've had a mountain to climb but we are building a credible alternative to the snp and the tories, the only credible alternative, and if you want to be part of that journey, you need to vote labour. can you democratically stop an independence referendum if there is that pro—independence majority? i want us to choose something different. on focusing on recovering, i want us to choose on focusing on yourjob, your education, the climate emergency, of your children's education and building the credible alternative to nicola sturgeon and the snp. but you've got to vote labour. would you boycott a referendum that wasn't sanctioned by the courts or by boris johnson? look, i'm focusing on the recovery. i don't want to focus on those arguments. i want to focus on having a recovery that works for every part of this country, that prioritises cancer care, that prioritises your children's education, job, and building the credible alternative to nicola

and anas sarwar, the new scottish labour leader, does seem to be quite popular, if you believe the pollsess in the labour party is that that is not translating into votes for them, they are still trying to figure out how to win back the swathes of voters that they used to have across scotland before the independence referendum, and going back over 50 years or so. in terms of whether the message is cutting through, that idea that an independence referendum would be a distraction, when you're trying to recover from the pandemic, i do think that that is having some impact. all the parties are out today making their final pitches, all of them are talking about the recovery. nicola sturgeon was focusing on the recovery, she is not focusing on the recovery, she is not focusing on the recovery, she is not focusing on independence today, she wants to talk about how she's been the boss for the last year's, she has got scotland through to this stage, she wants to continue that job, trust her, keep going. but as we have been discussing over the last couple of days, it does always come back to indep

where the administration led by mark drakeford secured another term in power and he also praised anas sarwarp majority in the scottish parliament. two matters closer to home for sir keir starmer, of course all eyes are on him and the party's response to a terrible set of election results over the weekend. not least the by—election in hartlepool, which the party lost to the tories and also losing control of several councils in england as well. the strategy, it seems from what sir keir starmer told the shadow cabinet today, will be to develop new policies and attempt to reconnect with voters. it may be that sir keir starmer�*s critics would say to him that has been obvious from the outset, what he needs to do. but he was very clear, we are told, telling his shadow cabinet it is he who takes responsibility for the election results, nobody else, i lead the labour party and its entirely on me. earlier on, he told labour party staff the party had spent too much time talking to itself and had not become good enough at focusing on the needs of voters. that it seems is the message from sir keir starm

anas sarwar has only been scottish labour leader for less than three months. single seat. sarah smith, bbc news. life to holyrood. alexandra mackenzie is there for us this morning. alexandra, that majority so important for the snp when it comes to their desire for a second referendum on independence? yes, good morning. absolutely. today is a big day for everyone but especially for the snp. the key figure is 65 out of 129 seats, that is what the snp needs for an overall majority and so far, 48 seats have been declared so there is an awful lot still to come today and 39 have already gone to the snp, they have taken two from the tories and one from labour but they did not win a couple of key seats that could be crucial for that overall majority and other parties today, they will start to pick up seats as we start to get results from the regional lists, and the snp are less likely just because of the system to get more seats from the lists there, likely to get more from the constituencies, but there are more constituency seats to be declared today. the greens are