Shirley-Anne Somerville is education secretary in Nicola Sturgeon's cabinet reshuffle

First Minister will address MSPs at Holyrood as cases continue to rise across parts of the country. It comes as Scotland marks six months since the Covid-19 vaccination programme was rolled out.

Nicola Sturgeon is set to make an announcement on the state of the coronavirus pandemic in the Scottish Parliament later today.The First Minister will address MSPs at Holyrood as cases continue to rise across parts of the country.It comes as Scotland marks six months since the Covid-19 vaccination programme was rolled out.At the end of last week Sturgeon announced that cases of the deadly virus had tripled in the last month just as Scotland starts to move out of lockdown restrictions.The news

First Minister’s husband intervened to refund money to an ex-SNP member who threatened to contact police over the party’s donations scandal. We revealed in April that police were investigating claims of a £600,000 SNP fraud in relation to a fundraising drive.

St Andrew's House in Edinburgh earlier today the First Minister said the situation is giving cause for concern but that vaccines are providing hope. The number of people testing positive for the covid-19 has tripled in the last month with 992 new cases identified in the last 24-hour period.

First Minister said the situation remained "fragile" but added there was growing confidence that the on-going vaccination programme was reducing the number of people who required hospital treatment after testing positive for coronavirus. It comes as parts of the country prepare to move from Level 2 to Level 1 of lockdown restrictions as of midnight on Friday, while Glasgow will move from Level 3 to Level 2.

First Minister joined her Welsh and Northern Irish counterparts for a virtual discussion with Downing Street earlier today to debate such issues as extending furlough and vaccine supply. But despite "frank" discussions lasting several hours between Boris Johnson and the devolved leaders there no final agreed strategy was produced - but those present did agree to meet again soon to discuss how best for the UK to emerge from the pandemic.

First Minister told MSPs today that mistakes were made during the first weeks of the global coronavirus pandemic in March last year. It comes as Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar accused the Scottish Government of being in "lockstep" with Westminster over when big decisions to tackle covid were implemented.

Mark Drakeford and Sturgeon wrote to Johnson stating they wanted a clearer agenda and to make sure it wasn't more than a PR exercise.Following the cancellation all sides blamed one another for the breakdown of potential talks.

Nicola Sturgeon will give an update on the latest coronavirus restrictions in an address at Holyrood later today. The First Minister is expected to confirm the areas that will move to level one restrictions from next Monday.More people are allowed to meet outdoors in level one, while the numbers allowed to attend certain events - such as weddings and funerals - is increased under the rules.Hospitality venues are allowed to open for longer, with closing times limited to 11pm every evening.

Level 2. Changes are due to come into effect in a weeks time on June 7.

Level 2. Changes are due to come into effect in a weeks time on June 7.

coronavirus advisor has claimed. Professor Devi Sridhar of the University of Edinburgh has urged policymakers to reopen the country cautiously amid concerns over the mutant strain of the virus, reports Glasgow Live.

virus expert. Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at Aberdeen University, said Holyrood leaders repeated the same devastating errors as Westminster.

Level Three for a number of weeks after cases started to creep up in some parts for the city. The south side of Glasgow has been an area badly hit by the rise in cases over the last month.

Rangers during attempts to secure the club’s financial future, a court has heard. David Whitehouse, 55, told the Court of Session today the First Minister didn’t want the Scottish Governmen t to intervene when the club was placed in administration in 2012.

First Minister said there would be a “number of reasons” for figures showing around half the coronavirus vaccine appointments at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro vaccination centre this weekend were missed.There were many cancellations and non-attendances on Saturday and Sunday amid rising case numbers in the city which remains at level three lockdown.Speaking at the Scottish government covid briefing on Tuesday the First Minister urged young people in the 18-29 cohort to make sure they registered for their

Eurovision fans bombarded First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with requests for a Scottish song entry while they watched the contest - and saw a Lewis Capaldi doppelganger. Scots fans got very excited about Norway's entry looking a bit like our own Lewis Capaldi.

rising SNP star becomes Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, including responsibility for the Scottish Budget, fiscal policy, taxation, and economic strategy. Forbes, who only entered parliament in 2016, must now try and revive Scotland's struggling economy which has taken an unprecedented battering after months of repeated lockdowns.

covid pandemic. He replaces Jeane Freeman, who retired as an MSP at the last election.A Scottish Government press release said: “Humza Yousaf becomes Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, with responsibility for the NHS, including ongoing health service remobilisation as we move out of the pandemic.