Draft independence referendum bill published by Scottish Government

independence as their top priority. But the poll also found that 53% of voters believe an IndyRef2 should take place within the next five years, while 22% said a future referendum should be ruled out entirely, once people who expressed no opinion were excluded from the total.

new Alba Party combined next month, with 45% opposed, once those who did not express an opinion were excluded from the result.Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly said there would be grounds for a new vote on Scotland's future if her party wins a majority of MSPs on its own, and has ruled out working with Salmond.The pro-independence Greens are also hostile to the Alba Party but have talked up the prospect of forming a coalition with the Nationalists if they fall short of a majority.But just 50% of

Scottish Government has confirmed. The latest figures for Scotland showed that 281 new cases have also been identified overnight.

indyref2 by the end of 2023 if the country is still “grappling” with covid.She also insisted she would not speak to Alex Salmond after the election and criticised his refusal to blame Russia for the Salisbury poisonings in 2018.Polling suggests the SNP is on course to win an outright majority at next month’s election.A key part of an SNP fourth term would be seeking a joint agreement with the UK Government on a second referendum.She has said she wants a fresh vote on Scotland’s constitutional

former First Minister also hit out at an apparent absence of “will, determination and statecraft” over the last seven years - the period in which Sturgeon has led the country.Salmond launched a new pro-indy party, Alba, in the wake of his bitter fallout with Nicola Sturgeon.Alba’s aim is to secure a “super majority” of pro-independence MSPs and is only contesting the regional List elections for Holyrood.However, despite preaching pro-independence unity, Salmond has criticised his predecessor’s

the independence debate and offering voters "very little else". Rennie made the remarks after a poll published yesterday predicted that Alex Salmond’s new party will be elected to Holyrood as part of a huge majority of pro-independence MSPs.

Humza Yousaf has said. The Justice Secretary said in a speech earlier today that independence would not be a "distraction" from the fallout of the pandemic.

coronavirus in Scotland over the last 24 hours. The Scottish Government released the latest figures this afternoon, revealing no new deaths in the same time frame.

Kenny MacAskill said Nicola Sturgeon's party had "failed to achieve a majority" at the last Holyrood elections in 2016 and it was now time for other pro-independence parties to step up. The MP for East Lothian quit the SNP yesterday to join the newly launched Alba Party, which will be led by Alex Salmond and is aiming to win MSPs at May's election via the list vote.

Scottish Government has announced. A total of 563 new positive cases were also reported by health boards across the country as the number continues to rise.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.The Scottish Government has set a date for the next hearing of a dispute involving Perth and Kinross Council and its intent to use compulsory purchase powers to acquire land to build the planned Cross Tay Link Road.Council staff will be asked why they believe they must use compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) to acquire land currently under the control of local housebuilder A and J Stephen to construct the road

Head over to our new Lanarkshire Live Facebook page to make sure you're up to date with the top stories in the regionHe said: “The Scottish Government’s decision to run our railways through what it known as the ‘Operator of Last Resort’ has been shaped by a number of factors, including faults with the current franchising system, uncertainty from a year-long delay in the UK Government’s rail review and the effects of the Covid pandemic.”Welcoming the news, Mr Neil said: “This bold move by the SNP

First Minister was published earlier today and concluded there were "serious flaws" in the process. It also reported that Nicola Sturgeon had "misled" the parliament in some of her evidence.

responsibility for the affair that has plagued Scottish politics for more than a year. Scottish Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said two women who lodged complaints against the Scottish Government were "failed by the Scottish Government".

coronavirus in the last 24 hours. Figures announced by the Scottish Government this afternoon reveal 532 new cases of the virus have been identified overnight, bringing the total cases to 213, 529.

coronavirus in Scotland in the last 24 hours. The  Scottish Government  this afternoon revealed 484 new cases of the virus have been identified overnight, bringing the total cases to 209,552.

Nicola Sturgeon is on course for an SNP majority of one in the Holyrood election opening the door to a constitutional showdown with Boris Johnson and fresh demands for a second referendum.The poll found support for independence is still on a knife edge with 47 per cent against separating from the UK with 46 per cent in support.Boris Johnson is expected to tell the Scottish Tory conference on Sunday that he will refuse permission for a second referendum even if the SNP wins a majority in May.John

coronavirus in Scotland in the last 24 hours.Figures announced by the Scottish Government this afternoon reveal 639 new cases of the virus have been identified overnight, bringing the total cases to 209,068.The latest figures mean that, since the start of the pandemic, 7,508 people have lost their lives to coronavirus in Scotland.The statistics also reveal a total of 479 people are being treated in hospital, with 38 in ICU, one less than yesterday.It comes as the First Minister paid tribute to