Summary

  • First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says current lockdown in Scotland will continue

  • Ms Sturgeon says "significant number of people" in the country are still infected

  • Lockdown won't be eased until there is "clear evidence" that it is safe to do so

  • The UK has become the first country in Europe to pass 30,000 coronavirus deaths

  • Ian Blackford, the SNP's Westminster leader, will join opposition parties for talks with the prime minister to discuss a roadmap for easing the lockdown.

  • People across Scotland will applaud NHS workers and care home staff in the regular "clap for carers" at 20:00

Live Reporting

BBC Scotland News

  1. Ian Blackford: PM must work for a political concensus

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Ian Blackford

    The SNP's leader at Westminister tells Radio Scotland that Boris Johnson must work with opposition parties to achieve a consensus on how and when lockdown restrictions should be lifted.

    It comes amid speculation that the prime minister may ease some restrictions when he addresses the nation on Sunday to outline plans for the next stage of the lockdown.

    It's important that we do work together. This is an absolute crisis that we are in and it's about life and death. As I and the first minister have said, this shouldn't be about politics - this should be about the scientific and medical advice.

    Ian Blackford, SNP Westminster leader

  2. Bank of England warns of biggest one-off contraction in economy in 300 years.

    Andrew Black
    BBC Scotland Business Presenter

    Bank of England

    The Bank of England reckons the UK economy will shrink by an eye-watering 14% this year.

    However, it's predicting it will recover and grow 15% in 2021

    It comes as the Bank of England said it would keep interest rates at 0.1% - the lowest they've ever been.

    Royal Bank of Scotland chairman Howard Davies - a former Bank of England deputy governor, says the immediate future depends on the government's lockdown plans.

    Meanwhile, Royal Bank of Scotland say permanent and short-term job vacancies declined at historic rates in April, because of hiring freezes, redundancies and companies going bust.

  3. 'We need to keep a UK-wide approach' when dealing with coronavirus

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Sir Keir StarmerGetty Images

    The UK Labour leader says he is "worried "about the possibility of Scotland taking a different approach to the rest of the UK when it comes to its coronavirus strategy.

    Across the United Kingdom, we went into lockdown together and I think it would be far better if any easing or relaxation was done together. There are real problems if different regions and different nations do it at different times. One of the things I will be saying to the prime minister today is that we need to keep a UK-wide approach to this. Otherwise we could have all sorts of consequences, with people travelling around the country from one area to another.

    Sir Keir Starmer, Labour leader

  4. Starmer: 'Keeping the infection rate down is the immediate priority'

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    signGetty Images

    The UK Labour leader says he is sure that the UK government's immediate position will be that lockdown restrictions should stay for now - and the Labour Party will support that.

    We support measures to get the infection rate below 1, otherwise it will keep growing. Whether it's the UK government or the Scottish government, any necessary steps to keep the infection rate down must be kept in place.

    Sir Keir Starmer, Labour leader

  5. Sir Keir Starmer: 'We need many, many more tests'

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tells Good Morning Scotland he believes the UK government would be right to follow the Scottish government's plan on testing and tracing cases of Covid-19.

    Keir Starmer

    I am convinced that testing, tracing and isolating is going to have to be part of any strategy for the future. But if that's going to happen, the planning needs to go in now because we need many, many more tests than we've got now.

    Sir Keir Starmer, Labour leader

  6. Boris Johnson 'is listening to the wrong people'

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Boris Johnson is too concerned with the opinions of the bankers and right-wing politicians who got him elected as prime minister at the expense of the general public, according to acting Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey.

    Boris Johnson

    My worry is he is listening to some of the people on the right wing of the Conservative Party who put him there and he is listening to big Tory donors. He should be listening to people who represent everybody in our country.

    Sir Ed Davey, Acting Lib Dem leader

  7. 'Unemployment on a huge scale is a real worry'

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    closed signGetty Images

    Mr Davey believes employers and workers are not receiving the support and guidance they need to help the economy survive the "massive" impact of the pandemic.

    There is a real worry that if we don't have a plan in place, we are going to have huge redundancies and unemployment on a scale not seen before. Employers are already being really badly hit and if we're going to look after people and shelter our economy through this, we have to have a plan.

    Sir Ed Davey, Acting Liberal Democrat leader

  8. 'We need a tracing strategy that is not simply an app'

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Mr Davey says Prime Minister Boris Johnson has a lot of work to do to convince other political leaders, and members of the public, that the government has got its strategy right.

    appNHS

    He needs to show on the health side that the testing capacity is what they promised. Moreover, when people do test positive for coronavirus, they really have a tracing strategy that is not simply reliant on an app. If we just rely on technology, we are going to be in trouble.

    Sir Ed Davey, Acting Liberal Democrat leader

  9. 'This approach of government by the media is not good enough'

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Boris JohnsonGetty Images

    The acting leader added that the prime minister needed to engage more with the devolved administrations across the UK and answer to parliament on the decisions he is taking to deal with the coronavirus crisis.

    I'm sure across Scotland people are worried that he's not engaging people fully and I think part of that engagement has to be with the devolved administrations, but also with parliament and I think this approach of government by the media is not good enough. He needs to be held to account with people who have been elected and we need to make sure our democracy is working.

    Sir Ed Davey, Acting Liberal Democrat leader

  10. Sir Ed Davey: We need to be cautious about easing lockdown

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Acting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey says it is time to consider relaxing some lockdown restrictions, but we need to be "very very cautious". He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that testing must be ramped up to allow for forward planning.

    Ed Davey

    It's having such a toll on people's mental health, on our economy. We've seen a rise in domestic abuse. But I think we need to be very, very cautious and we do need a plan in place. People will be very worried and unsettled at the moment.

    Sir Ed Davey, Acting Lib Dem leader

  11. Convoy in support of NHS staff and key workers set to pass Raigmore Hospital

    rainbowGetty Images

    A convoy of heavy goods vehicles is set to pass the main entrance of Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

    Organisers say it will take place from 07:45 to show support for the hardworking staff of the NHS, care sector and other key workers.

    The convoy will start from Raigmore Avenue/King Duncan’s house (Scottish Ambulance Service), before making its way around Woodside Terrace and past the hospital's main entrance and A&E and outpatients.

    The convoy has been organised by Steven Barclay of Seafield Transport.

    RaigmoreNHS

    The convoy will make its way past Raigmore Hospital in Inverness

  12. Ian Blackford to join opposition parties for talks with Boris Johnson on plans for easing lockdown

    Ian BlackfordGetty Images

    The SNP’s Westminster leader will join other opposition parties for the talks via video link from his Highland constituency.

    Opposition leaders are calling for a ‘’national consensus’’ around the UK government’s lockdown exit strategy.

    By law, ministers in Whitehall have to indicate their views on the lockdown today, but they do not have to announce any changes.

    The prime minister has said he will make his views known in a statement on Sunday.

  13. First minister to announce formal decision on lockdown measures

    Nicola SturgeonGetty Images

    It’s not thought Nicola Sturgeon will signal any significant easing in the constraints.

    Under statute, the first minister and other leaders in the UK are obliged to review the lockdown arrangements every three weeks.

    Nicola Sturgeon has already warned that she would need more consistent and prolonged evidence that the virus is being contained.

    However, Ms Sturgeon has set out possible options for an eventual easing of the tightest constraints.

  14. Scotland's education secretary on the impact of lockdown and school reopening plans

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  15. Catch up with Coronavirus: Scotland's Response

    Rebecca Curran and Martin Geissler

    Education Secretary John Swinney answered viewers questions on the effect of the lockdown on education and schools on the BBC Scotland channel last night.

    He appeared on Coronavirus: Scotland's Response alongside presenters Martin Geissler and Rebecca Curran.

    The programme also featured a special report from James Cook who gained access to an intensive care unit in Lanarkshire to find out how NHS staff and patients are coping on the frontline.

    Watch the programme here on the BBC iPlayer.

  16. Good morning

    nurses clappingGetty Images

    Follow this live page for the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic in Scotland.

    This is what we are expecting to happen today:

    • First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will announce her formal decision on whether the lockdown can be lifted.
    • She is not expected to signal any significant easing of constraints.
    • Health Secretary Jeane Freeman will give evidence to Holyrood's health committee on the Covid-19 situation.
    • Ian Blackford, the SNP's Westminster leader, will join opposition parties for talks with the prime minister to discuss a roadmap for easing the lockdown.
    • People across Scotland will take part in the regular "Clap for Carers" at 20:00