Summary

  • Political parties, big and small, enter the final two weeks of the Holyrood election campaign

  • Voters go to the polls on Thursday 6 May to decide who will run the Scottish government for the next five years

  • The larger parties in the race include the SNP, the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour, the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Liberal Democrats

  • A number of smaller parties, and independent candidates, will also be appearing on ballot papers

  • 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

  • Scottish Labour have published their manifesto, the last of the five larger parties to unveil their proposals

Live Reporting

Craig Hutchison and Bryn Palmer

  1. Scottish Labour unveil election manifesto

    Anas SarwarLabour

    Anas Sarwar called for the country to unite behind a national recovery plan as he unveiled Scottish Labour’s election manifesto.

    The party's leader says Scotland deserves better than the "old politics" and calls for a parliament focused on "what unites us, not what divides us".

    "Let’s not spend the next five years on re-running old arguments, or the timing of a vote, or battles in the courts. Let’s spend the next five years on a national recovery," he said.

    Scottish Labour's recovery plan is divided into five parts - jobs, NHS, education, climate and community.

    It includes a guarantee of a job for every young Scot and investment in helping high streets recover.

    There would also be funding for the NHS to get cancer treatment back on track; a comeback plan for schools; and investment in green jobs.

  2. Will there be a record number of female MSPs?

    Women MSPs marked the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918, which allowed women to vote for the first time.Getty Images

    Women MSPs marked the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918, which allowed women to vote for the first time.

    Scotland's political parties are under more pressure than ever to correct the imbalances in the gender and diversity of their representatives.

    Could we be on course for the largest contingent of female MSPs ever, and the most diverse parliament in Holyrood's history?

    Read more here

  3. Ten seats to watch in the Holyrood campaign

    A view overlooking Edinburgh

    With campaigning in full swing, which local contests might tell the story of the Scottish Parliament election and give an indication of the national picture?

    From Aberdeenshire West to Airdrie and Shotts, Edinburgh Central to Eastwood, our political correspondent Phil Sim has been looking at what could be the most closely contested seats.

    Which parties are targeting them and who are the candidates?

    Find out more about the 10 seats to watch by clicking on this link.

  4. What's happening on the campaign trail today?

    Scottish Labour will be launching their election manifesto today, the last of the five larger parties to do so.

    The party's original launch was rescheduled after the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, when campaigning was suspended for several days.

    Leader Anas Sarwar will unveil his manifesto in Greenock, while the other party leaders will also be out on the campaign trail.

    Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie will outline plans to tackle homelessness in Edinburgh.

    Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, will visit a construction company in Blantyre to highlight his party’s plans to "rebuild Scotland".

    Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie will be in Glasgow's west end to unveil plans for a new rail card to cut fares.

    SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon will be south of the River Clyde at a cycling community hub in Govanhill to highlight "a revolution in active travel".

  5. Scotland's election: The basics

    MSPsReuters

    What's happening? On 6 May, people across Scotland will vote to elect 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). The party that wins the most seats will form the government. Find out more here.

    What powers do they have? MSPs pass laws on aspects of life in Scotland such as health, education and transport - and have some powers over tax and welfare benefits.

    Who can vote? Anyone who lives in Scotland, is registered to vote and aged 16 or over on 6 May is eligible.

  6. Two weeks to polling day

    The Scottish Parliament at HolyroodGetty Images

    Good morning and welcome to BBC Scotland's coverage of the Scottish Parliament election campaign.

    On Thursday 6 May, Scotland's voters will go to the polls to decide who will represent them at Holyrood. It is the sixth election since the Scottish Parliament was formed in 1999.

    Here we will be providing news updates, analysis and explanation.