Nicola Sturgeon warns 'big risk' of new variants if international travel restrictions lifted too early

defeated Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar by 19,735 votes to 10,279, the First Minister said her party is set for a fourth term in power. The SNP leader had played down the likelihood of an overall SNP majority at Holyrood, saying it has “always been a very, very long shot”.

SNP would fall agonisingly short of an overall majority. Expert Sir John Curtice said a polling average put Nicola Sturgeon ’s party on 64 seats – one shy of outright victory.

Nicola Sturgeon has arrived at a polling station as party leaders cast their votes up and down the country in the Scottish Election. The First Minister was all smiles as she greeted supporters and voters outside the Annette Street school in Govanhill, Glasgow, this morning, May 6.Sturgeon has already voted by post but joined SNP candidate Rosa Salih to lend her support and meet a Syrian family as they cast their ballots.

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

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.

First Minister stopped by the unusual outdoor decor earlier today. She was leafleting in Prestonpans, East Lothian when she spotted the house.The owners had created a giant Scottish flag outside their home with bright blue stones in the shape of a saltire.

Janey Godley has been up to her old tricks with footage of Nicola Sturgeon visiting an off licence. Janey, who has kept Scots entertained through lockdown with her voiceovers, couldn't resist adding her own commentary to the latest footage of The First Minister.

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 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

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.

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.

Join thousands of others and get the latest Scottish politics news sent straight to your inbox.Nicola Sturgeon’s “bold promises” at elections turn out to amount to very little, Douglas Ross has said.As the SNP launched their election manifesto the Scottish Tory leader said that the last 14 years of SNP government had been a failure.Ross listed SNP policy failures as he prepared to promote postal votes to potential Tory voters.He told reporters: “Their promises have never been delivered.

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,

@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