Nicola Sturgeon 'emotional' as First Minister receives first dose of covid vaccination

Dumbarton on the west coast on the last day of campaigning. While the SNP are certain to emerge again as the largest party in the Scottish Parliament when voting closes, Sturgeon is fighting hard in a bid to win an overall majority of MSPs - allowing her to make a further push to hold a second independence referendum.

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.

Nicola Sturgeon today confirmed that her “number one priority” is keeping Scotland safe from coronavirus. It comes after Alba, a rival pro-independence party headed by Alex Salmond, called for action on independence immediately after next month’s Holyrood election.

Nicola ­Sturgeon has told Scots to “take it easy” as the country takes its first real steps out of lockdown since Boxing Day.Today, pub beer gardens will re-open for the first time allowing up to six people from six different homes to meet up outdoors and consume alcohol.Restaurants, bars and cafes will also be able to open indoors until 8pm but will not be permitted to sell alcohol.Shops, gyms, beauty parlours, swimming pools, libraries, galleries and museums will also be back in business as

Nicola Sturgeon blasted hundreds of anti vaccine campaigners who protested in Glasgow demanding for an end to lockdown. The First Minister tweeted her fury as photographs of protesters holding signs declaring Covid to be a hoax went viral across the internet.

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.

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.

social media this morning to make the announcement that she will be heading for her first dose of the vaccine. It's going to be a busy day for Sturgeon as she's set to announce the SNP's Scottish Parliament election manifesto this morning at 11am.

Professor Mark Woolhouse, an expert in infectious diseases at the University of Edinburgh, made the comments as travel restrictions across Scotland are set to end on Friday. Scots will also be able to meet up outdoors in groups of six from up to six different households.But there remains a widespread assumption among some people that meetings outdoors still pose a threat of spreading covid.

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.

Join thousands of others and get the latest Scottish politics news sent straight to your inbox.Nicola Sturgeon has paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh following his death at the age of 99.The First Minister said Prince Philip had "deep and longstanding ties to Scotland" and that a book of condolence will open to allow people to pay their respects.It comes as Boris Johnson addressed the nation outside number 10 Downing Street.He highlighted the steadfast support the duke, who died aged 99, had

@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

Nicola Sturgeon's haircut was making her look like a tabby cat in a hilarious new voiceover. The Scots comedian who has gone viral over lockdown with her own interpretations of the First Minister's coronavirus updates, couldn't resist voicing a clip of The First Minister's haircut as salons re-opened.

Scotland. The First Minister made the announcement at her coronavirus briefing at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh earlier today.