applause i was reflecting that they have actually been in power at holyrood since before the smartphoneor it? all too little children being failed as their schools fall down international league tables, workers having to pay hundreds of pounds more in tax than their english counterparts, and still, no ferries for the islands. their obsession with tearing scotland out of our united kingdom is all consuming, and it simply crowds out everything else. in fact, they are so obsessed with difference for the sake of difference, that when we banned xl bullys, they said no, we will go our own way. this political posturing has tragic consequences, and itjust shows you that they put division above even the safety of our streets. astonishingly, after leaving 16 different papers on independence, they still cannot answer basic questions: what is the currency going to be? what happens to pensions? what happens to trade? it is their obsession with independence thatis is their obsession with independence that is holding scotland back. applause i recently saw the news often experience in glasgow leaving c

andrew kerr, our scotland political correspondent, is at holyrood.d this twice before. how likely could this bill go through now?— before. how likely could this bill go through now? well, as you say, this bill has — go through now? well, as you say, this bill has been _ go through now? well, as you say, this bill has been examined - go through now? well, as you say, this bill has been examined and . this bill has been examined and debated by the parliament before, voted down twice. it looks likely the bill will be debated in the autumn and then we could get the final vote next year. the general election may affect the timetable of the bill. people who do support the legislation, like that msp liam mcarthur, he thinks that the political mood has really shifted and he is convinced this bill might now pass. but of course, this is a free vote. msps are not bound by what their party says and the interesting thing is there are really significant people, like the first minister humza yousaf, like the scottish labour leader, who don't support this, so that c

provide terminally ill people with assistance to end their lives if a bill that has been introduced at holyroodes water crisis deepens as shareholders refuse to inject extra money into the uk's largest water company. and queen camilla departs the royal maundy thursday service — there's a message from the absent king. we need and benefit greatly from those who extend the hand of friendship to us. especially in a time of need. hello, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction.

is it does it say something about that administration in holyrood that they have just pushed and pushedwith something that all sorts of smarter brains were telling them not to do ? were telling them not to do? >> well, this is actually political activism making law. it's the snp and the greens like to talk about consultation, but they actually turned a nelsonian eye and a deaf ear to the consultation. the truth of it is how this will be used and why it's so important to them, is because at once there are so many hate crimes being recorded as incidents. we don't have to be crimes . as incidents. we don't have to be crimes. then as incidents. we don't have to be crimes . then they will say be crimes. then they will say are we were right because there's all these hate crime incidents and look how the numbers are going up. and of course, as i say, the perverse, incentives push these and push people to make more . and so from people to make more. and so from the back of the rise in supposed hate crime incidents, they will need more draconian laws, more, more shutting down of free speech, and

, some breaking news that thejustice secretary angela constance in scotland is about to speak in holyroodder investigation. let's listen to what she has to say. —— emma coldwell. let's listen to what she has to say. -- emma coldwell._ -- emma coldwell. there are restrictions _ -- emma coldwell. there are restrictions on _ -- emma coldwell. there are restrictions on what - -- emma coldwell. there are restrictions on what i - -- emma coldwell. there are restrictions on what i can - -- emma coldwell. there are restrictions on what i can say | -- emma coldwell. there are - restrictions on what i can say and the level of detail i can offer. presiding officer, i am at no greater loss than that which comes with the loss of one's child. it seems unimaginable that loss, grief and pain, pain which the mother is experiencing could be compounded by not knowing what happened to your child and why they were taken from you. the courage and conviction of the family and emma's mother margaret will last and lasting impression —— leave a lasting impression. mrs caldwell has lived through what no one should

scotland could become the first uk nation to legalise assisted dying if a bill introduced at holyroodcould only request medical assistance to end their life if they had an advanced, progressive, terminal illness, which had been diagnosed independently by two doctors. two doctors would also need to establish someone is mentally competent. the patient would have to be aged 16 or over and a resident of scotland for at least 12 months. they would also have to administer the life—ending medication themselves. our scotland editor, james cook, has been hearing arguments for and against the bill. august 2015, i was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. and it was terminal, it had spread. mandy has been defying the odds for nearly a decade. she was just 26 when she was told she could be dead within two years. advances in cancer care have prolonged mandy's life, but concern about the end still keeps her awake at night. i spent a lot of time being anxious and worrying about dying a slow, horrible death, and my mental health would be so much better if this law got passed because i could sleep e

provide terminally ill people with assistance to end their lives if a bill that has been introduced at holyrood is approved. the thames water crisis deepens as shareholders refuse to inject extra money into the uk's largest water company. and queen camilla departs the royal maundy thursday service — there's a message from the absent king. we need and benefit greatly from those who extend the hand of friendship to us. especially in a time of need. hello, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. forweeks, humanitarian agencies have been warning of a prospective famine in gaza, as they struggle to get enough aid into the territory. now the united nations high commissionerfor human rights, volker turk, has told the bbc that there is a plausible case that israel is using starvation as a weapon of war in gaza. he said if that intent were proven, this would amount to a war crime. israel insists it's letting in all the humanitarian aid that's needed. from jerusalem, here s our international editorjeremy bowen, and a warning his report contains images some viewe

the bill is being introduced at holyrood a week after proposals for how an assisted dying law in jersey and regulated in several us states including california and vermont, and in victoria in australia. the un high commissioner for human rights has told the bbc that israel is significantly to blame for the appalling humanitarian situation in gaza, where famine is looming. volker turk said israel had obligations as the occupying power, and was placing unreasonable demands on the delivery of aid. israeli air strikes and fierce fighting between israel and hamas has broken out overnight around at least three hospitals in gaza. medics have warned the territory's health care system is close to collapse. a us official says israel has asked to reschedule a meeting in washington to discuss its plans for rafah. it was cancelled after the us changed it's stance on a ceasefire vote at the united nations. let's look at those comments by the un high commissioner for human rights — about israel being significantly to blame for the appalling humanitarian situation in gaza. here's what volker turk said

scotland could become the first uk nation to legalise assisted dying if a bill introduced at holyroodent could only request medical assistance to end(ani their life if they had an "advanced, progressive terminal" illness, which has been diagnosed independently by two doctors. two doctors would also need to establish someone is mentally competent. the patient must be aged 16 or over and a resident of scotland for at least 12 months. they must also administer the life—ending medication themselves. our scotland editor, james cook, has been hearing arguments for and against the bill. august 2015, i was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. and it was terminal, it had spread. mandy has been defying the odds for nearly a decade. she was just 26 when she was told she could be dead within two years. advances in cancer care have prolonged mandy's life, but concern about the end still keeps her awake at night. i spent a lot of time being anxious and worrying about dying a slow, horrible death, and my mental health would be so much better if this law got passed because i could sleep easy at ni

we saw them in holyrood as well. what do you think their response will be to this investigation?o this investi . ation? ~ ~ ., ., investigation? well, margaret caldwell has _ investigation? well, margaret caldwell has been _ investigation? well, margaret. caldwell has been extraordinary. investigation? well, margaret- caldwell has been extraordinary. she has been dignified throughout. you know, every family's worst nightmare, that a child is taken from them. she spoke of how, when her daughter disappeared, her and emma's father used to search the streets trying to find her. she has taken a public role in this long fight to see justice for her daughter, who was murdered two decades ago. and then these three key important meetings this week with these senior figures in the police, the legal establishment and the political sphere here in scotland to continue pushing for this public inquiry. police scotland last week, when iain packer was convicted and then sentenced, apologised for the actions of strathclyde police at the time. they say, emma, herfamily and other victims were let do

last hour aamer anwar, the caldwell family lawyer, spoke on behalf of the caldwell family outside holyroodment for women _ today is an important moment for women in — today is an important moment for women in scotland, the caldwell family— women in scotland, the caldwell family are grateful to the first minister— family are grateful to the first minister in the justice secretary and to— minister in the justice secretary and to discuss government for having listened _ and to discuss government for having listened to— and to discuss government for having listened to what they had to say and ordering _ listened to what they had to say and ordering a _ listened to what they had to say and ordering a statutory public inquiry. they are _ ordering a statutory public inquiry. they are grateful to all political parties — they are grateful to all political parties in — they are grateful to all political parties in this parliament for showing _ parties in this parliament for showing their unity and support in the support for their family. the family— the support for their family. the family expect an

scotland could become the first uk nation to legalise assisted dying if a bill introduced at holyrood if they had an "advanced, progressive terminal" illness which has been diagnosed independently by two doctors. two doctors would also need to establish someone is mentally competent. the patient must be aged 16 or over and a resident of scotland for at least 12 months. they must also administer the life?ending medication themselves. these were the scenes outside the parliament building. it's a deeply polarising issue. supporters say it would ease suffering, but opponents are concerned that some terminally ill people may feel under pressure to end their lives. there is polling on this issue. let's take a look. joining me now is dr gillian wright. she is a former palliative care doctor and works for our duty of care, who are a group of health care professionals opposing the intentional killing of patients by assisted suicide or euthanasia. also ally thomson. she is the director of communications and scotland at dignity in dying. dignity in dying are a national campaign and membership or

. _ scotland could become the first uk nation to legalise assisted dying if a bill introduced at holyroodrs would also need to establish someone is mentally competent. the patient must be aged 16 or over and a resident of scotland for at least 12 months. they must also administer the life—ending medication themselves. these were the scenes outside the parliament building. it's a deeply polarising issue. supporters say it would ease suffering; but opponents are concerned that some terminally ill people may feel under pressure to end their lives. the campaign group dignity in dying says that more than 200 million people around the world have legal access to some form of assisted dying. let's take a look at some of them. switzerland has allowed assisted dying since 1942. the practice is lawful irrespective of the condition of the person who requests it. in the us, medically assisted dying for adults is legal in 11 of the 50 states — — including california, newjersey and washington. belgium, the netherlands and luxembourg all have laws that allow people who are not terminally ill to receive a

scotland could become the first uk nation to legalise assisted dying, if a bill being introduced at holyrooders of the legislation say it would ease suffering, but opponents worry that some terminally—ill people could feel under pressure to end their lives. msps rejected two previous attempts to legalise the practice, in 2010 and in 2015. this new bill could be voted on next year. greater manchester police is reassessing its decision not to investigate claims that labour's deputy leader, angela rayner, gave false information on official documents. it follws a complaint from a conservative mp. 0ur chief political correspondent, henry zeffman, joins us now. what is going on here? the first important thing to stress is the police are not at this stage investigating angela rayner. they are reassessing a decision they made last month not to investigate her. they are looking at whether they should open an investigation or not. into what is quite complicated. the particular complaint they received focuses on what address you used on official documents, registering to vote. that gets into questions

issues that has come to media attention has been security around mps, and we have had issues in holyroodmembers have mentioned the policing - celebrate successes. other members have mentioned the policing protests following marches in edinburgh and london. how should they be handled? how are we doing in terms of handling the right for people to express views and ensuring everyone is safe? it express views and ensuring everyone is safe? , _, . . is safe? it is concerning what we have seen _ is safe? it is concerning what we have seen over _ is safe? it is concerning what we have seen over the _ is safe? it is concerning what we have seen over the past - is safe? it is concerning what we have seen over the past weeks l is safe? it is concerning what we i have seen over the past weeks and months _ have seen over the past weeks and months in — have seen over the past weeks and months. i'm sure you share my concerns — months. i'm sure you share my concerns. we have mps' home surrounded, events locally targeted, council _ surrounded, events locally targeted, council meetings disrupted. we have

we'rejoined now by fulton macgregor, an msp in the scottish national party and a member of holyrood'sned to combat? hate crime is a major problem _ designed to combat? hate crime is a major problem across _ designed to combat? hate crime is a major problem across scotland i designed to combat? hate crime is a major problem across scotland and l major problem across scotland and the country and it wreaks havoc individual, on communities and families. in essence is built as part of a range of measures to tackle that. tt part of a range of measures to tackle that.— tackle that. if you see hunter blackburn — tackle that. if you see hunter blackburn held _ tackle that. if you see hunter blackburn held up— tackle that. if you see hunter blackburn held up a - tackle that. if you see hunter blackburn held up a placard l tackle that. if you see hunter- blackburn held up a placard saying have a venus, for if jake rowling tweeted trans women or men, could they be reported to police and standing as it is up to individuals. i was a member of the scottish parliament committee that took forward this

they're not the mps in holyrood at whatever that fake parliament that they have up there pretending thate not another country, not in another country, they they're of this they're just a part of this country, unfortunately. fortunately, i love scotland. i love scotland, i love, i should say scotland exists. >> exists . >> it exists. >> it exists. >> but is it a country? is wales a country? no they're not, it's not. >> wales is. scotland isn't. >> wales is. scotland isn't. >> they don't. yeah. wales is not anyway northern ireland. >> see you get on >> let's just see how you get on with that. >> oh god this is i am so >> oh my god this is i am so offensive can offensive because i can sense you're down the you're toning down the offensiveness. i'm like offensiveness. so i'm like toning down. >> you to get the flack. >> yeah i'm going to get the flack time. the point is, flack this time. the point is, is so is that there's a reason. so they pride they can't wear like, gay pride or flag lanyards. they or trans flag lanyards. they can't wear anything political because work for the scottish. >>

while his leadership race mate ash regan defected to alex salmond's alba party, becoming their first holyroodk it's a credible, independent strategy michael shanks and when it comes to the voters putting their money where their mouth is, scottish the scottish labour annihilated the snp at the rutherglen and hamilton west by—election, securing 58.6% of the vote. >> add to that an abandonment of the section 35 legal challenge and courts blocking the last realistic path to independence, while 2023 has left little room for browbeaten nationalists to chalk up a win. of course, humza yousaf has other ideas and has offered up one election prospect that his supporters can't ignore. >> we have the opportunity to ensure that scotland is tory free. >> so how do scottish voters think humza yousaf is handling the top job? it's all about the youth vote, i think, and i think he's a person who will be good to reach out to the young voters. >> yeah, i think it's more of the same and pretty much predictable. >> haven't good track >> we haven't had a good track record the past. record in the past. >> his track

must have been off to obviously was obviously after covid was finished and they met up at holyrood, andk, and she, she met miller, and miller was wearing a pink dress. yeah. and catherine said to her, is that your favourite colour? pink. she yes, colour? pink. and she said, yes, it's my favourite colour. so it's my favourite colour. and so catherine out and catherine got up, walked out and changed a pink dress, changed into a pink dress, didn't she? >> lovely ? she >> yes. isn't that lovely? she must carry her wardrobe with her. pink dress. her. yeah. spare pink dress. >> she must have thought. >> she must have thought. >> oh, i've got a pink dress in the suitcase. >> the pink suitcase. >> that's the pink suitcase. >> that's the pink suitcase. >> no, that's nice. >> come on. but no, that's nice. it's little things like that make a huge difference. >> absolutely. stayed >> absolutely. and they stayed in yeah, in touch ever since. yeah, georgie, the georgie, can we look at the sunday times and this, idea that some of our politicians are being targeted by china. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> nothin