Scottish Election 2021: Campaign updates

1. Political parties, big and small, enter the final two weeks of the Holyrood election campaign
2. Voters go to the polls on Thursday 6 May to decide who will run the Scottish government for the next five years
3. The larger parties in the race include the SNP, the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour, the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Liberal Democrats
4. A number of smaller parties, and independent candidates, will also be appearing on ballot papers
5. In this election, the electorate will be given two votes, one to choose their constituency MSP and another where they choose a party from the regional list
6. Scottish Labour have published their manifesto, the last of the five larger parties to unveil their proposals

Key points from the election campaign today

Here are the key points from today's campaigning in the Scottish Parliament election:

• Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said Scotland deserves better than the "old politics" of division as he unveiled his party's election manifesto

• Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said there was "no contradiction" in pursuing both economic recovery and independence at the same time

• The SNP pledged to provide free bikes to school children who cannot afford them and ensure every child in Scotland leaves school with the ability to cycle safely

• The Scottish Conservatives said proposals outlined in their manifesto would create 200,000 jobs in the next five years

• Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie set out plans to end the "national scandal" of homelessness

The third debate of the Holyrood election campaign will take place tonight on Question Time, from 22:45 on BBC One or via the iplayer.

That's all from us on the election campaign trail today. We'll be back with more coverage tomorrow.

At-a-glance: Scottish election manifestos

Scottish Labour is the last major party to publish its manifesto for the Holyrood 2021 election.

If you want to compare and contrast the parties' policies, you can check out our at-a-glance coverage of their manifestos.

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Anas Sarwar launched his party's manifesto

• Scottish Labour manifesto at-a-glance

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Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross launched the party's manifesto

• Scottish Conservatives manifesto at-a-glance

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The Scottish Lib Dems launched their Holyrood election manifesto on Friday

• Scottish Lib Dem manifesto at-a-glance

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Co-leader Patrick Harvie at the Scottish Greens manifesto launch event

• Scottish Greens manifesto at-a-glance

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Nicola Sturgeon launched her party's manifesto

• SNP manifesto at a-glance

What could Scotland’s election mean for indyref2?

Scottish election: How independence could be key to how people vote

The debate over whether there should be a second independence referendum could be a key factor in how people vote in the Holyrood election.

The BBC’s Connor Gillies takes a look at how the election could impact on the likelihood of indyref2.

Who should I vote for? Compare party policies

bbc

Political parties in Scotland are continuing to campaign ahead of the Holyrood election on 6 May.

To help you decide who you might vote for, use this policy guide to compare where the parties stand on the key issues.

Politicians to debate election issues on Question Time

BBC

Key party figures in Scotland will take part in the third debate of the Holyrood election campaign tonight on Question Time.

Fiona Bruce will present an hour of topical debate from Edinburgh with a virtual audience.

Appearing on the panel will be the deputy leader of the SNP, Keith Brown; Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross; Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar; Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie and Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater.

You can tune in from 22:45 on BBC One or via the iplayer.

Bring your own pencil: Staying safe on polling day

Lisa Summers

BBC Scotland Health Correspondent

Getty Images

A number of other countries have managed to hold elections despite the pandemic

Write a memo to self not to leave home without pencil, polling card and mask.

Polling stations will have in place a series of measures to keep people safe when they cast their vote on 6 May, but they are asking that you do your bit too.

Expect one-way systems, screens, open windows and plenty of hand sanitiser on offer.

In some places booths may be made of cardboard to reduce the potential of cross-contamination and each voter may get a longer voting period, with plenty of regular cleaning.

So come prepared - but don’t worry if you do forget your pencil, staff will have supplies on offer that you can keep or dispose of as you wish.

Covid in Scotland: How do you hold an election during a pandemic?

A really simple guide to the election

Voters across Scotland will go to the polls on 6 May to elect members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs).

The vote is now held every five years, and this will be the sixth election in its history.

Click here for our really simple guide to the election.

The SNP's manifesto pledges

Scottish election 2021: SNP pledge NHS funds and indyref

The Scottish National Party set out its manifesto priorities for the Holyrood election last week.

It included plans for a "transformational" increase in NHS funding and a referendum on independence once the immediate Covid crisis has passed.

The key policies in the manifesto include:

• An independence referendum to be held within the next parliamentary term
• Frontline NHS spending to increase by at least 20% over the next five years - which would total £2.5bn
• Building 100,000 new homes by 2032, with at least 70% of them for social rent

• Spending £1bn during the next term on measures to help education recover from the pandemic and close the attainment gap
• Freeze the rates of income tax throughout the next parliament

Read more from our correspondents on the party's policies

The Scottish Greens' manifesto pledges

Scottish election 2021: Greens pledge 'transformation' of economy

The Scottish Greens set out plans for a "green economic recovery" in the party's Holyrood election manifesto, which was published last week.

The party is calling for a "fundamental transformation of our economy and society" to tackle climate change.

The key policies in the manifesto include:

• £7.5bn of investment in public transport and renewables
• Phase out single-use and non-essential plastics by 2025

• A new independence vote during the next five-year Holyrood session if a majority backs it
• Scotland to re-join the European Union as an independent country
• The recruitment of 5,500 additional teachers

Read more from our correspondents on the party's policies

The Scottish Liberal Democrats' manifesto pledges

Scottish election 2021: LibDems set out recovery agenda

The Scottish Liberal Democrats launched their 2021 election manifesto last week.

The party said it would prioritise the recovery from the Covid pandemic, with a focus on jobs, mental health, the NHS, schools and the climate crisis.

The manifesto includes plans for:

• Directing 15% of health spending to mental health
• A job for every qualified teacher
• Doubling the Scottish Child Payment
• A long list of environmental measures, from creating a million homes with emission-free heating to skills development in renewables for oil workers
• Pushing for a federal, not independent, Scotland

Read more from our correspondents on the party's policies

Scottish Conservatives' manifesto pledges

Scottish election 2021: Scottish Tories pledge to rebuild Scotland

The Scottish Conservatives launched their 2021 election manifesto earlier this week.

The party proposed 15 new pieces of legislation, including plans for retraining grants for workers, rates relief for shops, and reforms to council funding.

The key policies in the manifesto include:

• Rebuilding the country following the Covid pandemic
• Opposing another referendum on Scottish independence
• A school catch-up plan comprising a nationwide tutoring scheme and hiring 3,000 extra teachers
• A law guaranteeing the funding that the Scottish government would have to pay to local authorities
• More police on the streets

Read more from our correspondents on the party's policies

Election 2021: How do I vote?

The Scottish Parliament election takes place on 6 May.

On that day, about 48 million people across England, Wales and Scotland will be able to vote in a series of elections.

People will also be voting in elections for the Welsh parliament; mayoral elections in 13 of England's biggest city areas; council elections across England; and Police and Crime Commissioner votes in England and Wales.

Read more here about how to vote and see who the candidates are in your area.

Lib Dems outline plans to tackle 'national scandal' of homelessness

BBC

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has set out his party's plans to end the "national scandal" of homelessness.

He questioned why it took a pandemic for the Scottish government to try and house all rough sleepers and move homeless people into safe housing, including hotels and bed and breakfasts.

Mr Rennie said new laws were needed to strengthen the duties on public bodies to prevent homelessness, in addition to building more affordable homes.

The Lib Dems say about 100 homeless applications are made every day in Scotland, with around 150,000 people on council housing waiting lists.

"Whether it's living on the streets, sofa-surfing or shuttling between temporary accommodation, these situations take a huge toll on people's mental and physical health," Mr Rennie said.

"It also exerts a huge toll on children's education and development. It stops people getting on in life."

Conservatives' plans 'would create 200,000 jobs in five years'

BBC

The Scottish Conservatives have said proposals outlined in their manifesto would create 200,000 jobs in the next five years.

The party estimated that the most - 51,600 jobs - would be created by infrastructure policies, which include upgrades to and the reopening of railway lines.

Job security councils, which would create a network of groups across the country to find new work for those who have been recently laid off, would create 31,900, while investment in energy efficiency are estimated to find employment for 24,000 people.

Party leader Douglas Ross, visiting a construction company in Blantyre, south Lanarkshire, said the plans were "bold and ambitious".

The proposals would "help businesses get back on their feet so they can protect current jobs and start creating the jobs of the future", he added.

SNP promise free bikes to children who cannot afford one

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The SNP will provide free bikes to school children who cannot afford them and ensure every child in Scotland leaves school with the ability to cycle safely, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The first minister says she wants to "lock in good habits" to capitalise on the "huge increases" in people trying healthier modes of transport during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ms Sturgeon said if re-elected, the SNP will ensure that 10% of the transport capital budget goes on active travel by the end of the next Holyrood term in 2026.

It will also seek to ensure every town has a "high quality and separated walking and cycling network" and help adults with the cost of buying or repairing a bike.

"We want to encourage good habits from the youngest age," Ms Sturgeon said. "Active travel has so many benefits for our health, for the environment and for our communities."

Why do politicians persist in trying to 'do football'?

Philip Sim

BBC Scotland political reporter

BBC

Politicians continue to kick around the European Super League as evidence of their everyman credentials. Why do they persist in trying to "do football" when they so often get it wrong?

It’s probably slightly more nuanced than just jumping on a bandwagon. The ESL debacle underlines that football clubs are still deeply rooted in local identity, history and culture.

Politicians are often accused of not “getting” football, but they definitely get the “club” part - the spirit of localism, of something knitted into the bedrock of a local community. The idea of a local institution that inspires undying loyalty is something they would love to emulate.

The difficulty is that tribal football fans can smell a glory-hunting outsider a mile off. They can spot an MP or MSP donning their colours for political gain like an away fan who’s sneaked into the home end for a sold-out match, even when they don’t mix up which team they’re meant to support.

The danger is of appearing less like part of the club and more like the caricature of a modern career politician – a rootless, unprincipled actor who goes wherever the votes are. And in many ways, that is precisely the complaint fans had with the European Super League.

You can hear more analysis of the collision between football and politics on the latest Podlitical podcast.

Greens see 'no contradiction' between independence and recovery

PA

Patrick Harvie said independence would allow investment-led recovery

There is "no contradiction" in pursuing both economic recovery and independence at the same time, according to the Scottish Greens.

In a BBC Radio Scotland interview, co-leader Patrick Harvie said Scotland's ability to recover from the pandemic was hindered by the UK government.

Independence would allow investment-led recovery, he said.

Mr Harvie also said the country had to prepare for how the energy sector would be impacted by climate change.

Speaking on the Good Morning Scotland programme, he said Scotland needed independence to become a "fair and equal society".

"I don't see any contradiction in pursuing both objectives at the same time," he said.

• Read more here

How could the election result affect the union?

Nick Eardley

Political correspondent

The result of the Scottish Parliament election could have a significant impact on the future of the union.

The SNP and Scottish Greens back another independence referendum in the next five years. Alex Salmond - who is leading the new Alba Party - wants even more urgency.

• Can independence supporters force another referendum?

Unionist parties, who favour Scotland staying part of the UK, are trying to stop them holding the balance of power. They argue that a debate on Scotland's constitutional future would be a distraction when the country is trying to recover from coronavirus.

• Can unionists block another independence referendum?

The voters the parties are vying to win over

BBC

They are the voters all the parties want to win over - "the undecided".

The BBC spoke to five people from our voter panel who are still working out who to vote for in the Scottish election.

We asked what issues matter to them. You can read their views here.

Scottish Labour's manifesto pledges

Scottish election 2021: Labour pledge to 'obsess' about Covid recovery

Scottish Labour says that at the heart of its manifesto are "transformative" policies designed to "change lives - in ways big and small".

It has published a recovery plan which focusses on jobs, the NHS, education, climate and community.

It includes plans for:

• a "jobs for recovery" guarantee for young people and those out of work
• working towards a Minimum Income Standard to help end poverty
• a £75 prepaid card for every adult in an efort to "save Scotland’s high streets"
• a Great Scottish Staycation, with a "third night free" offer on accommodation, to support the tourism industry
• offering a personal comeback plan for every school pupil, with personal tutoring available to all ages
• getting NHS services "back on track", prioritising cancer treatment and care
• recruiting a mental health worker to every GP practice and raising carers' pay to £12 per hour

Read more from our correspondents on the party's policies.