sturgeon. thank you festival for joining thank you festival forjoining thank you festivalforjoining us on bbc thank you festival forjoining thank you festivalforjoining us on bbc news. thank you festival forjoining thank you festivalforjoining us on bbc news. what thank you festival forjoining thank you festivalforjoining us on bbc news. what weeks, thank you festival forjoining thank you festivalforjoining us on bbc news. what weeks, expecting thank you festival forjoining thank you festivalforjoining us on bbc news. what weeks, expecting john swinney to say today because my people in scotland should vote snp to put scotland first? what you expect them to savour how they will achieve that? i expect them to savour how they will achieve that?— achieve that? i think what we could exect achieve that? i think what we could exaect from — achieve that? i think what we could exaect from john — achieve that? i think what we could expect from john swinney - achieve that? i think what we could expect from john swinney today - achieve that? i think what we could expect from john swinney today is l expect from john swinney today is for him to set out why he thinks other parties, labour and the tories in particular, will let scotland down based on history, experience and the incredibly similar opposition parties have and for him to say how the snp will hold a you probably labour come in to account for that. so what will snp mps do when they are in westminster. what will vcs be at the top of their agenda? and expert will hear and speak about how the two parties are very similar on austerity and brexit, as of today very similar on migration, tribal distinction with this in �*s values on those issues and the idea that there is a better alternative if you like. haifa alternative if you like. how concerned _ alternative if you like. how concerned are _ alternative if you like. how concerned are the - alternative if you like. how concerned are the snp - alternative if you like. how concerned are the snp about losing seats in the general election? definitely concerned and very realistic about it, i think. we saw just a few weeks ago change from snp leader humza yousaf tojohn swinney are one of the issues was how fast that change was in there was no context was a real recognition that of uk general election came along the party was in quite difficult straits need to get a new leader in that people knew and do so very quickly because mps are definitely concerned that the sort of push towards making the a solely labour— tory contest drives that the pitch and vote as�* mines. when thatjohn swinney, as you say, he has only beenin swinney, as you say, he has only been in the role for a very short time. has he managed, to what extent his he managed to keep the party together, as he promised? he has certainly managed to build a source of unity to end infighting. having election campaign will help is that binds people together. has been some criticism of how he handled the suspension of form parliament a former mp michael matheson but general he has the support of the party in a strong enthusiasm in the party in a strong enthusiasm in the party forjohn swinney leadership but what they have to do now is get his leadership style out in front of as many people in the country as they can and over the last couple of days i've seen evidence thatjohn swinney has touched nearly every corner of the country in the past couple of days and i think that will very much there way. they think is good with the public and people liking and respect him because he is known and he's got a track record and they want as many people as possible to see that he is a bit of a new start for the snp. my makes what extent isjohn swinney talk about independence now, liz? i don't think... everybody knows snp talk of the independent said at the mini to talk about it much and they understand that this election people are so concerned of the cost—of—living and the associate of the tory government and they want solutions the cost of living and can cost a public services and answers about how the country get better another 50% or serve the country still do want independence, that's not the first order issue right now. that's not what people are voting on in the selection. those that are voting on it will tend to vote snp anyway so this is about reaching out to those independent supporters and those non—independent supporters who want something may be a bit better than as an offer from labour and the tories in westminster or a bit more forceful that will hold labour and the tories to account in westminster. ., ., ::' ' westminster. following the 2019 election the _ westminster. following the 2019 election the snp _ westminster. following the 2019 election the snp became - westminster. following the 2019 election the snp became the - election the snp became the third—largest party at westminster. how important to scotland now in deciding the outcome in this upcoming general election? {line upcoming general election? one messaue upcoming general election? one messa . e i upcoming general election? one message i think _ upcoming general election? (he: message i think will happen upcoming general election? (he message i think will happenjohn swinney is a call for voters in scotland to put scotland first because historically scotland's votes don't determine who becomes the uk government so it's quite easy when you give us is in westminster for scotland to drop down the agenda, to not be as important and for them to focus very much on the needs of parts of england and the votes, voters' issues stand there so that it votes, voters' issues stand there so thatitis votes, voters' issues stand there so that it is clearly important particularly to labour to try and win seats in scotland and it looks like they will do better than they have in the last elections, which wouldn't be hard, it doesn't necessarily mean that scotland then becomes important is the government and i think that is what the snp will try to get across today, that the way to ensure scotland's importance in the mind of snp is for them to be scottish mps at westminster. waimate were former chief of staff to nicola sturgeon. what would you be urging john swinney to do right now how would you be urging him to approach campaign speech? needs to be set out today what it is that of other issues and he will do because you have right now labour and tories being very similar on key issues and pretty out of step of where the people of scotland are on public sector cuts, need for investment in the nhs, relationship with europe, migration, and there is an opportunity for the snp to be really distinct in those areas and highlight where labour in particular is not good enough for what scotland wants, where maybe we deserve better than what labour's got on offer, but thatis than what labour's got on offer, but that is very hard to do on a uk election campaign when it does often come down to this battle between two leaders and the snp gets pushed out sojohn swinney needs to be false his way into that discussion and make sure that the snp gets pushed out so john swinney needs make sure that the snp gets pushed out sojohn swinney needs to be false his way into that discussion and make sure that this and he was voices heard and that can be had to really doing that.— really doing that. list, there is a lot of talk _ really doing that. list, there is a lot of talk about _ really doing that. list, there is a lot of talk about the _ really doing that. list, there is a lot of talk about the choice - really doing that. list, there is a i lot of talk about the choice popular scottish voters because school holidays had started. is that conversation continuing or is it just accepted the election goes ahead in july just accepted the election goes ahead injuly the 4th? the just accepted the election goes ahead in july the 4th? the election noes ahead in july the 4th? the election goes ahead — ahead in july the 4th? the election goes ahead but _ ahead in july the 4th? the election goes ahead but even _ ahead in july the 4th? the election goes ahead but even anecdotally i | goes ahead but even anecdotally i know a lot of people are signing for postal hopes and has had to be a big push for the snp to get people to sign up for postal votes who would normally have them because you would normally have them because you would normally have them because you would normally have an election injuly. it will be interesting to see what they're actually does to turn out, not perhaps because people on holiday but because one of the things that prompts a lot of people to remember it is polling day and go to remember it is polling day and go to the polls is that their kids of of schools in scotland their kids will already be off school. i would think anybody wishes soon it was my government gave a moments thought to whether scotland was on holiday or not the point election keno but it does mean any party is seriously wants to vote in scotland does have to put a lot of effort into making sure it's voter sign of the post votes they are planning being on holiday. votes they are planning being on holida . :, :, :, , holiday. thanks for “oining us here on bbc holiday. thanks for “oining us here on sac news. — let's speak to political correspondent jack fenwick how crucial to both labour and tories are scottish seats? scotland is somewhere _ tories are scottish seats? scotland is somewhere traditionally - tories are scottish seats? scotland is somewhere traditionally for - tories are scottish seats? scotland is somewhere traditionally for big i is somewhere traditionally for big labour majority to suffer people like tony blair, scotland was the banker, if you like, they racked up dozens of seats in scotland and that sort of time. since the snp has started to do much better in westminster parliament elections after the 2014 independence referendum and you have seen labour and conservatives have won far fewer seats during their glory periods, if you like, in scotland. certainly for the labour party they see scotland as a place where they absolutely can to put the number of seats together and make it part of an overall majority in the country if they're notjust relying on seats in and wales. i think anas sarwar has very much said she believes labour have got to a place in scotland where they come back when seats —— can win back seats. we have seen times when labour only had one mp in scotland which would have been unheard of in the days of tony blair and gordon brown. the conservatives the snp have really focused on the conservative snp marginals, they are saying that in order to get rid of some of the conservative mps the voter should be looking to the snp rather than the labour party because those particular seats is often the case that conservatives and snp are in second place to the conservatives rather than labour. they really push this idea of a vote for the snp being a way of getting rid of the conservatives is westminster and they've added onto to that things like brexit and austerity, they say, our products are westminster governments. we can see what they're trying to get up there. no doubt both main party labour and conservatives are looking for scotland to as many seats as possible. scotland to as many seats as ossible. ~ :, scotland to as many seats as possible-— scotland to as many seats as ossible. ~ :, :, , possible. we heard from the slide the former— possible. we heard from the slide the former chief _ possible. we heard from the slide the former chief of _ possible. we heard from the slide the former chief of staff - possible. we heard from the slide the former chief of staff of - possible. we heard from the slide the former chief of staff of nicola | the former chief of staff of nicola sturgeon that she wasn't expecting john swinney to overpay the issue of independence when he speaks woody suit rishi sunakfor him to labour the point? would rishi sunak like john swinney to talk more about independence? we john swinney to talk more about independence?— john swinney to talk more about independence? john swinney to talk more about indeendence? : :, , :, , , independence? we have seen and pass on the snp have _ independence? we have seen and pass on the snp have chosen _ independence? we have seen and pass on the snp have chosen to _ independence? we have seen and pass on the snp have chosen to speak - independence? we have seen and pass on the snp have chosen to speak more about this constitutional about independence, we've seen the conservatives go toe to toe with them if you like and we heard john swinneyjust them if you like and we heard john swinney just the other them if you like and we heard john swinneyjust the other day in an interview with our political editor chris mason saying that if the snp gets a majority in scotland in this westminster election then he believes they should be to have another independence referendum. ask other people in the party, the snp, asked previous conservative government in 2014 david cameron allowed that to happen. in the time since that's not been allowed to happen and that something snp has not been very happy about. labour have said similar things the conservatives on this and certainly not indicated that a labour government nationally written snp majority in scotland would lead to another independence referendum. it is right and necessarily want to hear another plus for about independence from john swinney. you see throughout this election campaign he has been much more focused on things like the economy or things like austerity. he says he believes keir starmer would continue austerity and that would be bad for things like health care system in scotland. that's the sort of issue truly believe he more easily go toe to clo on the issue of the economy. liberal democrats are hoping to make gains in scotland as well. yes, the liberal democrats have said they are hoping to become the third biggest party in westminster again so that's something the lib dems used to have but after 2015 election, the scottish national party is the third biggest party in the house of commons. they said that is one of their aim is commons. they said that is one of theiraim is to commons. they said that is one of their aim is to get back to that position. that is an example a he prime ministers question every week if you are the third biggest party it means you give questions to the premises of saint stephen's flint they westminster later this and people get two questions. lib dems want to get that right and john swinney has been very clear that one of the major things he wants to make clear happens is that the snp remain the third biggest party so they carry on getting to think do things like that. we have seen a quieter campaigning day today because rishi sunak and keir starmer probably both campaigning for theirfirst campaigning for their first head—to—head debate campaigning for theirfirst head—to—head debate on tuesday. john swinney has also said he believes having that current status they do is the third—largest party he believes they should join and make this three—way way debates rather than just involving the conservatives and labour. certainly does feel like _ conservatives and labour. certainly does feel like one _ conservatives and labour. certainly does feel like one of _ conservatives and labour. certainly does feel like one of the _ conservatives and labour. certainly does feel like one of the things - conservatives and labour. certainly does feel like one of the things in l does feel like one of the things in the election trail so far. john swinney we have expecting to speak the next 50 minutes or so. what a sir keir starmer and rishi sunak be doing for preparation for the tv debate on tuesday?— doing for preparation for the tv debate on tuesday? doing for preparation for the tv debate on tuesda ? ~ :, :, , debate on tuesday? what we have been heafina debate on tuesday? what we have been hearing today — debate on tuesday? what we have been hearing today is — debate on tuesday? what we have been hearing today is about _ debate on tuesday? what we have been hearing today is about more _ debate on tuesday? what we have been hearing today is about more policy - hearing today is about more policy and that is on the theme of plenty of days that election so far. what we see from labour, we have seen this about the campaign so far, is that their big message they are trying to convey is that they change party from 2019 and they believe the country as a whole now wants change. we can see on the side of a campaign battle, no complicated message, just one big word and that as there were change. the consulate been trying to change. the consulate been trying to change since the last election when they suffered a very heavy defeat since jeremy they suffered a very heavy defeat sincejeremy corbyn is no longer evenin sincejeremy corbyn is no longer even in the clarity they are saying they have changed. one of the issues that they believe is that they can convince voters to change around is theissue convince voters to change around is the issue of immigration, something we've been hearing about from the shadow home secretary yvette keep today who has been on the sun with laura kuenssberg programme and that's after with. .. laura kuenssberg programme and that's after with... talking about wanting to reduce levels of net migration. record high levels of net migration. record high levels of net migration in recent months. that is because of the few factors and one thing they hear a lot about across the channel. that is one part of your net migration figures. other things like dependents of students, schemes like to ukraine and allowing people to come from hong kong and people to come from hong kong and people from afghanistan that sever the british military and also a really big part of this is economic migrants, people coming overfor work to support gaps in the economy where businesses have been bringing them over. that's really the thing that keir starmer and yvette cooper have been talking about most today. so, for example, yvette cooper said to the bbc this morning said that what labour would do to reduce those levels net migration is to essentially combine the immigration system with the skills and workforce system with the skills and workforce system so she said for example in engineering over the last few years said the engineering visas people coming from overseas have been going up coming from overseas have been going up but people doing apprenticeships and training in the uk has been going down and that is something of say liberal tightest change. interestingly not just the say liberal tightest change. interestingly notjust the thing yvette cooper said but keir starmer mentioned with a interview sunday were strengthening laws to ban businesses that exploit workers from hiring staff overseas. we have not gotten off also detail on what that might mean. some people said it is potentially similar to a policy gordon brown put forward several years ago but we are trying to get more details on what exactly that might look like. clearly immigration are something that labour do feel a little bit more comfortable feeling about —— speaking about necessarily wood usually in it seems because traditionally conservative area of policy to something that they offer more comfortable speaking about the certainly cased starmer�*s labour party have said that they are trying to change that. now, the other aspect of this is illegal migration. we have heard from many months now that the conservative seven favoured the rwanda scheme. if people are coming across then want to send them to rwanda not to be processed that but actually stay there as well. labour have said today they wouldn't d