Covid in Scotland LIVE as Nicola Sturgeon to make statement on pandemic in parliament

The SNP will "crumble" when Nicola Sturgeon eventually steps aside from frontline politics, Alex Cole-Hamilton has predicted.

The Scottish Government has announced that 47 countries will be removed from Scotland's red list for international travel from next week.

Nicola Sturgeon has made a fresh warning to Boris Johnson not to block a second referendum on Scottish independence.

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Today's pandemic news is likely to be dominated by Scottish Labour calling on the SNP Government to take urgent action to fill staffing gaps throughout Scotland's largest hospital.

Conservative conference in Manchester. Ross will argue the Scottish Conservatives are the only party to represent the working classes against the “cosy Holyrood consensus” on issues like free speech and fair justice.

Queen has met with Nicola Sturgeon for the official opening of the new session of the Scottish Parliament. In a speech, the Queen urged MSPs to “help create a better, healthier future” by tackling climate change ahead of the COP26 conference in Glasgow.

Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon asked the SNP leader at First Minister's Questions earlier today about the important issue. Lennon, an MSP for the Central Scotland Region, said abortion rights are under attack around the world but also in Scotland with many women being confronted by protesters at clinics.Sturgeon was asked to speed up the process of implementing buzzer zones around facilities after it has "stalled".

covid-19. There have also been 2,556 new cases of the virus recorded in the latest 24 hour period, bringing the total number of positive cases since the pandemic started to 550,090.

Sarwar will call for the SNP to fill the gap as the cost of gas and electricity is due to rise steeply within days.The energy price cap will increase by £139 to £1277 on October 1 this year leaving 150,0000 Scottish pensioners living in poverty facing a desperate choice.The push from Labour comes after it was revealed that a woman in her 90s starved to death, the first fatality from lack of food recorded in Scotland for at least 20 years.Sarwar will tell conference that the Scottish Parliament

nationalised by SNP ministers in 2019 to prevent it going bust - had failed to make even the shortlist to build two new boats to serve island communities. Four firms based in Turkey, Portugal and Poland have been invited to submit detailed tenders for the works by the Scottish Government-controlled Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL).

Police Scotland following several Orange Order marches in Glasgow last weekend for alleged anti-social behaviour, which included sectarian and racist chants. The First Minister was asked by Glasgow Cathcart MSP James Dornan about the creation of a parades commission, similar to the one in place in Northern Ireland.

covid cases across the country. Soldiers, taxi firms and firefighters have been drafted in to help ease pressure on the ambulance service which is also at breaking point.

First Minister will address the Scottish Parliament about the high level of covid cases across the country as hospitalisation remain at an alarming level. Cases have surged over the last month-and-a-half after the majority of lockdown restrictions were lifted on August 9 on Scotland's 'Freedom Day'.Sturgeon and other government ministers have urged people to practice good personal hygiene in a bid to halt the surge in cases of the deadly virus.

covid booster vaccination programme for elderly people in care homes will get under way today. Scotland will also be offering children aged between 12 and 15 the first dose of the coronavirus jab.

First Minister faced tough questions from MSPs in the Scottish Parliament over the current situation. The crisis comes as the NHS attempts to recover from being hit hard by the covid pandemic with many services struggling to cope with the virus and normal health concerns.

pressure points in the service - an action already taken in parts of England.The SNP leader spoke out following reports that a frail pensioner found collapsed at his home in Glasgow died following a 40-hour wait for an ambulance.Relatives of Gerard Brown, 65, said they had been told the delay cost the former engineer his life.

traffic light system for travel later today. In the latest review more countries around the world are expected to be removed from the red list as speculation grows about the list being scrapped altogether.

coronavirus vaccine from Monday. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced in the Scottish Parliament that kids can visit a drop-in clinic across the country to get a first dose of the jab.

pandemic later today. The First Minister is expected to issue a further warning after covid hospitalisations across the country surpassed 1,000 over the weekend.