Q Manivannan, a Green Party MSP elected on a student visa set to expire by year-end, sparks debate over eligibility for Scottish Parliament, with opponents questioning their ability to serve the full term and the party defending the unanimous rule change allowing non-UK citizens with limited leave to remain to stand for election.
The Scottish parliament election is the most unpredictable for some time, with Labour claiming it is winning over the don’t knowsIt was supposed to be a carefully choreographed walkabout for John Swinney through his party’s target seat of Hamilton. Instead, the Scottish National party leader was confronted by angry voters, including his own.Natasha Kelly, 35, railed against the local council’s failure to improve the damp council flat that had left her 13- and eight-year-old boys with chronic asthma. Continue reading...
First Minister John Swinney has told BBC News he is confident the SNP will win a majority at next month's Scottish Parliament election on 7 May. Swinney predicts the party will secure the 65 seats needed for a majority, which he says would provide a mandate for a second independence referendum. The SNP has been in power for almost 20 years, previously winning a majority in 2011 that led to the 2014 independence vote. Other parties including Labour, Lib Dems, Greens and Reform UK have urged voters to prevent an SNP majority.
