Nicola Sturgeon confirms lockdown easing as Scotland moves to Level 3

64 MSPs in the 129-seat parliament which is one short of a majority however with the eight Scottish Greens elected there is a majority of independence parties. Sturgeon said her priority following the election would be to focus on Scotland's recovery from the devastating coronavirus pandemic.

Nicola Sturgeon has promised she will work with Anas Sarwar’s Labour to help rebuild Scotland in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nicola Sturgeon has thanked the people of Scotland for their sacrifices over the last year of the coronavirus pandemic. The SNP leader wrote an open letter which has been published in a number of Sunday papers including the Sunday Mail.

Today programme the SNP leader said the Scottish Government would negotiate terms to "allow businesses to keep trading". Sturgeon said: "This is the frankness that certain sections of the media will seek to stir up trouble on - I am not denying that we would need to confront and resolve the issues of being in the European Union for the border between Scotland and England.

SNP leader used an interview with an Irish newspaper yesterday to explain there would be detailed work to minimise "any practical difficulties for businesses" that rely on cross-border trade.The UK Government and the EU spent years negotiating how to avoid a hard border between the Republic of Ireland, which remains in the Euro bloc, and Northern Ireland after the UK voted for Brexit in 2016.Sturgeon said the resulting deal offered an example of how an independent Scotland would handle a border

could create jobs in the south of the country. But the First Minister insisted: “Nobody in the SNP wants to see a border between Scotland and England”.

Join thousands of others in getting the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon vowed to secure the future of the Vale of Leven Hospital on a visit to Alexandria this morning.The SNP politician visited Dumbarton and the Vale earlier today on the campaign trail with local candidate Toni Giugliano, who is hoping to take the party’s first victory in Dumbarton since the creation of the current Scottish Parliament.Just 109 votes separated the SNP’s Gail

National Union of Students leaders' hustings last night where representatives from the main five parties discussed a range of issues. During the argument between Sturgeon and Ross, the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar jumped in to say they weren't setting a good example for young people across the country by shouting at each other.

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that lockdown will ease across Scotland next week as cases continue to fall.The First Minister said the country would move to Level Three lockdown on Monday, April 26. The SNP leader, at a Scottish Government covid briefig, gave detail of travel between Scotland, England and Wales and the reopening of gyms, non-essential shops and the hospitality sector.

beer gardens, with opening hours determined by local licensing laws. The First Minister had previously flagged the April 26th date when she published the Government’s routemap for taking Scotland out of lockdown.

Government briefing from St Andrew's House this week at around noon where she will update the nation on the progress made so far.It's expected Sturgeon will confirm that pubs, restaurants and cafes will be able to open for the first time in months on April 26.Last week the SNP leader announced that from Friday, April 16, people would be allowed to travel out of their council area for the first time this year for leisure purposes.It's not just the hospitality industry that is set to benefit from

Tuesday that travel restrictions would be lifted earlier than planned to allow people to see their family and friends who may live in different council areas. Among the other rules changes coming into force today six people from six households will be allowed to meet outdoors.

Parliament term, if she is re-elected.The First Minister revealed her plans for a second vote on Scotland's future during the SNP's manifesto launch earlier today.The SNP says it is seeking permission from the Scottish people to hold indyref2 following the devastating coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 10,000 Scots.

First Minister made the update at a media briefing on lockdown in Edinburgh today.The SNP leader said restrictions on travel will end across Scotland from this Friday - meaning Scots can leave their council area and meet up with friends and family outdoors.Groups of up to six people from six different households will be able to meet in parks, gardens and for outdoor recreation from that day in a further easing of lockdown.The country will move from Level 4 of restrictions on April 26 to Level 3,

restrictions continue to ease across Scotland with pupils return to full-time education inside school buildings now in full swing. Secondary pupils in areas where the Easter holidays have ended have all now returned to their place of education - with more expected to get back into the classroom throughout the coming days.

today. The First Minister will be joined by Chief Medical Officer Gregor Smith from St Andrew's House as they provide details on planned easing of restrictions across the country.

@scotgov and the people of Scotland - to Her Majesty The Queen and her family." The Palace said in a statement: "It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh."His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle."Further announcements will made in due course."The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."

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

SNP, even if that was not a Tory.Ross made the comments during a BBC Scotland radio phone-in, after one caller said he was thinking of voting Labour because their candidate had a better chance of unseating the SNP MSP.Asked “should a Conservative vote for Labour, who have a chance of winning?”, the Tory leader replied: “I think, across the country, people should look at their individual constituency and vote for the strongest candidate, which in most cases is a Conservative candidate, to defeat