let's speak now to nick eardley in edinburgh. 0f let's speak now to nick eardley in edinburgh. sense the majority of msps in that building behind you are pro independence, but what does this mean for nicola sturgeon? when is she going to act? it is complicated, is the short — she going to act? it is complicated, is the short answer. _ she going to act? it is complicated, is the short answer. the _ she going to act? it is complicated, is the short answer. the slightly - is the short answer. the slightly longer one is probably not for a while. i think you will see nicola sturgeon make a very public play in the next couple of days about going back to work and focusing on the big pandemic decisions that she has to make. but there is also two things coming, there is a political battle which is going to be nicola sturgeon saying i have my mandate, you have got to give us another referendum, and the uk government saying no, and potentially after that a legal battle as well over whether the scottish parliament can publish legislation to hold another referendum and whether that will be

our political correspondent nick eardley is at bute house in edinburgh. michael gove have been exchanging blows, nick. yes, we got a sign, a sample of battle to come over the next few years with the first minister and the cabinet office minister and nicholl said in a saying we have to focus on the pandemic in the immediate term. but in two or three years time, she thinks she has mandated to hold another referendum, whether it be anti—democratic for westminster to block it. michael gove said that now is not the time and we have to focus on the pandemic and we have to focus on the pandemic and the economic recovery. it was interesting that he was asked about this idea of the whole thing ending up this idea of the whole thing ending up in the courts and hejust did not want to go there this morning. the uk government's strategy is to talk about what it sees as the other priorities and the positives of the union. but there is no doubt that there is a big constitutional clash in the next few years over whether or not nicola sturgeon, who is based here at bute ho

our political correspondent nick eardley is with me.od parliamentjust over there could well be the most significant, particularly longer term? i could well be the most significant, particularly longer term?— particularly longer term? i think this is right- _ particularly longer term? i think this is right. this _ particularly longer term? i think this is right. this matters - particularly longer term? i think this is right. this matters not i particularly longer term? i think | this is right. this matters notjust to people in scotland but potentially to the whole uk. the big question being asked in the campaign trail is can be snp win an overall majority and control the scottish parliament on their own? if so, they will see that as a cast—iron mandate to hold another referendum even if downing street still intends to say no to another referendum. nobody knows for sure if the snp will win that, it is very difficult to do under the hollywood system, some in the party are nervous about the results on thursday but even if they do not have t

nick eardley there. there is another result coming in, a conservative gain for labour.trol of that council, so that is yet another win for the conservatives, really following a pattern we have seen over the last couple of days that they are looking like a direct switch really, votes from labour to the conservatives, and more signs the conservatives, and more signs the conservatives, and more signs the conservatives are consolidating the conservatives are consolidating the performance from the 2019 general election and managing to do well in areas where traditionally labour have been the stronger party. so amber valley there, another counsel gain for the conservatives. tomorrow the prime minister will announce a relaxation in social distancing measures — which will permit intimate contact between friends and family. cabinet secretary michael gove said on the andrew marr show this morning that we ll find out when hugging will be allowed. the prime minister will confirm tomorrow that there will be a relaxation. we have already indicated a proportionate relaxation on intern

nick eardley there.r leader, sir keir starmer, is expected to reshuffle his shadow cabinet today. sir keir is facing a furious backlash from some of his mps and members after removing the deputy leader, angela rayner, as national campaign co—ordinator and chair of the party. labour sources suggested angela rayner had to take responsibility for what was described as a bungled election campaign. but they stressed she would be offered another role. let's speak to our political coorrespondent iain watson. so is angela rayner being blamed for the disappointing results in the election? , . ., , election? some people certainly behind the _ election? some people certainly behind the scenes _ election? some people certainly behind the scenes in _ election? some people certainly behind the scenes in labour- election? some people certainly. behind the scenes in labour circles have been blaming angela rayner, they said the election campaign itself has been bungled but they have given details of what they thought tha

nick eardley there. campaigning across wales in key seats today. 60 members of the senedd will be chosen at the polls tomorrow and our wales correspondent tomos morgan is in cardiff bay for us. tomos, i wonder how likely it is that the conservative gains made in 2019, particularly in the north of the country, how they could have turned into senedd seats and potentially taking some labour—held territory? i potentially taking some labour-held territo ? ~' , ., �* territory? i think you're right there, i think _ territory? i think you're right there, i think that _ territory? i think you're right there, i think that is - territory? i think you're right. there, i think that is definitely there, i think that is definitely the area that labour has got most concern, the area that the tories feel they have got most to gain. when you look at the two parties it is interesting how they have approached this election. 0n the one hand welsh labour, mark drakeford, who has been the first minister throughout the pandemi

nick eardley. .. and on | very much. nick eardley...een the mp there and he was also a fairly known face in the area. the snp were nervous because the mp is kenny macaskill, who defected to alex salmond's alba party. who defected to alex salmond's alba pa . ~ :, i , who defected to alex salmond's alba pa . ~ . i , : :, who defected to alex salmond's alba party. maybe he will come back? ma be he party. maybe he will come back? maybe he will. _ party. maybe he will come back? maybe he will. but _ party. maybe he will come back? maybe he will. but some - party. maybe he will come back? maybe he will. but some in - party. maybe he will come back? maybe he will. but some in the i maybe he will. but some in the constituency were not impressed. but the system used here means that is not necessarily an net gain for the snp. that will hit them on the list. they have three msps at the moment in the south and this knocks them down to just two. it is a big result because it shows of the snp get out the vote they can win where they have not won befo

with me is our political correspondent nick eardley the opening foreign travel, tourism, the handlingon in relation to that? fin nicholas sturgeon in relation to that? ., ., ., ., that? on the international travel section, there _ that? on the international travel section, there are _ that? on the international travel section, there are all— that? on the international travel section, there are all urging - section, there are all urging caution when freddie will probably get for england, places you can go on holiday, green the will not involve quarantine when you return. it feels to me like up here, there's a slightly different perspective on it and you heard nicola sturgeon and others say quite clearly there that they think that if need be, scotland takes a more cautious approach, a different road and although douglas ross did say that he thought if the uk government moves to allow a few countries we can go on a holiday without having to quarantine, that he was cautious too. so this field to me that this election campaign has emphasised the fact that scotland has and will probably cont

let's speak to our political correspondent nick eardley who's at holyrood now.g counted. accounting is back under way. it will be later this evening probably before we know the full picture. an outright snp majority are still possible although it looks difficult but what is pretty clear is that, by the end of the day when you factor in the scottish greens, the scottish parliament will have a majority of msps who stood on a manifesto saying there should be another independence referendum in the next five years. it's not as simple as that. we know downing street isn't going to agree to one, but we know this is going to lead to a big political row. it could lead to a battle in the courts as well. but there's also a question that will be asked about what this means for the relationship between scotland and the rest of the uk? if parties standing up for another referendum when a majority, is it right for borisjohnson to say no? all questions that will be asked over the coming days. what's also clear is the country are still split. this is a big victory for the snp, b

let's speak to our political correspondent nick eardley who's in edinburgh. g to be a battle about this. i suppose the question is who is going to move first, when it is going to happen? goad is who is going to move first, when it is going to happen? good morning, i think we have _ it is going to happen? good morning, i think we have seen _ it is going to happen? good morning, i think we have seen sort _ it is going to happen? good morning, i think we have seen sort of - it is going to happen? good morning, i think we have seen sort of a - it is going to happen? good morning, i think we have seen sort of a first. i think we have seen sort of a first move from the prime minister over night. he has written to nicola sturgeon and the welsh first minister mark drakeford saying we should all get together for a summit about pandemic recovery. what you are going to hearfrom the uk government over the next few weeks, and for the last few weeks as well, and for the last few weeks as well, a lot of talk about what they see as the benefits of the union, so the vaccine pr

up—tick, in covid—19 pressures, it is adding to the pressure as well. 0ur political correspondent nick eardleytals and nhs providers are clearly concerned. i think there is some consciousness about the indian variant and we have seen government cautious about saying the reopening of society. 0n 21st of june nearly all restrictions in england are due to be lifted and we are to have some review soon on the nature of social distancing and face coverings and it seems to me that date is becoming less and less concrete is the point where everything starts to ease. that is not to say there won't be significant easing in three weeks�* time but it does seem pretty clear that there is nervousness in government about this and some of the comet hits that were being made earlier in may are not being made now. pressure from the hospital and labour, keir starmer warning the civil war in number ten. we had the testimony from the prime minister is a former chief adviser, dominic cummings, and although the health secretary and the prime ministers are keen to dismiss that it adds to the nervousness because his m

nick eardley, bbc news, westminster.t's just been issued by the spokesman for matt hancock the secretary of state for health who came in for some lacerating criticism from dominic raab —— dominic cummings. drugs pandemic, the secretary of state for health and social care and everyone has worked incredibly hard and unprecedented circumstances to protect the nhs and to save lives. we absolutely reject his claims about the health secretary. in the health secretary will continue to work closely with the prime minister to deliver the vaccine roll—out, tackled the risks of variance and support the nhs and care sector to recover from this pandemic. support the nhs and care sector to recoverfrom this pandemic. that support the nhs and care sector to recover from this pandemic. that is the initial plan from the health secretary. you will be giving evidence to that same committee in a couple weeks' time. 0ur political correspondent nick eardleyjoins me now perhaps we can break down a little bit. asking you about the governments ha

nick eardley was watching a day of vivid testimony. most, the government failed, and i would like to say to all of the families of those who died unnecessarily how sorry i am for the mistakes that were made and for my own mistakes at that. early last year, the world was grappling with the growing covid emergency, but it is claimed that ministers here underestimated what was coming and acted too slowly. the government itself at numberten... ..was not operating on a war footing in february on this, in any way, shape or form. the prime minister, he said, saw it as a scare story. he described it as the new swine flu. did you tell him it wasn't? certainly, but the view of various officials inside number ten was if we have the prime minister chairing covid meetings and he tells everybody it is swine flu, "don't worry about it, i will get chris witty to inject me live on air with coronavirus, so everyone will realise it's nothing to be frightened of," that would not help serious planning. as the crisis developed, mr cummings said he urged the

pressure following accusations by former adviser dominic cummings. 0ur political correspondent nick eardleyhether it dealt with the pandemic at the start. and what it does now. we had nadhim zahawi this morning insisting the government did all it could to protect care homes. there have been a lot of allegations over the last few days that promises were made about testing people going from hospitals back to care homes to free up space in hospitals at the start of the pandemic. dominic cummings, a former aide in downing street made that allegation this week. the government continues to insist that what it could, that it put a protective ring as it puts it around care homes but you do get the impression they are under intense pressure over this with questions whether enough was done. they will keep coming. they are also starting to feed into the debate on what the government does injune. the next big easing in england are supposed to be onjune 21 when pretty much all restrictions are lifted. there is some concern in government about the spread of the indian betterment the spread of the indian

thank you very much, nick eardley now joins me in the studio. | eardley nowjoins me in the studio.n postalvote in edinburgh? — areas. news on postalvote in edinburgh? it _ areas. news on postalvote in edinburgh? it seems - areas. news on postalvote in edinburgh? it seems to i areas. news on postalvote in edinburgh? it seems to be i areas. news on postal vote in i edinburgh? it seems to be huge, areas. news on postal vote in - edinburgh? it seems to be huge, talk of 8096, 9096 — edinburgh? it seems to be huge, talk of 8096, 9096 of — edinburgh? it seems to be huge, talk of 8096, 9094. of postal— edinburgh? it seems to be huge, talk of 8096, 9096 of postal vote - edinburgh? it seems to be huge, talk of 8096, 9096 of postal vote is - edinburgh? it seems to be huge, talk| of 8096, 9096 of postal vote is coming of 80%, 90% of postal vote is coming back. the number of people who applied for a postal vote for this election because of the pandemic is higher than ever, about a quarter of the electorate, 1 million people. in some parts of the country, if it is really high, it suggests lots o

from edinburgh, here's our political correspondent nick eardley. back in power, back to work.ola sturgeon says her immediate priority will be the pandemic, but a battle is coming. the snp won the election by some distance, and even though they were short of a majority alone, with the greens there is a comfortable pro—independence majority and the first minister says that is a mandate. the people of scotland have voted for the snp on the strength of offering, when the time is right, an independence referendum. and, as in 2011 leading up to 2014, any uk government that has any respect for scottish democracy would simply accept that and come to an agreement with the scottish government that put it beyond any legal doubt. holyrood will now pass a referendum bill and ms sturgeon warned of the consequences of trying to block it in the courts. i think it would be absurd and completely outrageous if it ever got to that point, if it ever got anywhere close to that point. but the uk government does want to stop another referendum anytime soon. ministers won't give political consent to o

uptick, in covid—19 pressures, it is adding to the pressure as well. 0ur political correspondent nick eardleyvernment is facing pressure on two fronts, on their handling of the pandemic last year, and how it proceeds this summer. we've had the vaccines minister, nadim zawahi, on the andrew marr show this morning insisting that the government did all it could to protect care homes. there have been a lot of allegations over the last few days that promises were made about testing people going from hospitals back to care homes to free up space in hospitals at the start of the pandemic. dominic cummings, who was a former aide in downing street, made that allegation this week. the government continues to insist it did what it could, that it put a protective ring, as it puts it, around care homes. but you do get the impression that they're under intense pressure over this and these questions over whether enough was done are going to keep coming. and they're also, i think, starting to feed into the debate about what the government does injune. so next month, the next big uneasing in england is suppos

let's speak to our political correspondent nick eardley who's in edinburgh.everyone is expecting a clash over this issue of a second referendum. what has nicola sturgeon had to say? good a second referendum. what has nicola sturgeon had to say?— sturgeon had to say? good morning. an argument — sturgeon had to say? good morning. an argument you _ sturgeon had to say? good morning. an argument you are _ sturgeon had to say? good morning. an argument you are going - sturgeon had to say? good morning. an argument you are going to - sturgeon had to say? good morning. an argument you are going to hear l an argument you are going to hear from nicola sturgeon over the next few months and potentially years is the fact that there is a pro—independence majority at holyrood, are pretty comfortable one, meaning that there is definitely a mandate for another referendum. and on the andrew marr show this morning she kept making the point that if the uk government tried to challenge that mandate or take the scottish government to court, if it passes legislation to hold anothe

has this morning warned against what he called muscular unionism. 0ur political correspondent nick eardley out their stalls. what happens next?— debate setting out their stalls. what happens next? debate setting out their stalls. what ha ens next? ~ ~ ,, , ., what happens next? well, msps have started arriving _ what happens next? well, msps have started arriving for _ what happens next? well, msps have started arriving for their _ started arriving for their inductions, both to holyrood and the temperamental edinburgh weather. they know there will be a big constitutional clash in the next five years, nicola sturgeon has made it clear to the prime minister in the last 24 hours that she is adamant a referendum will happen. but this story feels like a bit of a political slow burner, to me. because nicola sturgeon �*steam are making absolutely clear that her first 100 days back in office are going to be dominated by the pandemic. that's likely to start with an announcement tomorrow of further easing of in scotland. and in truth, neither side is ready for a campaign any time soon. ms sturgeon s

i want to bring in nick eardley.t her position is as secure as— that parliament her position is as secure as it — that parliament her position is as secure as it has ever been. i hear ou secure as it has ever been. i hear you have — secure as it has ever been. i hear you have got _ secure as it has ever been. i hear you have got some _ secure as it has ever been. i hear you have got some chat - secure as it has ever been. i hear you have got some chat from - secure as it has ever been. i hear - you have got some chat from number ten. let's reflect on one thing. borisjohnson ten. let's reflect on one thing. boris johnson says ten. let's reflect on one thing. borisjohnson says the union is front and centre. and yet, he was the prime minister who did not come and campaign with douglas ross or a single conservative msp. he left it alone. perhaps he thinks he might not be welcomed by some of these candidates or he might be counter—productive, but what does that say about boris johnson if he is not in tune even to the exte

a final word now from our political correspondent, nick eardley. the debate is going to start soon.

our political correspondent nick eardley is here.is the snp confident has the votes to do that? i think there are a lot of nerves in the party about that. a summary the chance to put a bet on this, don't take it. it really is on a knife edge. the system here is complicated, nobody can be sure exactly how it will play out. tactical voting plays a big part in scottish elections, i've spoken to a lot of candidates today who are talking about lots of different places and things playing into it. there are some in the snp who think it is within reach, there are some in the opposition parties who say it is 5050, but it really is too close to call the moment. it really matters. because if the snp get that majority in their own, nicola sturgeon will say that there is a cast—iron mandate for a second independence referendum. i don't get is the first thing she will focus on in the coming weeks assuming she is still first minister, but it will absolutely be there and it will shape scottish and to an extent, uk politics for the next two years. th

let's speak to our political correspondent nick eardley.few more weeks— for a few more weeks yes, three weeks today _ for a few more weeks yes, three weeks today is — for a few more weeks yes, three weeks today is supposed - for a few more weeks yes, three weeks today is supposed on i for a few more weeks yes, three weeks today is supposed on to i for a few more weeks yes, three weeks today is supposed on to a | weeks today is supposed on to a really big moment, where all the legal restrictions that have been in place, in england, are lifted, where some of the venues like nightclubs, are able to re—open, where potentially you get full crowds back in football stadiums as part of the european championships. there is nervousness about that. the indian variant mean people are scratching their heads, thinking can it still go ahead, does it need to be delayed? maybe it is only for shall —— partial. the government doesn't want to engage with that until it has seen the data, increasingly we are seeing scientists raise concerns about the full easing

for more analysis on this we can speak to our political correspondent nick eardley. n paid the money back, so downing street says, he paid for the whole thing and he didn't break the rules, and that is true. lord geidt also says in this report that johnson didn't break the ministerial code, the letter of the law that ministers have to follow when they are in government. but i think you are in government. but i think you are right, it also raises a few questions about why the prime minister didn't ask more questions about where the money was coming from. it is also pretty critical of some officials who didn't flag up to the pm that the money was originally being covered by a tory donor. hick. being covered by a tory donor. nick, thank ou being covered by a tory donor. nick, thank you very _ being covered by a tory donor. nick, thank you very much. _ an is—year—old man has been charged in connection with the attempted murder of black lives matter activist, sasha johnson. 27—year—old sasha remains in a critical condition in hospital after she was shot in the head at a ho

with me now is our political correspondent, nick eardley.ssment of what he has been saying and for all the talk on both sides of this debate, how ready are they for another referendum? weill. they for another referendum? well, look, i think— they for another referendum? well, look, i think this _ they for another referendum? well, look, i think this is _ they for another referendum? well, look, i think this is going _ they for another referendum? well, look, i think this is going to - they for another referendum? well, look, i think this is going to be a slow_ look, i think this is going to be a slow burner, don't expect frantic activity— slow burner, don't expect frantic activity over another referendum in the next _ activity over another referendum in the next few months. if it does happen, — the next few months. if it does happen, it's not going to happen for at least _ happen, it's not going to happen for at least a _ happen, it's not going to happen for at least a couple of years yet. 0ne at least a couple of years yet. one of the _ at

and now i am going to talk to nick eardley, because we are somehow talking about the constituencies isral and dumbarton, very crucial to the snp, _ and dumbarton, very crucial to the snp, but _ and dumbarton, very crucial to the snp, but a — and dumbarton, very crucial to the snp, but a few more to mention, one is murray, _ snp, but a few more to mention, one is murray, the — snp, but a few more to mention, one is murray, the seed that douglas ross _ is murray, the seed that douglas ross holds couple estimates are's s&p seat — ross holds couple estimates are's s&p seat at the moment held. the snp are slightly— s&p seat at the moment held. the snp are slightly nervous about that. remember, there's that big swing towards _ remember, there's that big swing towards the tories in the northeast already— towards the tories in the northeast already in— towards the tories in the northeast already in a couple seats, so worth watching, — already in a couple seats, so worth watching, but on the other side of the scale. — watching, but on the other side of the scale, the other side of the country.

political correspondent nick eardley is with me now.date to call for a second independence referendum. how is it looking in terms of them possibly getting there? it’s is it looking in terms of them possibly getting there?- possibly getting there? it's a fascinating — possibly getting there? it's a fascinating election, - possibly getting there? it's a fascinating election, clive. . possibly getting there? it's a fascinating election, clive. nobody is pretending that anyone apart from the snp _ is pretending that anyone apart from the snp are going to be the biggest party in _ the snp are going to be the biggest party in the next scottish parliament. the question is, how big can they— parliament. the question is, how big can they win? nobody knows. it's been _ can they win? nobody knows. it's been a _ can they win? nobody knows. it's been a strange election. we have not had the _ been a strange election. we have not had the normal canvassing you would have _ had the normal canvassing you would have the _ had the normal canvassing you wou

our political correspondent nick eardley is here.think it is on a knife edge. there is no one in the snp, who would confidently predict that they are going to get a majority. there are some opposition parties who say that it is 50-50. the some opposition parties who say that it is 50—50. the system in the scottish parliament is pretty complicated. you have constituency votes and regional votes and one impacts the other. if she does win that majority, if nicola sturgeon manages to hold that place basically in the palm of her hands with 65 msps, she can kind of do what she went in there. getting a referendum is more complicated though because we know that she wants to create with boris johnson we know that she wants to create with borisjohnson and she wants to be legally binding and the prime minister has made it pretty clear that he is not going to stand for it. so, the unionist parties are going to spend the last two days of this campaign saying... they will try to deprive the snp from getting that majority because it will stop a ref

our political correspondent nick eardley is outside holyrood this morning.ld end in court, couldn't it? -- this could end in court, couldn't it? —— this is an early start for you. it? -- this is an early start for ou. , . ., , . ., you. yes, it could end up in court, both sides — you. yes, it could end up in court, both sides were _ you. yes, it could end up in court, both sides were trying _ you. yes, it could end up in court, both sides were trying to - you. yes, it could end up in court, both sides were trying to play - you. yes, it could end up in court, l both sides were trying to play down yesterday saying they did not want to pass legal challenges against each other, nicola sturgeon wants to pass a referendum bill here but she only needs to do that if the uk government will not agree to another referendum. in 2014, that is what happened. alec salmond and the uk government with david cameron got around a table, worked out what would happen and signed it off, so both sides accepted it. that isn't really happening this time because the result last week i

let�*s cross to westminster — our political correspondent nick eardley.to pay for that and boris johnson basically left officials to deal with the trust. he did not ask many questions and let it all go ahead. part of this was when he was seriously airlift covid—19. what ended up happening was the trust that was set up was not in a position to pay for the refurbishment that was done. some reports suggest that it could have been as much as £200,000 set a conservative donor, and mama called bernard brandonlava ended up being the initial sum of money in october last year to the barrel. now, what this report to the past found is that boris johnson this report to the past found is that borisjohnson basically did not know anything about it. perhaps unwisely he just allowed things to go ahead. that�*s a finding from this report specifically when he did find out it was in the newspaper is in february this year. and as a result he took steps to pay the money back. so to the top line, all of this is that the man who borisjohnson has put in the job of advising him th

our political correspondent nick eardley is at holyrood. he thinks, if you look at the vaccine programme and various other elements, of the response to the pandemic, it shows how well the uk can work together. he thinks makes the argument for the union. nicola sturgeon is going to privatise covid over the next few weeks. she's been very clear she is heading back to work on making the decisions around the pandemic, but it was really clear in that speech she gave last night that independence is going to be a big issue over the next few years. she once had other referendum, she thinks she has a really strong mandate because there is a pro—independence majority, are pretty comfortable one in that parliament behind me. i would pretty comfortable one in that parliament behind me. iwould be surprised if that doesn't come up in some way on the corner. it is one of thoseissues some way on the corner. it is one of those issues that i don't think it is going to dominate our lives for the next six months, but over the next five years of this parliament

different kind of place in the north east and we can talk a bit more about that with our corresponded nick eardleyonstituencies is a battle between snp turnout and tactical voting by the unionist parties and that could be very— the unionist parties and that could be very very thin margins. it the unionist parties and that could be very very thin margins.- the unionist parties and that could be very very thin margins. it can be thin margins— be very very thin margins. it can be thin margins in _ be very very thin margins. it can be thin margins in places _ be very very thin margins. it can be thin margins in places like - thin margins in places like edinburgh central and aberdeen west, but it's not, as you say, disturb the notion that the snp is going to do very well in the constituencies. yes, and the snp will win the vast majority— yes, and the snp will win the vast majority but it is how many? this take _ majority but it is how many? this take you — majority but it is how many? this take you through the trash that we are hearing from the parties. the snp are — are hearing from the parties. the s

we're joined now by our political correspondent nick eardley, who is at holyrood this morning. k hugely likely at the moment. it is interesting because there are several interpretations. here are some scottish newspapers this morning. the daily telegraph thinks a majority is unlikely but the pro—independence newspaper here thinks that it is on track. if you add on the greens, who are also pro—independence, there will almost certainly be a pro—independence referendum by the end of the day to day. it begs the question of what happens next. what do the snp and scottish parliaments do to try and secure another referendum? boris johnson says he will not allow one, but listen tojohn swinney on what the snp thinks of that. what but listen to john swinney on what the snp thinks of that.— but listen to john swinney on what the snp thinks of that. what we will find at the conclusion _ the snp thinks of that. what we will find at the conclusion of— the snp thinks of that. what we will find at the conclusion of polling i find at the conclusion of polling day is _ find at the conclusion of p

a final word now from our political correspondent, nick eardley. the debate is going to start soon.t could trip nicola sturgeon up, not necessarily in terms of getting an outright majority because that's still up in the air, but from being the leading party, the one with the most seats? one of the mums of this campaign came in one of the previous televised debates were nicola sturgeon admitted her party taken its eye off the ball in government when it came to propose it was of —— key moments of this campaign. no one really is pretending anyone apart from the snp is going to win this election, most of the other parties focus their fire on trying to take some of the shine off the snp and trying to take it towards their party, so absolutely, i suspect ms sturgeon probably thinks these debates are particularly difficult for her. but everybody has a job to do tonight, and it's notjust about getting those core messages over. it's about enthusing your party, so nicola sturgeon has to get independence supporters and others to come out and vote for her on thursday, labour have to persuade pe

our political correspondent nick eardley was watching, what were the key takeaways?nce question and that played a huge part in the debate and will do in this election. because if the snp can get a majority on their own, something thatis a majority on their own, something that is hard to do in the scottish system, they would say they have a cast—iron mandate for another referendum, even with the help of smaller parties like the scottish greens, alex salmond's party, they could get that majority. the other parties, lib dems, tories, labour, are trying to stop the snp getting that majority. independence could play a huge part in the post—match analysis with big questions over whether the result would mean another independence referendum in the next few years. one week after the body of police community support officer julia james was disovered in woodland, a candelit vigil has been held in her hometown. a murder investigation is under way, but police say they still don't have a motive and no arrests have been made. the local community have been warned to be "vigilant" i

let's speak to our political correspondent, nick eardley, who's at holyrood now.rism. trisgit is absolutely right, good evening. the snp will be slightly disappointed that they did not win that majority but it's really hard to do under the system used to elect the scottish parliament, and what matters is that there will be a pretty significant pro—independence majority in the next scottish parliament based on the projections we have at the moment. we think the greens could get up to nine seats, the snp 63, which would mean there are 72 pro—referendum msps in the parliament, and it's bothjust remembering that they stood on a very similar pleasure which was to hold another referendum on the next term in this place. the demands for another referendum will absolutely dominate scottish politics over the next few weeks, nicola sturgeon has made a very public showing of saying she wants to get back to work on the covid crisis, there are big decisions to be made in edinburgh over the next few days, the biggest of which is whether the next round of which is whether the nex

. —— nick eardley. the snp are still in the running for an outright majority.w. let's go to trend — wes. thank you, nick for now. let's go to trend the _ wes. thank you, nick for now. let's go to trend the limit _ wes. thank you, nick for now. let's go to trend the limit to _ wes. thank you, nick for now. let's go to trend the limit to hindley, - go to trend the limit to hindley, the mp for inverness. the make a similar calculation to nick there? —— drew hindley.i similar calculation to nick there? -- drew hindley.— -- drew hindley. i think it is alwa s -- drew hindley. i think it is always been _ -- drew hindley. i think it is always been clear _ -- drew hindley. i think it is always been clear that - -- drew hindley. i think it is i always been clear that getting -- drew hindley. i think it is - always been clear that getting a majority — always been clear that getting a majority in this electoral system is incredible — majority in this electoral system is incredible and challenge. we have done _ incredible and challenge. we have done a _ incredible and chall