with me now is professor laura mcallister from cardiff university and professor sirjohn curtice fromsince 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

laura mcallister, professor of public policy at cardiff university and former wales football captain,olution 21 years ago. it has never been out of power here, but a lot of the time, it has been a minority government or in power with another party, whether the lib dems, or more recently plaid cymru. we know labour has most to lose, but is also in the most powerful position. but votes are also split according to polling between the welsh conservatives and plaid cymru. at the moment, it looks as if small shifts in certain constituencies could have quite a big impact on the number of seats that each party wins, and therefore in terms of the prospects for coalition ordeals after the election. so when you say that a lot is up in the air because of the pandemic, are you talking about the effect on people physically going to vote, or people's responses to how the different parties have handled the coronavirus pandemic? i different parties have handled the coronavirus pandemic?— different parties have handled the coronavirus pandemic? i think both of those. clearly, _ coronavirus pandemic? i

let's speak to professor laura mcallister from cardiff university. welcome. elections? i think it is very important because _ these elections? i think it is very important because it _ these elections? i think it is very important because it is - these elections? i think it is very important because it is clearly i these elections? i think it is very i important because it is clearly been a very difficult election campaign to get going here. pretty much the same is everywhere across the uk, of course, but there is a less developed media here in wales to offer a kind of independent take on how the election is progression. and clearly, candidates simply have not been able to guard and campaign in the way they normally would. so it has been a very much digital election and i think in that respect, the television debates between notjust the main party leaders, but the leaders of some of the minority party tonight, is particularly significant. obviously the first minister _ particularly significant. obviously the first minister mark— particularly significant. obvi