Health Secretary Humza Yousaf, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and ex-minister Ash Regan faced questions at the final TV leadership debate
Candidates Forbes and Yousaf both say that proving the case for independence starts with "governing well". Regan argues for a "gentle persuasion" approach to win over "no" voters
All three believe that it is possible to achieve Scottish independence within five years
Regan wants to review the coalition deal the SNP have with fellow independence backers, the Scottish Greens
Forbes says a "reset on the relationship with business" is necessary and Regan and Yousaf agree that small businesses are the backbone of the country
Yousaf admits that the failure to deliver two new ferries for island communities has not been the "government's finest moment", adding that it was "unacceptable" and let those communities down
Voting in the SNP leadership election opened on Monday as the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon entered its final fortnight
The audience isn't sitting back quietly and accepting what they've heard so far.
One man accuses the three SNP candidates of avoiding taking any accountability.
He says the SNP have been in charge for decades and "for you to sit here and tell me it's going to get better, why haven't you done it before?"
Image source, OTHERWORLDSmall brewers say the scheme is not yet ready to go live
Scotland is aiming to be the first part of the UK to introduce a deposit return scheme for single-use drinks containers. Ministers claim it would boost recycling - but the plan is controversial, with critics calling for a delay.
All three SNP leadership contenders now say it will not go ahead in its present form - Kate Forbes and Ash Regan want it paused, while Humza Yousaf would exempt smaller firms for a year.
Lorna Slater, the Scottish Greens minister leading the scheme, says she is "actively considering" such a grace period for small businesses. The scheme itself is due to go live on 16 August.
Humza Yousaf says small businesses should be excluded from the the DRS recycling scheme for now, and it could be reviewed after a year.
He says that broken glass littering the streets and beaches are from the "big player" companies.
He says "we all believe in tackling the climate emergency" and he can't see sense in pausing the scheme.
Kate Forbes says we need small businesses to be successful.
The finance secretary says it's not enough to have good policies - they must be delivered well.
She talks of the storms that businesses have faced and stresses they need a "breathing space".
That would be her approach, not just to the DRS scheme but to all policy.
Ash Regan says the DRS scheme should be paused to figure it out further.
She says businesses have struggled though the pandemic, and sky rocketing energy costs and "we can't be putting too many burdens on small businesses".
Regan adds that it's not that DRS is not a good idea in principle but it needs to be looked at again, get it right, and then we should implement it.
Image source, PA MediaThe candidates are now being questioned on the controversial bottle return scheme.
Leigh Payne has a small craft spirit company and describes herself as a dedicated SNP member.
She says she accepts Scotland needs a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and says she’s passionate about climate change.
But she asks: “How can I support something that will cause my family so much money that we may have to close?”
Humza Yousaf says his passion is to reduce inequality.
The health secretary insists he wants all children to have the opportunity his daughters have.
He says we must focus on the areas with the highest deprivation.
Yousaf agrees teachers should be empowered but he stresses poverty must be eradicated.
Image source, PA MediaAsh Regan says education is one of the most fundamental things the government provides.
"In some schools we're expecting teachers to be psychologists and social workers," she says.
She says it might be right to have an in-house social worker to take that away from the teachers and free them up to do what they do best.
Kate Forbes says she would simplify it and empower our teachers.
The finance secretary says she has a baby girl and therefore has a "vested interest".
She pledges to reduce the burdens teachers in Scotland face.
Teachers must have the freedom over resources and staffing, she says.
Forbes points out there are "children arriving to learn who are too hungry to learn" and so poverty must be addressed.
Keeping on the topic of public services, audience member Robin Nelsons asks the panel why would the Scottish education system be better off with you as first minister?
Image source, PA MediaAsh Regan says people shouldn't have to pay their life savings for treatment and "we're all contributing to it" so we expect a certain level of service.
She says the main job of the first minister is to focus on the priorities of the people of Scotland.
"I think the problem is we're not supporting the staff well enough," she says.
She says she wants to call an immediate summit to nominate staff to come and tell her as first minister what needs to change, and then set about supporting them to fix it.
Image source, PA MediaKate Forbes says it is unacceptable because treatment should be free at the point of need.
The finance secretary adds she wants to ensure the front-line workers are empowered.
She says it is critical money finds its way to the front line.
"There is great appetite across the country for reform."
Image source, PA MediaHumza Yousaf says "you shouldn't have to wait that length of time for an operation".
He says the Covid pandemic is the biggest shock the NHS has faced and he promises that the entire government is focused on reducing those waiting lists.
He says for those waiting longest on NHS treatment, waiting lists have been reduced by 25%.
He says those who can earn the most, like "government politicians", should pay the most.
He emphasises the need to pay NHS staff well and says a pay deal is on the table.
The first question comes from audience member Angie Martin.
She asks the candidates what do they have to say to people spending their life savings on private surgery because of the length of NHS waiting lists in Scotland?
Her husband has chronic health conditions and is facing a six-year waiting list.
The debate is under way. The three SNP leader candidates are stood behind their podiums and it's straight to audience questions.
Here we go, the debate between the three candidates to lead the SNP will begin at 20:00 GMT.
Our host for tonight, Stephen Jardine, is about to kick things off. He's welcomed the audience to the venue in Edinburgh and Kate Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf are prepped to take their questions.
You can watch the debate live by clicking the Play icon at the top of this page, and we'll bring you all the heated exchanges right here.
Now if you're just joining us there's just five minutes to go until the fourth and final TV debate of the SNP leadership campaign.
Of course this race won't just choose a new SNP leader but also Scotland's next first minister.
Here's some key facts about tonight's debate:
Colin McKendrick (right) and Gerard O'Neill are refreshed and ready
Jacqueline Lawrie and Donna Gray are getting ready for the off
Tory MSP Craig Hoy gets ready in the 'spin room'
Craig Hoy MSP, chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, is attending the debate in Edinburgh, watching with assorted journalists and campaign managers.
Mr Hoy says the SNP leadership campaign so far has shown the party to be “deeply split”.
“Part of the problem moving forward is when you have disagreed so violently in public, how do you put the genie back in the bottle?” he tells BBC Scotland.
“It just goes to show that roads and rail and the NHS are not the number one priority – it is independence.
“The debates have been about which candidate can show the most red meat to the members. I expect that is what we will see tonight.”
You can watch this leadership special edition of Debate Night - wherever you are in the UK - without leaving this page from 8pm by clicking on the play button in the picture above.
And you can follow the event in Edinburgh in text right through the show and beyond as we get reaction from the spin room where the candidates' backers and detractors will give their view on how the SNP trio did.
Stuart Nicolson
BBC Scotland News
Image source, PA MediaThe SNP has refused to confirm - even to the candidates - exactly how many party members will be able to take part in the vote.
It said its membership had reached 125,000 by 2019, but the Electoral Commission put the figure at 104,000 two years later.
The Mail on Sunday has reported that only about 78,000 online ballots - one for every eligible party member - have been sent out by the company that is overseeing the vote.
Polling expert Prof Sir John Curtice has said that Humza Yousaf currently appears to be the most popular of the three candidates among the SNP members who will be picking the new leader, with Kate Forbes second and Ash Regan third.
But Ms Forbes seems to be more popular than her rivals with both SNP voters and the public as a whole, Sir John said.
He added that it "looks as though there is plenty to play for" and that "maybe everything could turn on the unknown second preferences of Ms Regan's supporters".