Scottish independence 'essential' to long-term recovery from covid, says Humza Yousaf

coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the Scottish Government has confirmed. The latest figures for Scotland also showed that 255 new cases had been identified overnight.

MPs were shocked to hear evidence that salmon companies sent 5,000 tonnes of fish into the EU in January but HMRC recorded exports of only 80 tonnes for the period. Hamish Macdonell, of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation, told MPs that the export figures for Scottish salmon published by HMRC were off by 97 per cent.

annual STUC conference backed a motion today that Holyrood “should have the power to hold a referendum on Scotland’s future and should not require UK Government consent.” Members said it would be wrong for Westminster to “resist a second vote if a majority of pro-independence MSPs are elected alongside a clear preference among the Scottish people for a second vote.” But the trade union body also rejected Alex Salmond's argument for a so-called "super majority" of MSPs.

coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the Scottish Government has confirmed. The latest figures for Scotland also showed that 273 new cases had been identified overnight.

Lib Dems, the party's election chairman has said. MP Alistair Carmichael, who is heading the campaign ahead of the May 6 election, said staff we left shaken by the incident but no one was hurt.

coronavirus Hancock turned the tables on SNP MP Dave Doogan who asked the Health Secretary if he would match the SNP’s commitment to increase health spending by 20 per cent “to truly build back better”? First Minister Nicola Sturgeon committed the SNP to a four per cent increase in NHS spending for each of the next five years if returned to office.

Douglas Ross claimed Scotland cannot rebuild from the coronavirus pandemic until the "threat" of a second referendum is removed. The Tory MP claimed today that Nicola Sturgeon would "wreck" the economy if she persisted with plans for an IndyRef2 while society was still grappling with the impact of covid.

Douglas Ross being in charge of the Scottish Tories. He said: “My politics and his are different.

furloughed and the most recent figures show a drop in the employment rate. Labour also aims to create 19,000 jobs through a new programme of social home building, 7,500 roles through energy efficiency upgrade work, a 10,000-strong Scottish Conservation Corps and 48,000 jobs through a kickstart scheme.

Perth and Kinross for the second week in a row last week.

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.

Scottish independence - and he reckons his time on Outlander has swayed his opinion. The 40-year-old Scottish actor claimed that he ‘never really felt Scottish’ during his years of working in London and America.

terrorist sympathiser.Stuart Smith, 63, was convicted at Glasgow Sheriff Court last November after posting on Twitter: “Humza Yousaf, good Scots name.

Sarwar land Labour ahead of the Tories and what is holding him back? Nicola Sturgeon’s handling of the covid pandemic, despite the high death rate and despite the care homes scandal, has served her well. Voters look like they want to reward the First Minister for leading the nation during a very difficult year and every time she gives a covid update they are reminded of that.He’s only been boss for six weeks or so and Sarwar has gained ground.

Alba Party took aim at his successor as SNP leader today after Holyrood election campaigning resumed. Salmond hit out following remarks by Sturgeon that an IndyRef2 may have to be delayed if Scotland's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic takes longer than expected.

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

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

Kieran Tierney will miss the next four to six weeks with a knee injury, his club Arsenal have confirmed. The left-back was forced off in the recent loss to Liverpool with manager Mikel Arteta calling it a potentially “serious” issue.

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.