Nicola Sturgeon quizzed on holding Scottish independence referendum in 2021

First Minister has paid tribute to a ‘wonderful’ dad-of-five who tragically lost his fight for life after catching coronavirus last month. Andrew Slorance passed away on Saturday morning aged just 49 after working tirelessly with the Scottish Government in their response to the pandemic.

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.Both north-east councils had been put on notice yesterday but will stay at level two on the sliding scale for Scotland's 32 local authorities."I can confirm that the Scottish Government is not proposing any immediate changes today to the levels that currently apply to each local authority area," Sturgeon said in her weekly statement to the Scottish Parliament."However, I need to be clear that we have been looking and will continue to look very carefully in the days to

one-off bonus.

Nicola Sturgeon will update the nation on Scotland’s five-tier coronavirus alert system later today. Tougher restrictions could be imposed in the north east of the country as public health officials grow concerned over case numbers in recent day.

Scottish Government has announced additional funding that the First Minister hopes will help tackle child poverty this winter. The £100 million support package includes a £100 direct payment to all families with children receiving free school meals - and it’ll be made before Christmas.

the crisis. She said the right to leaving the UK is "inalienable" and taunted Prime Minister Boris Johnson to try to block another pro-independence majority at Holyrood.

festive tradition is the latest in line to fall victim to strict public health rules which already banned Halloween guising and bonfire night gatherings. The Scottish Government has not finalised the rules but carol singing is being reviewed along with other traditions, including popular Santa's grottos for children.Nicola Sturgeon said work is under way shortly after a Boris Johnson spokesman said permission was granted in England.

referendum. Before the first speeches, Sturgeon said she has "never been so certain" Scotland will achieve independence.

First Minister spoke ahead of her party’s annual conference today by telling members she has “never been so certain” the country will achieve independence.Her party is riding high in opinion polls and is widely tipped to win a majority of MSPs at next year's Holyrood election.That could set off a constitutional showdown with Westminster as the SNP uses its mandate to demand an IndyRef2 takes place.While Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said he will not allow another referendum on

post-Brexit paperwork for fish products.

vote on the constitution. With the Nationalists currently soaring in the polls it means Boris Johnson could face huge pressure to allow an IndyRef2 to take place in the coming years - despite repeatedly saying he would not.

five-tier system on Tuesday morning but the First Minister told MSPs in the Scottish Parliament this will be the only change. The majority of Scots remain in the first of three weeks of strict measures that have closed all non-essential shops and prevented travel to other areas.Sturgeon told MSPs that 41 deaths and 771 positive tests have been recorded in the past 24 hours.

Dennis Canavan, who was chair of the 2014 pro-independence campaign, said an IndyRef2 could be held in the months after the Holyrood election next May.The former Labour MP pointed to the example of 1997 when Tony Blair's new government held a vote on whether to proceed with Scottish devolution in September after being elected just five months previously.The issue of when to call an IndyRef2 has become a major talking point as opinion polls have consistently shown the SNP is on course to win a

coronavirus  death toll has hit 3,459, the  Scottish Government  confirmed today.

level two rules on November 24.The change depends on continued progress, but it was seen as a positive sign while Glasgow and 10 other councils were ordered into the highest level four lockdown.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the plan at the Scottish Parliament as part of the government's weekly review of the five-tier system.She said: "I am pleased to report that East Lothian and Midlothian have both seen a marked decline in infection rates – prevalence in these areas is significantly

Nicola Sturgeon confirms further covid restrictions on Tuesday afternoon.These areas are likely to be Glasgow council area, the three Ayrshire councils, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, West and East Dunbartonshire, North and South Lanarkshire and Stirling and possibly Inverclyde, according to leaked documents.There will no official confirmation on which areas go into the tightest level until Nicola Sturgeon speaks to the Scottish parliament later today after her Cabinet make a final decision

Nicola Sturgeon confirms further covid restrictions on Tuesday afternoon.These areas are likely to be Glasgow council area, the three Ayrshire councils, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, West and East Dunbartonshire, North and South Lanarkshire and Stirling and possibly Inverclyde, according to leaked documents.There will no official confirmation on which areas go into the tightest level until Nicola Sturgeon speaks to the Scottish parliament this afternoon.A further 717 people across

Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to keep schools open in the west of Scotland even in council areas placed at level four.The First Minister today gave her strongest indication yet that several local authorities will this week be moved into the Government's highest level of lockdown - meaning thousands of non-essential businesses will be forced to close.But both primary and high schools will stay open to ensure youngsters can still attend class.It comes as the country's biggest teaching union, the EIS,

Scottish independence could take place in spring 2022, a former Yes campaign chief has predicted. Blair Jenkins said the on-going fight against coronavirus meant it was unlikely that a major vote on the constitution could take place next year - despite a pledge from SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, who said his party must plan for a plebiscite in 2021.