Scotland as contributors to our economy. I think that gives you the evidence you need about the effect of tax changes within scotland. Thank you and congratulations again. Why do thank you and congratulations again. Why do you thank you and congratulations again. Why do you think it is that the polls why do you think it is that the polls are why do you think it is that the polls are showing that independence supporters are becoming less likely to surmort supporters are becoming less likely to support the snp . | supporters are becoming less likely to support the snp . Supporters are becoming less likely to support the snp . I think the snp is havin a to support the snp . I think the snp is having a tough, to support the snp . I think the snp is having a tough, rough to support the snp . I think the snp is having a tough, rough time. To support the snp . I think the snp is having a tough, rough time. It. Is having a tough, rough time. It has lacked cohesion, think that has come across to members of the public stop they are worried about where we are as a party. But interestingly, and the feedback i get from my experienced peers around the country, the last couple of days, some of my very wise colleagues have been out and about in our communities, and one colleague sent me a message the other day saying they were worried about how the snp was getting on but they were glad to see we were getting our act together. Well, we have got our act together. Well, we have got our act together this afternoon and believe you me, we will get our act together tomorrow, the day after, the day after that. Applause so. And, libby, itake the applause so. And, libby, i take the view that if somebody is an independence supporter in scotland and they want scotland to be independent, theres only one Political Party that will ever deliver that, and that is the Scottish National party. So i want to earn those votes back stop applause i want iwant to, i want to, and i iwant to, and i need to i want to, and i need to earn those votes back. If there is some disaffection between people who support independence, who previously voted for the snp, i will be working very, very hard to win those people back. Yes . ,. ,. , very hard to win those people back. Yes . ,. , very hard to win those people back. Yes . , yes . John, can i ask, will there be a role for yes . John, can i ask, will there be a role for humza yes . John, can i ask, will there be a role for humza yousaf yes . John, can i ask, will there be a role for humza yousaf within yes . John, can i ask, will there be| a role for humza yousaf within your cabinet a role for humza yousaf within your cabinet and a role for humza yousaf within your cabinet and if a role for humza yousaf within your cabinet and if not, a role for humza yousaf within your cabinet and if not, do a role for humza yousaf within your cabinet and if not, do you a role for humza yousaf within your cabinet and if not, do you expect. Cabinet and if not, do you expect him to cabinet and if not, do you expect him to return cabinet and if not, do you expect him to return to cabinet and if not, do you expect him to return to the cabinet and if not, do you expect him to return to the ministerial. Him to return to the ministerial rote him to return to the ministerial role in him to return to the ministerial role in the him to return to the ministerial role in the future . Him to return to the ministerial role in the future . Im him to return to the ministerial role in the future . Him to return to the ministerial role in the future . Im not going to no role in the future . Im not going to to into role in the future . Im not going to go into details role in the future . Im not going to go into details about role in the future . Im not going to go into details about buying role in the future . Im not going to go into details about Buying On Role In The Future . Im not going to go into details about buying on a l go into details about buying on a series today, you will understand there is a sequence of events to go through and we will get round to all of that. But what i will say is that i do think humza yousaf has got a significant contribution to continue to make to scottish politics, and i will welcome that. I think some of the steps that he has taken have been courageous and dignified, full of grace and the attributes that i think the Scottish National party would benefit from seeing more often. We will take this gentleman here. Inaudible well, i think we are getting into territory but i think we all know i cant speak about for obvious reasons stop so i will not be about it today. Last question will be, this one of the here. I see there are more hands. You are all very sheepish about putting your hands this one here, a couple more. Tags very much this one here, a couple more. Tags very much you this one here, a couple more. Tags very much. You have this one here, a couple more. Tags very much. You have talked about reaching very much. You have talked about reaching out to unionist parties. Thanks reaching out to unionist parties. Thanks to reaching out to unionist parties. Thanks. To expect there to be some kind of thanks. To expect there to be some kind of consensus on a very Hostile Parliament kind of consensus on a very Hostile Parliament there is a lot of policies parliament there is a lot of policies at the Scottish Government is in the policies at the Scottish Government is in the middle bringing through, such as is in the middle bringing through, such as the is in the middle bringing through, such as the heating buildings and other such as the heating buildings and other things, such as the heating buildings and otherthings, its such as the heating buildings and other things, its a default position other things, its a default position to continue with those or do you position to continue with those or do you want to pause and have a look at some do you want to pause and have a look at some of do you want to pause and have a look at some of these key policies that maybe at some of these key policies that maybe you want to shift more if youre maybe you want to shift more if youre trying to reclaim that Centre Ground youre trying to reclaim that Centre Ground which allow what i want to do is to make ground which allow what i want to do is to make sure that we progress on the nrother is to make sure that we progress on the Mother Centre left agenda. | the Mother Centre left agenda. I think the Mother Centre left agenda. Think that the Mother Centre left agenda. I think that is important for scotland to progress on. There are a lot of Policy Proposals in front of parliamentjust now Policy Proposals in front of Parliament Just now which Policy Proposals in front of parliamentjust now which are essential to advancing that agenda and we will work collaboratively to get some of those through. If some of them are coming up against resistance or position, then we will be able to have discussions about that. I see one of my colleagues is here, natalie, iwas that. I see one of my colleagues is here, natalie, i was talking about here, natalie, i was talking about her on the television yesterday, she has just taken a very complex bill through the Scottish Parliament to keep the promise and she has managed to find agreement with labour and Lib Dems Members has those proposals has gone through parliament, that success with what we should be doing. The onus is notjust on the government, we are a parliament, with a ticket to points of agreement to make things happen. Weve got to make things happen. Weve got to get to points. When setting out a willingness to work with other people today. I hope that is reciprocated. You will be able to observe whether it is or not. I suppose my core point is, parliament doesnt have to be polarised. There are bound to be things that can be done if there is goodwill. I accept if there is no good will, it gets a bit more tricky. I dont see why there is a reason why there shouldnt be goodwill to make progress on these issues. Stewart paterson. , ~ progress on these issues. Stewart paterson. ,. ,. , progress on these issues. Stewart paterson. ,. , progress on these issues. Stewart paterson. ,. , paterson. Thank you. You said you focus would paterson. Thank you. You said you focus would be paterson. Thank you. You said you focus would be on paterson. Thank you. You said you focus would be on the paterson. Thank you. You said you focus would be on the economy, i paterson. Thank you. You said you focus would be on the economy, jobs, heatth. Focus would be on the economy, jobs, health, schools and Public Services. In health, schools and Public Services. In this health, schools and Public Services. In this city, health, schools and Public Services. In this city, the council is facing £107 in this city, the council is facing £107 million worth of cuts of the next £107 million worth of cuts of the next three £107 million worth of cuts of the next three years. It includes reportedly 450 teaching jobs, 150 social reportedly 450 teaching jobs, 150 social work related posts. Do you recognise social work related posts. Do you recognise if youre going to achieve those recognise if youre going to achieve those ainrs. Recognise if youre going to achieve those aims, you will need to reform how locat those aims, you will need to reform how local authorities like glasgow are funded to allow them to provide services are funded to allow them to provide services that people rely on . | services that people rely on . Quite services that people rely on . I quite accept that there is enormous financial pressure on Public Services and public bodies, particularly on our local authorities. Pressure on public finances and every area of government activity. In every area. That is because we have been subjected to 14 years of austerity from the uk government. My answer to one of the earlier questions about tax, we have taken steps to increase the Resources Available for Public Expenditure in scotland. If the tax changes, if we didnt put through those tax changes, there would be over £1 billion less in Public Expenditure this year. So we have recognised the need to invest in Public Services, that has enabled us to give more money to local authorities and we ordinarily would have been able to give, had we not taken those decisions. By the underlying problem is austerity from the tory government in westminster. And im not optimistic that the parameters of that austerity are going to change much if there is the election of a labour and sometime later this year. So weve got to work effectively with our local authorities and we will do that to create ways in which local authorities are able to maximise their resources. We put a visitor levy bill going through parliament which will give the option to local authorities to put on a visitor levy, which might increase, well, would increase the Resources Available to local authorities. So there are lots of ways in which we can gauge can engage constructively with local government and i look forward to leading that process. I will take two last questions and then we will have to round up. The chap in the white shirt and then andrew will be last. Can i ask, if you accept the findings of the cass review and will you implement its recommendations . I think the cass review has got to be taken extremely seriously. It is a substantial evidence based proposal, its been considered by government and also by clinicians. Crucially for me, clinical opinion is essential on these questions. So the government will take a rational evidence based approach to the consideration of the cass review, drawing on the opinions of the evidence put to us by clinicians because matters of such sensitivity about the well being of children and young people, we should listen to clinicians as we take forward those arguments. Andrew, you are last. Congratulations. Both your intercessors in their Resignation Speech intercessors in their Resignation Speech is intercessors in their Resignation Speech is talked about the brutality of politics speech is talked about the brutality of politics and the toll on their Mentai Of Politics and the toll on their mental health. Why are you putting yourself mental health. Why are you putting yourself through this . Well mental health. Why are you putting yourself through this . Yourself through this . Well maybe we should have yourself through this . Well maybe we should have got yourself through this . Well maybe we should have got to yourself through this . Well maybe we should have got to that yourself through this . Well maybe | we should have got to that question a bit sooner in this process than the last question. I recognise, its funny what you dont. The last question. I recognise, its funny what you dont. You dont always see things as obviously as you might think, but last year when i stood down as a long serving minister, 16 years as a minister, didnt realise how physically and emotionally exhausted i was, because i was constantly just emotionally exhausted i was, because i was constantlyjust going at 100 mph all the time and when i stopped, i became aware how physically and mentally exhausted i was. So although ive worked hard, you have even written an article about how i worked hard in a committee of the Scottish Parliament, which i was very appreciative of you for those nights what you wrote about me, although ive been doing different things, so today i am now physically and mentally rested, im ready for what lies ahead, and i cant tell you. I hope i have made clear to you. I hope i have made clear to you today how much of a privilege and an honour it is to be asked to be leader of my party, and tomorrow to hopefully be elected as the First Minister of scotland. And that inspiration and that opportunity will fuel me through the challenges that lie ahead. Thank you all very much. Applause studio youre watching bbc news, that Wasjohn Swinney Studio youre watching bbc news, that was john swinney talking about his new leadership role. He is now the leader of the snp and will face a vote tomorrow, probably, to become the new First Minister of scotland in all likelihood. He talked about his plans and one of his main goals he said was to eradicate Child Poverty in scotland, and he taught us about the unity within the snp, trying to achieve that and also reaching out to other parties through compromises. Lets bring in the leader of the alba party, former First Minister alex salmond. How do you think you will manage, that unity he talks about, he said the snp has had a tough time but we have got their act together, do you think they have . I but we have got their act together, do you think they have . But we have got their act together, do you think they have . I thought it was a very calm do you think they have . I thought it was a very calm and do you think they have . I thought it was a very calm and assured was a very calm and assured performance, as i would expect from john swinney. There were two key questions however which are worth noting. He was asked what was his top priority, overriding priority in government and the answer is the eradication of Child Poverty. That is a noble aim for any administration about a nationalist First Minister, an independent First Minister is meant to say the achievement of Scottish Independence, because by doing that we will introduce social and economicjustice for the we will introduce social and Economic Justice for the scottish people, including notjust eradication of Child Poverty but pensioner poverty, fuel poverty, by controlling scotlands resources. That might send some alarm bells ringing among independent supporters. Not because he wants to eradicate Child Poverty but because your automatic answer to that question, is an independence believing First Minister, should be through independence we will eradicate Child Poverty. There was a second question about resources on Glasgow Council which was very important. He Glasgow Council which was very important important. He did say that he wanted to important. He did say that he wanted to earn important. He did say that he wanted to earn back important. He did say that he wanted to earn back the important. He did say that he wanted to earn back the votes | important. He did say that he l wanted to earn back the votes of people who perhaps had moved away from the s p because they didnt think it was focusing enough on independence. By the snp. Will that be the biggest task for him . Im just pointing out he was asked about the overriding priority of his administration, he didnt say Scottish Independence and that will set some alarm bells ringing. There was a second question where he was asked about Glasgow Council and the sacking of teachers because there is no money. He came apart against financial realities. One way i would suggest you could release substantial resources from the scottish budget at this moment is by getting budgets diverted from active travel, building conversion, the hobby horses of the Scottish Green Party, and putting them into things that really matter like housing, education, health and jobs. That really matter like housing, education, health andjobs. In that really matter like housing, education, health and jobs. In doing that, if that is the route in which he intends to go down, he is going to incur the raft of greens, and there we get back to the question of how you handle a Minority Parliament without becoming a political hostage to the faction that is the Scottish Green Party. One advantagejohn and i had back in the day, back in 2007, although we had only 47 msps, the other parties, the Opposition Parties were more frightened of a Scottish Election than we were. That no longer is the case. The labour party are gagging for an election, the Scottish Tories are totally hostile to the snp, therefore it is much more difficult to get across the parliament, which is why i suggested he should beat a path to the door of ash regan, that would be the door of ash regan, that would be the wise thing to do. You the door of ash regan, that would be the wise thing to do. The wise thing to do. You talked about the problem the wise thing to do. You talked about the problem of the wise thing to do. You talked about the problem of dealing i the wise thing to do. You talked i about the problem of dealing with the wise thing to do. You talked about the problem of dealing with a minority common, he said he would deal with things on an issue by issue basis. Does that make it more complicated . Obviously when they had a pact with the green party, they could push things through, but are any areas where you think the green party will collaborate with the snp . There will be some. They demonstrated when humza yousaf abruptly sacked them from the administration that they were capable of an extraordinary degree of petulance, they were prepared to bring him down, as the result did of course. So the trouble with the green party, if you offend them on certain things, there was an indication Thatjohn Swinney is thankfully going to follow a science based route as opposed to the Juvenile Politicking of the green party. This is a serious subject comments about the treatment of children with Gender Dysphoria and the way you follow the recommendations of doctor cass and her Scientific Panel or whether you resort to politicking about it. He indicated clearly that he was going to follow the cass review. He wont have any trouble getting it through parliament because there are enough sensible people to get it through but he will incur the wrath of the Scottish Green Party and it is a balance he has to strike. He has to find a way to deal across the Parliament Without become, as humza yousaf did eventually, a hostage of the Scottish Green Party. Meat. The Scottish Green Party. Alex salmond. The Scottish Green Party. Alex salmond, thank the Scottish Green Party. Alex salmond, thank you the Scottish Green Party. Alex salmond, thank you for the Scottish Green Party. Alex salmond, thank you for taking the time tojoin us. Salmond, thank you for taking the time to join us. Lets salmond, thank you for taking the time tojoin us. Lets bring in paul hutcheon, Political Editor of the daily record. What did you make of john swinney� s first outing as leader . I John Swinneys first outing as leader . ,. ,. , leader . I thought the rhetoric was aood. He leader . I thought the rhetoric was good he was leader . I thought the rhetoric was good. He was saying leader . I thought the rhetoric was good. He was saying exactly leader . I thought the rhetoric was good. He was saying exactly the i good. He was saying exactly the right things, but hes going to bring an inclusive approach to his leadership, he is going to reach out to the political parties, notjust the Pro Independence parties, that he was critical of the polarisation, so the words were good but i do feel like its going to struggle to deliver on that, simply because the parliamentjust now is so bitterly divided, its hard to see where hes going to get the votes to push through things like budgets and contentious legislation. It is no secret that the snp and the green party, their relationship is currently at rock bottom, given that the greens were ditched from the government and the tories do not want to rideJohn Swinneys rescue, and labour want want to rideJohn Swinneys rescue, and labourwantan want to rideJohn Swinneys rescue, and labour want an election. I looked round to the parliament and im not sure who he can reach out to. They could pick up the phone to ash regan of alba, that will not be enough, he would need more than her support. But of any msp in the snp group, he is the person who could probably do that, hes got skills and experience to give it a shot and i think politics in scotland will be very interesting over the next few months. , ~ , very interesting over the next few months. ~ ,. , months. Talk us through the mechanics months. Talk us through the mechanics of months. Talk us through the mechanics of this months. Talk us through the mechanics of this cost months. Talk us through the mechanics of this cost assumption appears to be he will become First Minister, presumably that is your assumption as well . Assumption as well . Yes, the assumption assumption as well . Yes, the assumption was assumption as well . Yes, the assumption was it assumption as well . Yes, the assumption was it would assumption as well . Yes, the assumption was it would be i assumption as well . Yes, the | assumption was it would be on thursday, now looks like it will be tomorrow. I think the greens will either abstain or maybe not vote for him, then there will be a more ceremonial session and he could be in post for fmqs on thursday. So things are going to move quickly, but the problems in his in tray are so big that there is not going to be any sort of Honeymoon Period is going to have to deal with problems in the nhs, homelessness, councils, education, really quickly, and he will be hoping that the experience that he flagged up in his speech there will stand him in good stead. And tell us about the difficulties if someone is in a Minority Government, there appears to be lots of Horse Trading already behind the scenes, what do you think the biggest issues will be that they will face as stumbling blocks . I think the budget is going to be the tricky one. This is the annual tax and spending statement. In previous times when there was a Minority Government under alex salmond, and john swinney ironically enough, as finance secretary, he was very skilled in getting opposition support. It was in Fact Tory Support that got Alex Salmonds budget over the line. But that was before we had the line. But that was before we had the independence referendum. When we had that, politics was split down the middle on the constitution. You either for the middle on the constitution. You eitherfor independence the middle on the constitution. You either for independence or you are for the union. And now its much harder to get budgets passed with opposition support. Thats why Nicola Sturgeon brought the greens into government, she wanted stability, she wanted a majority for things like budgets, and when the draft budget is published towards the end of the year, its going to be really difficult Forjohn Swinney because i do not think that the greens are going to be in any mood to help him out, particularly if he wanted another council tax freeze, which was a source of antagonism between the two parties when they were in government a few weeks ago. Paul hutcheon, thanks very much for your analysis. Paul hutcheon, thanks very much for youranalysis. Do paul hutcheon, thanks very much for your analysis. Do stay with us for the moment, i want to bring in lesley riddoch. Thank you for being with us. John swinney has talked about unity within the party but also about reaching out and compromise and trying to have a new type of attitude within government or at least within politics that people talk to each other and listen to each other, how realistic is that . ~ to each other, how realistic is that . , to each other, how realistic is that . To each other, how realistic is that . , that . Well, as everybody saying, this is a general that . Well, as everybody saying, this is a General Election that . Well, as everybody saying, this is a General Election year, i that . Well, as everybody saying, | this is a General Election year, so its not this is a General Election year, so its not going to be the easiest time its not going to be the easiest time to its not going to be the easiest time to try to kind of stretch your hands time to try to kind of stretch your hands across the chamber and find common hands across the chamber and find common cause. On the other hand, business common cause. On the other hand, business as common cause. On the other hand, Business As Usual rumbling along, a point Business As Usual rumbling along, a pointjohn Business As Usual rumbling along, a Pointjohn Swinney made Business As Usual rumbling along, a point john swinney made there was a piece point john swinney made there was a piece of point john swinney made there was a piece of legislation which is looking piece of legislation which is looking at Care Experience to children. Looking at Care Experience to children, that got a lot of backing across children, that got a lot of backing across the children, that got a lot of backing across the chamber, although labour and the across the chamber, although labour and the lib across the chamber, although labour and the lib dems are tiptoeing away from it and the lib dems are tiptoeing away from it now, they also backed the gender from it now, they also backed the gender recognition reform act, which was so gender recognition reform act, which was so controversial and was slapped down was so controversial and was slapped down by was so controversial and was slapped down by westminster, so behind the scenes there is quite often behind the scenes there is quite often a behind the scenes there is quite often a lot behind the scenes there is quite often a lot of cooperation between the parties, that was even before the parties, that was even before the events the parties, that was even before the events of last week. The greens have been the events of last week. The greens have been very angry, think they have have been very angry, think they have then have been very angry, think they have then realised what essentially, the chaos have then realised what essentially, the chaos that ensued essentially from quite a lot of anger on all sides. From quite a lot of anger on all sides. So from quite a lot of anger on all sides. So i from quite a lot of anger on all sides, so i can imagine they may have sides, so i can imagine they may have calmed down a bit. There was a lot of have calmed down a bit. There was a lot of speculation in the vote of No Confidence in the government which No Confidence in the government which took No Confidence in the government which took place last week that they would which took place last week that they would have abstain but they actually voted would have abstain but they actually voted for would have abstain but they actually voted for the government that they had so voted for the government that they had so recently been a part of. In fact, had so recently been a part of. In fact, when had so recently been a part of. In fact, when you are speaking to alex earlier, fact, when you are speaking to alex earlier, it fact, when you are speaking to alex earlier, it was ash regan from alba who voted earlier, it was ash regan from alba who voted with all the opposition, the unionist opposition, a point which the unionist opposition, a point which would not be missed by a lot of independence supporters. Sol think of independence supporters. Sol think the of independence supporters. Sol think the greens will not be trying toiust think the greens will not be trying tojust petty think the greens will not be trying to just petty politicking think the greens will not be trying Tojust Petty Politicking on this, but for Tojust Petty Politicking on this, but for sure, there are points like the heat but for sure, there are points like the heat in but for sure, there are points like the heat in buildings act, we cant io the heat in buildings act, we cant 9 on the heat in buildings act, we cant 9 on like the heat in buildings act, we cant go on like this, we need to make sure go on like this, we need to make sure that go on like this, we need to make sure that our buildings have got district sure that our buildings have got district heating, their insulated, it is not district heating, their insulated, it is not breaking the bank for individual it is not breaking the bank for individual households to do this, and we individual households to do this, and we have to have a roll out of more and we have to have a roll out of more ambitious stuff that is well explained, because the green transition is not going away. Tammy what ou transition is not going away. Tammy what you think. Transition is not going away. Tammy what you think, we transition is not going away. Tammy what you think, we have transition is not going away. Tammy what you think, we have from transition is not going away. Tammy what you think, we have from alex i what you think, we have from alex salmond earlier that he was surprised that the main aim for snp leading politician was not to say the main aim is to achieve independence, instead he said it was to eradicate Child Poverty. And mr salmond picked up on that. What is your view on that, will it have an impact on people who would normally vote snp and who might be, might decide not to in this case . It depends how much of everything you are listening to. That one question might are listening to. That one question might be are listening to. That one question might be highlighted, it was by alex, might be highlighted, it was by alex, thats quite fair, and you might alex, thats quite fair, and you might have expected to have more of a mention might have expected to have more of a mention of independence. You would have to a mention of independence. You would have to say a mention of independence. You would have to say anything else he has said in have to say anything else he has said in his have to say anything else he has said in his introductory remarks, is always said in his introductory remarks, is always mentioned that this is, vote for me always mentioned that this is, vote for me for always mentioned that this is, vote for me for an independent scotland, so it is for me for an independent scotland, so it is not for me for an independent scotland, so it is not that it is completely missing~ so it is not that it is completely missing i so it is not that it is completely missing. I would so it is not that it is completely missing. Iwould have so it is not that it is completely missing. I would have expected a little missing. I would have expected a little bit missing. I would have expected a little bit more working through that because little bit more working through that because as alex salmond said, you cant because as alex salmond said, you cant tackle because as alex salmond said, you cant tackle Child Poverty while benefits cant tackle Child Poverty while benefits are pretty much in the Control Benefits are pretty much in the control of benefits are pretty much in the control of westminster. There are many control of westminster. There are many things you might like to do, the same many things you might like to do, the same objective was made by nicola the same objective was made by Nicola Sturgeon who wanted to remove the Attainment Gap in education, that Attainment Gap is affected by many that Attainment Gap is affected by many things, but so much of it affected many things, but so much of it affected by poverty, which is driven by levels affected by poverty, which is driven by levels of benefit and inactivity. So yes, by levels of benefit and inactivity. So yes, everything works through for an independent supporter to say, youre an independent supporter to say, youre basically stuck with one foot going youre basically stuck with one foot going and youre basically stuck with one foot going and one backwards when youre trying going and one backwards when youre trying to going and one backwards when youre trying to attack, attain a goal like child trying to attack, attain a goal like Child Poverty. But i think its all sweet Child Poverty. But i think its all sweet was Child Poverty. But i think its all sweet was to try and build a Coalition Sweet was to try and build a coalition of willing, he used that and obviously in a Holyrood Parliament with labour, the lib dems and the parliament with labour, the lib dems and the greens, alba and the snp, they should be complete unity on Child Poverty. There should be. Even Child Poverty. There should be. Even douglas ross tried to tear a strip of even douglas ross tried to tear a strip of the snp for not doing better strip of the snp for not doing better. So there would be at least one point better. So there would be at least one point four you would expect to et one point four you would expect to get a one point four you would expect to get a big one point four you would expect to get a big proposal that should get every get a big proposal that should get every party backing it, or if not, what every party backing it, or if not, what are every party backing it, or if not, what are they for a . Every party backing it, or if not, what are they for a . Lesley riddoch, thank ou. What are they for a . Lesley riddoch, thank you a what are they for a . Lesley riddoch, thank you. A quick what are they for a . Lesley riddoch, thank you. A quick question what are they for a . Lesley riddoch, thank you. A quick question for what are they for a . Lesley riddoch, thank you. A quick question for paul| thank you. A quick question for paul hutcheon. Obviously it is an election year, how much damage do you think the whole situation with the leadership of the snp has done to the party in this particularly important year . To the party in this particularly important year . To the party in this particularly imortant ear . ~ ,. ,. , important year . Well, there is a of issues that important year . Well, there is a of issues that have important year . Well, there is a of issues that have caused important year . Well, there is a of issues that have caused great important year . Well, there is a of. Issues that have caused great damage to the snp. Obviously, the Ongoing Police investigation into party finances, that has been a nightmare for the snp regardless of who leads it. Humza yousaf� s 12 months and charged were hardly distinguished, i dont think anyone could say hes got a positive legacy, and of course events of the last seven days or so just brought out snp divisions even more. So this is not the backdrop that any Political Party once before a General Election. I do have to say that if there was one person in the snp who can bring that party together, who can unite the warring colleagues under a unified cause, it probably isjohn swinney. I think even his critics in the snp would say he is a very emollient, inclusive figure, someone who has a track record of bringing people together, and i think is probably their best shot in what will be a very difficult General Election. We had to leave it there, thank you to paul hutcheon. That concludes our coverage of the snp leaderjohn swinney. Lets have a look at the weather. Hello. It has turned into a mixed bank holiday weekend, to say the least. Weve seen some sunshine, temperatures up into the low 20s celsius. Weve also seen some heavy downpours and localised flooding, more of both of those through the rest of the day. Spells of sunshine, but some hefty downpours, all driven by this swirl of low pressure. Also a lot of cloud in the north of the uk. In between, a swathe of sunshine. But that slice of Sunshine Filling in with some scattered showers and thunderstorms. So by the end of the afternoon, parts of South East England and east anglia still seeing some outbreaks of rain, perhaps with some flashes of lightning. For south west england, wales, the midlands into northern england, a mix of sunny spells. Feeling warm in the sunshine, 20 degrees, but some hefty showers and thunderstorms. Northern ireland mostly dry, but often rather cloudy. Some showers and storms across central and southern parts of scotland, mainly dry in northern scotland, but rather cloudy. Now through this evening and tonight, most of the showers will fade. Well keep a fair amount of cloud. And while we do see some clear breaks, perhaps across parts of the midlands, wales, southern england, we could see some mist and fog patches developing, at least for a time. Temperatures generally between 7 and 10 degrees. So not particularly cold as we start tomorrow morning. A lot of cloud around across england and wales, well see some spells of sunshine. And while there will still be some showers, there shouldnt be as many as we have today. They shouldnt be as heavy either. Northern ireland often rather cloudy, particularly by the afternoon. Lots of cloud for scotland, too, still with one or two showers. But those temperatures starting to lift, particularly down towards the south. 20 degrees by wednesday. Well see cloud and rain across parts of Northern Ireland and northwest scotland. A frontal system moving in here. But further south and east, some spells of sunshine and some warmth. 19 degrees in newcastle, 20 in cardiff, 21 in london. That is a sign of things to come as we head towards the end of the week. There will still be some frontal systems grazing the north of the uk, some rain at times, particularly across scotland, but for many, High Pressure becoming increasingly dominant and with some relatively warm air in place, temperatures will start to climb. You could see highs in the south on friday of 23, maybe 24 degrees. And it looks like the mostly fine and warm weather will last at least into the start of next weekend. Live from london, this is bbc news. Israeli air strikes have been reported in rafah in Southern Gaza hours after israel told 100,000 Palestinian Civilians to evacuate the area. John swinney has been elected unopposed as snp leader and is set to become the next Scottish First minister. Dont Scottish First minister. Let our disagreements dominate. Dont let our disagreements dominate dont let our disagreements dominate. ,. ,. ,. ,. , dominate. Join me as we open a new cha ter. Officials reveal how three tourists died in mexico after they disappeared during a surfing trip. And thejudge presiding over Donald Trumps Hush Money Trial threatens the former president with jail if he continues to violate a gag order. Hello, im lucy grey welcome to verified live. In the last hour, President Biden has held a phone call with israels Prime Minister benjamin netanyahu. It comes after Civil Defence officials in gaza say israel has struck two areas in the Southern City of rafah, where the idf has told civilians to leave. Pictures show thick plumes of smoke rising over buildings as displaced palestinians carrying whats left of their belongings flee eastern rafah. Around 100,000 people in areas closest to the Israeli Border are being urged to move to what the idf calls expanded humanitarian zones in the al mawasi and khan younis areas. It says tents, food, water, and medication will be available. The Israeli Defence minister yoav gallant said Military Action against hamas in rafah is needed because of the groups refusal to negotiate the release of israeli hostages