Election update: Gray to rally supporters | Annabel tucks into teacakes | Key Labour seats under threat

Published on Monday 25 April 2011 13:03

Our round-up of all the stories from the Holyrood election campaign trail, plus the picture of the day and political cartoon.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie stares curiously at a Tunnock's teacake while on a visit to the firm's factory in Uddingston.

Also pictured is Alex Salmond on a previous visit to the same factory in November last year.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TODAY

• Conservative leader Annabel Goldie and education spokesman Liz Smith will be joined by former rugby player Gavin Hastings to launch their sports manifesto at the top of Calton Hill in Edinburgh

• The Tory leader will also be out campaigning in St Andrews with candidate Miles Briggs

• Liberal Democrat president Malcolm Bruce will join Nicol Stephen and John Sleigh, candidate for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine at Doonies Farm, to campaign for a fair funding deal for local authorities.

• Labour Leader Iain Gray will give a keynote speech at a party rally in Glasgow.

• Scottish Green Party lead candidate for West Scotland Steen Parish will be joined by Robin Harper campaigning and setting out plans for renewable energy in Scotland.

• SNP leader Alex Salmond will perform the official opening of OceanTools House, the new Aberdeen headquarters for OceanTools, which designs and manufactures products for the subsea ROV and robotics industry.

WEBCHAT

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives Annabel Goldie will be online on scotsman.com tomorrow at 3pm to take part in a live webchat.

You can submit your questions during the event or beforehand by emailing [e-mail].

Click here to set a reminder>>

TODAY'S POLL

Will Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray hold onto his constituency seat?

Vote on our election Facebook page

IN TODAY'S PAPERS...

Poll puts SNP out in front

A poll of 1,300 Scots by YouGov has found that 45 per cent intended to vote for the SNP. (Mail)

Labour big hitters face losing constituency seats

A poll commisioned by The Scotsman has found that a number of Labour's heavyweight politicians stand to lose their seat in the upcoming Holyrood elections.

MSPs at risk include party leader Iain Gray, finance spokesman Andy Kerr, former health minister Jackie Bailie, former UK transport minister Malcolm Chisholm, enterprise spokesman Lewis Macdonald and culture spokeswoman Pauline McNeill. (Scotsman)

Labour criticised over social care policy

The organisation which represents Scotland's 32 local authorities has criticised Labour's policy of transferring social care from councils to the NHS.

COSLA say the move would cost over 300m in needless beaurucartic change. (Herald)

Baby on the way for George Galloway

Respect party leader George Galloway, 56, announced on his Twitter page that he is to become a father for the third time to his third wife Lebanese researcher Rima Husseini. (Express)

Cartoon by Frank Boyle

OPINION

Leader: Labour's best hope is to raise the independence issue

OPINION polls need always to be treated with caution. And there is time yet for an upset in the final stretch of this marathon election race. However, if latest poll findings are any guide, Labour faces a formidable challenge. Not only is Alex Salmond set for a second term of office, but Labour could be facing a major humiliation.

AND FINALLY...

David Cameron has accused SNP leader Alex Salmond of acting like a Latin American dictator in his election campaign. The Tory leader is quoted "Last time I looked it was a parliamentary system. El Presidente Salmondo needs to think again".

• All the latest news, comment and analysis

• Who is standing in your area? Find out on our Scottish Election Map

• Visit The Steamie, our Scottish politics blog

• Election update: a daily briefing of the main stories from the campaign trail

• Follow our election coverage on Twitter and Facebook