Scottish election 2021: BBC Scotland leaders' debate LIVE
With just days to go before the Scottish Parliament elections, the leaders of the major parties take to the stage for the last time to debate each other on the big issues.
Tonight’s debate will be aired on BBC One Scotland at 7.50pm and will last just over an hour.
Follow here for live updates.
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Scottish election 2021: BBC Scotland leaders’ debate RECAP
Nicola Sturgeon’s opinion on whether international travel should go ahead on May 17?
NS: We haven’t taken a decision yet.
I want to get international travel back to normal just as much as I want to get every other aspect of our lives back to normal. But we do need to be cautious.
Candidly, I think last year we opened up international travel too soon.
When we do open up this time, we need to focus on family reunions first before holidays.
Should it be a four nations approach?
NS: That would be my preference given the geography of the UK, given the travel patterns. I will continue to try and persuade Boris Johnson and the other governments of the UK to come to a sensible four nations decision.
Traffic light system for countries? Green for go?
Patrick Harvie (PH) responds:
PH: I worry hat we will get back to the kind of situation we had last summer.
He said he worries about more mutations developing in Scotland if international travel was to go ahead.
PH said international travel should be “one of the last” concerns that Scotland looks at returning to normal.
First topic is lockdown easing - should people be able to go abroad from May 17?
Doulgas Ross (DR) first up to reply:
DR: Let’s see what we have here on our own shores and holiday at home in Scotland, but if the UK Government decides that it’s safe to travel to certain countries on holiday, then well yes it is.
I think the travel industry has been asking for for a long time for support and they have not had the support during the pandemic that they were looking for.
And obviously the airports are also looking to get back to that type of travel, but we do have to be cautious because we don’t want to see mutations back in Scotland.
BBC Scotland political editor Glenn Campbell introduces the leaders
Nicola Sturgeon is to speak for SNP, Anas Sarwar for Scottish Labour, Douglas Ross for Scottish Conservatives, Willie Rennie for Scottish Lib Dems and Patrick Harvie for Scottish Greens.
For those who have just joined...
The final leaders’ debate before this year’s Scottish election will be aired tonight on BBC One at 7.50pm.
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