Nicola Sturgeon has formally been re-elected as first minister.

Ms Sturgeon's nomination will now go forward to the Queen for approval, before she is sworn in at the Court of Session on Wednesday.

Here are the headlines from today:

• Nicola Sturgeon faced challenges from Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross and Willie Rennie of the Lib Dems
• However she comfortably retained the backing of MSPs, with 64 voting for her
• Douglas Ross got 31 votes and Willie Rennie got four, with 28 abstentions
• After re-election, Nicola Sturgeon thanked her family, outlined her policy aims, and pledged to work every day to get Scotland through the pandemic
• She told MSPs that the role of first minister was an "immense privilege but also an enormous responsibility".

• The first minister reiterated plans to hold an independence referendum once the Covid crisis has passed
• She spoke directly to opponents of independence, saying she didn't want them "bludgeoned" towards an outcome they're not persuaded of
• However she stressed there has to be a democratic route to independence if it's the majority view.
• The Conservatives said it was wrong to "waste time" on what they call "old arguments"

Image source, Reuters/Shuttercock

Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks, further to Greensill Capital entering administration, what action the government is taking to mitigate the risks to jobs, vital industries and public finances in Scotland.

The UK's financial watchdog has opened an investigation into the collapse of Liberty Steel backer Greensill Capital.

It came as David Cameron faced questions over lobbying for Greensill.

Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop points to a previous statement by Fergus Ewing which outlined the potential impact of the collapse on Scottish businesses, particularly on the Lochaber aluminium spelter and the Motherwell steelworks.

She says the Scottish government's priority is to support steel and aluminium sectors and the "highly skilled jobs they provide".

She says she and Mr Ewing will continue to provide updates to MSPs but says it is a "sensitive commercial matter" and they must "be careful not to prejudice or undermine the process".

Ms Hyslop adds the current plan is not take sites into public ownership but that the government will "look at all options" as required "when situations present themselves".

Tory MSP Dr Sandesh Gulhane asks for an update on rising Covid-19 cases in Glasgow and parts of the Greater Glasgow area.

Vulnerable people who have not taken up the vaccine will be the focus of Glasgow's response to a major Covid outbreak.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney fields this question and says community engagement and support for Glasgow and Moray have been outlined.

Mr Swinney says there has been a significant expansion of the testing programme and vaccination programme in the affected areas.

He adds the first minister will review the situation at the end of this week, including a review of any further areas where concerns emerge.

Dr Gulhane says as a GP of Indian heritage he is aware of the vaccine hesitancy among members of ethnic minorities.

Mr Swinney accepts this is a very significant issue and the vaccination programme has been designed to tackle it via communication within the communities affected.

He calls on everyone to take up the offer of a vaccine.

Mr Yousaf says that he would have liked the messaging from authorities around mass gatherings to have been "stronger and more explicit".

However he says: "Let’s not forget the responsibility for those dreadful scenes that we saw lies on the shoulders for those individuals who took part in the disorder."

Police Scotland will follow up and explain their operational decisions from Saturday to any MSPs, Mr Yousaf says.

He turns to fans who displayed "anti-Catholic and anti-Irish bigotry", saying "it is disgusting, I have no tolerance for it" and it will be part of Police Scotland investigations.

As for further potential action Mr Yousaf says strict liability - where clubs are held responsible for the actions of fans - is an option that remains on the table, as well as establishing an independent football regulator in Scotland.

He says that fans found guilty of offences should face a lifetime ban from their clubs.

MSP Liam Kerr raises the point that mass gatherings should be banned overall during a pandemic. While Mr Yousaf agrees, he says the earlier protest at Kenmure Street on Thursday "did not see thuggish loutish behaviour, disorder, protestors punching police officers, urinating in public or anti-Catholic bigotry".

Image source, PA Media

We now move to three urgent questions.

SNP MSP James Dornan asks what engagement the government has had with Police Scotland and Rangers FC regarding the reported COVID-19 regulation breaches, incidences of vandalism, violence and anti-Catholic bigotry in Glasgow city centre and at Ibrox Stadium on 15 May.

Police Scotland has said "many more arrests will follow" what it described as "disgraceful" scenes as Rangers fans celebrated in Glasgow city centre.

• Read more here

Ms Sturgeon turns to the issue of an independence referendum and says: "By any measure of parliamentary democracy there is a clear mandate for a referendum in this term of parliament.

"It is important in the interests of democracy for that to be acknowledged and respected."

Image source, Getty Images

She pledges to exercise that mandate with "responsibility, humility and only when the crisis of Covid has passed."

The first minister insists that with independence the decisions that will shape the future will lie with the people of Scotland.

She argues Scotland cannot be told there is no democratic route to the future of the country.

Ms Sturgeon turns to the recovery and says the SNP's plan for the first 100 days of this term is now government policy.

The first minister says her cabinet secretaries and ministers will be charged with implementing it at pace.

Among the priorities are:

• completing the vaccination programme as quickly as possible
• implementing a pay rise for NHS workers
• publishing an NHS recovery plan
• opening three fast track cancer diagnostic centres
• removing dental charges for care leavers as first step towards ending all dental charges
• consulting on legislation to create a new national care service
• establishing a new council for economic transformation
• funding colleges and funding 1,000 more teachers
• free music tuition and tablets and laptops for all pupils
• doubling the Scottish child payment
• starting work on a minimum income guarantee
• taking the next step on the journey to net-zero

The first minister says: "Presiding officer there is much to be getting on with and this will be a government of action."

Nicola Sturgeon says being first minister "is indeed a privilege", but adds in truth it is the "heavy sense of responsibility and duty that any incumbent of this office will feel every single day".

The first minister says that has never been more true than over the pandemic.

"Our country is living through the most challenging and traumatic period that most of us have ever known,"she continues.

She says lives have been lost, families separated and jobs lost and she adds she has done her best through out all of this.

"I will continue to work every single day to make the best decisions possible and I resolve never to shy away from the tough calls."

Ms Sturgeon continues that we have made progress but "Covid is not done with us yet" and "tough decisions do lie ahead".

Ms Sturgeon begins her speech by thanking party leaders and fellow MSPs, saying "there is simply no greater privilege" than to be elected as first minister.

She quickly turns to her family, saying the last two times she has been nominated her loved ones were in the public gallery.

Thanking her family for their love and support, Ms Sturgeon says she appreciates how people across the country will have missed family members over the pandemic.

Speaking directly to her family, she says: "I can’t ever thank you enough though I could probably try harder and more often - but please know how much I do love all of you."

It's now the turn of Willie Rennie who begins by congratulating Nicola Sturgeon on her re-election.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader says: "It has been an extraordinary time, with extraordinary pressures, both Covid and political. I have admired Nicola Sturgeon's personal leadership through this pandemic."

He praises her personal sacrifice and thanks her for her service and offers his support

Mr Rennie goes on to appeal to the first minister not to appoint a minister for the constitution, calling for a senior minister for the recovery instead.

Greens co-leader Lorna Slater delivers her first speech in the chamber, congratulating the first minister and hailing “Scotland’s most diverse Parliament”, with more women, disabled and young people.

She asks: “Will we, as a more diverse group, have a more positive working culture?

"Will there be more cross-party working? Will we be able to think long term? To think about the well-being of our people and stewardship of our land and resources?"

Ms Slater says the majority of pro-independence MSPs means "we need to have national conversation about constitution".

She adds: “I am hoping that the first minister and everyone in this room will consider the nature of the multiple crises that we face, and will commit to working in the spirit of cooperation and constructively across party lines to make the kind of transformative changes that are needed to protect our environment and ensure an economy that works for everyone.”

Anas Sarwar, who is self-isolating at the moment, begins: "I extend my congratulations to the first minister on her re-election and I'm sorry I can't be with you all today in the chamber to mark this occasion.

The Scottish Labour leader adds his whole party wishes Ms Sturgeon well in the months and years ahead.

Mr Sarwar outlines his ambition for his party and Scotland: "I'm not interested in simply opposing, I want to build a credible alternative".

The Scottish Labour leader points out that with the pandemic causing illness in his own home he knows all too well the crisis has not passed.

"We face the huge task of Scotland's national recovery," he says, calling for parties to work together as there is no party with a majority.

Douglas Ross begins his speech saying he congratulates the first minister on her re-election.

He says there are "fewer greater honours" than serving the people of Scotland and adds he knows Ms Sturgeon "takes that role seriously" and will not question her commitment to the job.

Mr Ross calls the SNP's time in government a "significant achievement" but says "their record must also be held to account", referencing Scotland's record drug deaths and its cut in teacher numbers among others.

He says the government has to "take Scotland forward" and that if the SNP "waste time in this chamber on old arguments" - referencing a second independence referendum - "then we will fight them every step of the way".

He concludes: "Let’s get on with it."

Here are the details of the poll. Willie Rennie got four votes, while Douglas Ross got 31.

There were 28 abstentions, leaving 64 votes for Nicola Sturgeon.

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone congratulates Ms Sturgeon: "I would like to congratulate the first minister on her selection."

Nicola Sturgeon is chosen by MSPs to be the nominee to be first minister.

With the Queen's confirmation Ms Sturgeon will continue as first minister for this sixth term of the Scottish Parliament.

Ms Sturgeon - who has continued to be the first minister throughout the election period - will be officially sworn in at the Court of Session tomorrow, and is widely expected to start appointing ministers to her government later this week.

The presiding officer has briefly suspended the parliament to verify the vote.

As elections go this one is all but a certainty for Nicola Sturgeon, as neither Douglas Ross nor Willie Rennie have any realistic chance of defeating.

As Nicola Sturgeon concludes her speech, Alison Johnstone suspends proceedings before allocating time for MSPs to cast their votes electronically.

Members vote for candidates separately.

The first minister says serving as the country's first minister is an immense privilege and "enormous responsibility and an enormous duty".

"I am ready with the confidence of parliament I hope, to get on with the job of leading this country to brighter and to better times."

The current first minister says if she is nominated to continue today her programme for government will kickstart the recovery.

"That will be a programme with the NHS, the economy and jobs at it s heart."

There will be an inclusive debate about how to build the best post-pandemic future, insists Ms Sturgeon.

"Everyone in Scotland deserves to have an equal say, Scotland's future must be Scotland's choice."

"None of us will be entirely safe, until everyone across our planet is safe," continues Ms Sturgeon.

The past year has demonstrated our common humanity and that all of our fates are intertwined, she says.

This is true of tackling climate change too, she adds, pointing out how crucial COP26 in Glasgow will be later this year.

"This is a time to thing big. This is a time to be pioneers."

Image source, Getty

Ms Sturgeon says people want to see a fairer more sustainable country that is an equal partner with our friends in the UK and across Europe.

She wants Scotland to be a "welcoming country not one that conducts dawn raids in multi-cultural communities".