RECAP: Watch The Scotsman's second election virtual hustings here

The Scotsman’s second Scottish election virtual hustings is being broadcast live this evening after one of the biggest weeks in Scottish politics in a decade.

Six candidates from the South of Scotland regional list area will state their case for election and answer your questions in the one-hour hustings starting from 6:30pm.

You can watch the recorded event right here at the top of this page.

Former MP and Holyrood election candidate George Galloway will be making his first public appearance since suspending his election campaign on Friday over alleged death threats.

The Scotsman is holding its first election hustings in the Lothian regional list area

He will go up against the SNP’s Paul McLennan, Craig Hoy from the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Greens’ candidate Laura Moodie, Labour’s Carol Mochan, and Catriona Bhatia from the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

The eight-part hustings series stared in the Lothians last week and is running in the countdown to the Scottish elections on May 6.

The Scotsman's deputy political editor Gina Davidson will host the election hustings series. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

The Scotsman will take viewers from their own homes, living rooms and offices, across the length and breadth of the country as we visit all eight parliamentary regions.

Series host and The Scotsman’s deputy political editor Gina Davidson said: “Covid has changed everything in the past 12 months and the Scottish Parliament elections are no different.

“More postal votes are expected to be cast than ever before. And there will be safety measures and a restriction on the numbers of people able to be in polling stations.

“Party campaigning will also be reduced, including face-to-face election hustings, which is is why The Scotsman is organising a series of virtual hustings instead.

Labour candidate Carol Mochan

“Democracy is vital, candidates should be heard, questions should be asked and more importantly answered. We want to get as wide a range of voices involved as possible.”

Readers can also watch the virtual hustings by visiting The Scotsman’s Facebook page.

They can also submit questions for the candidates by emailing them to [email protected] and including their full name, age, location and occupation.

Questions can also be asked live during the hustings on The Scotsman’s Facebook page.

George Galloway. Picture: John Devlin.

The hustings will form a key pillar of The Scotsman’s revamped election coverage.

A weekly politics podcast, The Steamie, has also been launched, while our website is hosting a section specifically for the Scottish election coverage, available to access from The Scotsman’s home page, publishing all the latest news.

The Steamie is available from all of your favourite podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you like what you hear, please hit subscribe to never miss an episode - and leave us a rating and review. It helps others discover the show and we really like to hear your feedback.