Sai Shraddha Suresh Viswanathan, an Indian-origin student leader, claims she was asked to withdraw as a Scottish Green Party candidate due to her student visa status, citing concerns about her ability to remain in the UK for a full parliamentary term. The party stated candidates are responsible for ensuring they meet all eligibility requirements.
John Swinney will press for independence powers on the first day of the next Scottish parliament even without an overall SNP majority, relying on Scottish Greens support. The First Minister's stance marks a shift from his previous position that a majority was a precondition, despite it being in the party's 2026 manifesto. The UK government has repeatedly refused to approve a referendum, and the Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that only Westminster can legislate for one.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has appealed to voters to give his party five years to "fix the Scottish National party’s mess," pledging tax cuts, more homes, and a smaller public sector in a bid to reverse declining support ahead of the May 7 Holyrood election.
