Noon, and a few minutes after that, the Party National secretary confirmed that there was only one nominee who had reached the threshold of 100 backers across 20 local branches of the party, and that was john swinney. 0f local branches of the party, and that wasjohn swinney. Of course, that wasjohn swinney. Of course, that followed the decision last week of our potential rival, kate forbes, to declare that she was not going to contest this Leadership Challenge with mr swinney. Now it Isjohn Swinney who will be taking over. He has led the party before, from 20002004. He has led the party before, from 2000 2004. He resigned after poor Election Results, but since then, he is a different man, a lot more experienced, 16 years in the cabinet. He says he will govern from the moderate centre left. We expect him to set out more details here at Glasgow University in a speech this afternoon of how he might do that. Of course, he does need to be elected as first minister. He is not automatically b
This programme contains some Strong Language and some discriminatory language. Election night fever, as bbc gets ready to bring you the results of the last big vote before the General Election. Will it be boom time for starmer . Or will it be doom time for sunak . The bbc s Election Programme kicks off in an hours time. You can see just a few of their many live points warming up. With a pick n mix of votes under the count tonight, to discuss them well be joined by the chair of the labour party, a Senior Cabinet Minister and the personification of political analysis, professor sirjohn curtice. Well also talk to the person most likely to be the new First Minister of scotland, john swinney, now that kate forbes has thrown her weight behind him. And with the looming prospect of deportation flights to rwanda, a warning you will hear strong and discriminatory language as a protestor is racially abused attempting to stop Asylum Seekers being moved out of hotels by government contactors. Shout