Politics Recap: Kate Forbes confirms she will not run for SNP leadership as John Swinney announces bid
Recap another manic day in Scottish politics.
RECAP: John Swinney confirms he is standing for SNP leader and First Minister
Key Events
- John Swinney says his policies will come from the centre-left and he will continue the fight for Scottish independence
- He says his potential leadership rival Kate Forbes will be given a "significant role" in cabinet if he wins
- Kate Forbes will not stand for election, potentially leaving John Swinney uncontested
Good morning! Kicking off with our top story today... Kate Forbes the most popular candidate to replace Humza Yousaf among Scots, poll shows
A new poll has suggested former finance secretary Kate Forbes is the most popular candidate to succeed Humza Yousaf among Scots – though former deputy first minister John Swinney is better liked among SNP supporters.
When asked who the best candidate for Scotland’s next first minister would be, research by Ipsos found 26 per cent backed Ms Forbes, with 20 per cent supporting Mr Swinney.
Read more here.
May Day: Washing your face in the dew, Beltane fires and other Scottish customs.
May Day celebrations have long been held in Scotland, with their roots buried deep in the time of pagans and druids.
Read more here.
Scotland's ancient buildings return to the landscape.
Buildings of Scotland’s ancient past are emerging once again as how we used to live is explored inch-by-inch through a series of loyal reconstructions.
Read more here.
Paul Auster, the American author whose works included "The New York Trilogy," has died of complications from lung cancer, aged 77.
Auster died at his home in Brooklyn.
A murder suspect remains in hospital after a 14-year-old boy was killed and four others were injured in a stabbing in east London.
A 36-year-old man was tasered and arrested in Hainault on Tuesday morning, then taken to hospital, after sustaining injuries when his van hit a house.
Four other people were injured in the attack - two Met officers who suffered wounds that require surgery, but are not life-threatening, and two members of the public whose injuries are also not thought to be life-threatening.
Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, of the Metropolitan Police, said he did not believe it was a targeted attack, and it is not believed to be terror-related.
Demonstrators blocked entrances to the BAE Govan site in Glasgow from early morning on Wednesday 1st May in response to a call from Palestinian trade unionists for workers around the world, and Workers for a Free Palestine, to disrupt the flow of arms to Israel.
The group, including workers from a range of professions and unions, is calling for a halt in the UK’s arms exports to Israel, and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Daniel Radcliffe has said that he will continue to support the rights of LGBT+ people following criticism from Harry Potter author JK Rowling.
Scotland’s economy is estimated to have shrunk by 0.3% in February, figures from the Scottish Government show. Its latest report revealed onshore GDP had contracted in the second month of 2024, despite having seen growth of 0.6% in January. The new figures come as GDP data for the final three months of 2023 was revised, with the economy now said to have fallen by 0.5% over this period – compared with a previous estimate which said GDP had fallen by 0.6%
Police have said they believe a protected golden eagle which disappeared last year was shot.
Merrick, a female golden eagle, was translocated to the south of Scotland in 2022 but was reported missing on October 12.
She was thriving before disappearing, having been spotted widely across southern Scotland and the north of England.
Merrick was fitted with a satellite tag that tracked her wellbeing and movements.
In the eight days leading up to her disappearance, she was exploring the Moorfoot Hills, near Lothian.
On October 12, her tag stopped transmitting, indicating it was not a malfunction and suggesting human interference.
An eagle officer later inspected Merrick's last known roosting spot, and blood and feathers were found nearby.
With so few natural predators, police said they believe she was shot.
The first migrants set to be deported to Rwanda following the passage of the Safety of Rwanda Act have been detained, the Home Office said.
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