Won the rutherglen and Hamilton West by election, in whats being seen as a key test of the partys ability to regain seats in scotland. Its candidate Michael Shanks secured just under 18,000 votes, more than double the total for katy loudon of the snp, who came second. The poll was triggered by the removal of the former snp mp Margaret Ferrier after she broke covid lockdown rules. 0ur scotland correspondent lorna gordon was at the count. Michael shanks, Scottish Labour Party, 17,000. Cheering. This was a stunning victory, widely forecast but not with a swing as big as this. It forecast but not with a swing as big as this. ,. ,. ,. , as this. It is time for change. That chan. E as this. It is time for change. That Change Cannot as this. It is time for change. That Change Cannot come as this. It is time for change. That Change Cannot come fast as this. It is time for change. That Change Cannot come fast enough. | as this. It is time for change. That Change Cannot come fast enough. But one
good morning. a frosty and foggy start to the day to day. some freezing fog will linger for much of the day. the sunnier skies will be the day. the sunnier skies will be the further east you travel. a return to wet and windy conditions in the west. all the details later on in the programme. it s wednesday, the 6th of december. our main story. the former prime minister boris johnson will give evidence to the covid inquiry today and face two days of questions about his time leading the uk during the pandemic. he s expected to apologise to people who lost loved ones but claim that he and his government got the big decisions right. our correspondent ellie price reports. from this evening, i must give the british people a very simple instruction. you must stay at home. in the end, it was his call. he was responsible for the biggest decisions made during the pandemic. that is why people will only be allowed to leave their home. but how he came to make those decisions will be at the
pledged to tackle the confusion over the legal definition of sex by amending the equality act if they win the election. the conservatives announced this morning they d make biological sex a protected characteristic, making it easier for some organisations to prevent transgender women from using female only spaces. the leaders of the four parties in scotland which took seats at the last election have been holding a televised debate. it s being broadcast on stv and here s a taste of the opening statements. i want the next five years to all about delivering action on the issues that really matter to you creating good jobs, cutting tax, reducing nhs waiting lists, fixing our roads, investing in schools. we ve listened, and we know these are your top priorities. i know families are struggling because of the cost of living crisis, and i know so many families are worried about loved ones who can t get treatment because of the crisis in our nhs. that s why a labour government w
be allowed to persist. labour has been focused on defence with keir starmer reaffirming his commitment to the uk nuclear deterrent. he said protecting the nation would be the bedrock of a future labour government. the lib dems deputy daisy group has outlined the snp leaderjohn swinney has called for a respectful contest ahead of the scottish leader s first television debate of the campaign that gets under way tonight. here is our political correspondent. should only biologically female be able to use women s services? just people who are biologically female, also those who have change their legal sex on a birth certificate? conservatives say that women s services should be able to refuse any one of is biologically male without facing legal challenges. it is quite clear that the intentions in the law are being misinterpreted just because of changes, social changes, and what we are trying to do is reemphasise that sex, in the law, means biological sex. it always has done but th