Scotland

De eerste resultaten in Engeland worden verwacht tussen middernacht en 02:00 uur BST; de resultaten voor het Schotse en Welshe parlement worden vanaf het middaguur verwacht.

• De uitslagen van de verkiezingen voor de raden in Engeland, de Senedd in Wales en het Schotse parlement zouden het politieke landschap van Groot-Brittannië kunnen transformeren. • De stembureaus in Engeland, Schotland en Wales zijn gesloten voor de lokale, burgemeesters- en parlementsverkiezingen, waarbij de eerste resultaten binnen enkele uren worden bekendgemaakt. • Meer dan 30 miljoen mensen in Groot-Brittannië kregen donderdag de gelegenheid om te stemmen in wat algemeen wordt gezien als de grootste test voor Keir Starmer sinds de algemene verkiezingen van 2024.

• Ongeveer 120 journalisten en uitzendmedewerkers worden verwacht te protesteren tegen een loonstop terwijl STV investeert in een nieuw radiostation • UK politics live – laatste updates • De verslaggeving van de Schotse verkiezingsuitslagen door de commerciële omroep STV zal naar verwachting zwaar getroffen worden door stakingen in een escalerend conflict over de beloning.

Ongeveer 5.000 raadsleden en zes burgemeesters worden gekozen in Engeland, terwijl Schotland 129 MSP's kiest en Wales 96 leden van de Senedd selecteert. Hier is de verklaring van Nigel Farage aan de vooravond van de stemming. De leider van Reform UK zei: De Tories hebben geprobeerd de laffe Keir Starmer te verwijderen en zijn daarin mislukt. De enige manier om uiteindelijk de meest impopulaire en onpatriottische premier in onze levensduur te verwijderen, is door Reform te steunen. Lees verder...

Exclusive: Mayor raises concerns about using public money to support firms ‘who act contrary to London’s values’UK politics live – latest updatesSadiq Khan may oppose Scotland Yard using Palantir’s AI systems to process criminal intelligence because of his “concerns about using public money to support firms who act contrary to London’s values”.The mayor of London’s office made the statement after the Guardian revealed last week that Palantir, whose software has been used in Donald Trump’s ICE immigration crackdown and by Israel’s military, has held talks with the Metropolitan police over a wide-ranging contract that could run into tens of millions of pounds. Continue reading...

Scottish Labour leader pledges more homes and tax cuts as party tries to reverse slump in support before May electionsUK politics live – latest updatesAnas Sarwar has appealed to voters to give Labour five years “to fix the Scottish National party’s mess” as he pledged more homes, tax cuts and a smaller public sector.The Scottish Labour leader is fighting a last-ditch attempt to reverse a steep slump in support. Recent polls put Sarwar’s party third or fourth behind Reform and the Scottish Greens, dragged down by the UK government’s unpopularity. Continue reading...

Lee Milne sentenced to eight years in landmark case after being found guilty of culpable homicide of Kimberly MilneA man convicted of killing his wife, who took her own life after repeated domestic abuse, has been jailed for eight years in case seen as a significant legal milestone.Kimberly Milne, 28, died when she jumped from a bridge in July 2023. Her estranged husband, Lee Milne, was found guilty of culpable homicide last month after a trial at the high court in Glasgow.In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 988 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org Continue reading...

Hope Scottish pilot will result in heel prick test for rare genetic condition being approved across BritainScotland has become the first part of the UK to screen newborn babies for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle wastage.Campaigners, who have long advocated for newborn testing because early detection is critical for treatment outcomes, hope the Scottish pilot will result in approval for the heel prick test across the UK. Continue reading...

Just three of Labour’s 20 MSPs in Holyrood voted for bill, despite support for legislation in House of CommonsSupporters of Scotland’s assisted dying bill said they are frustrated a significant majority of Labour MSPs voted against the proposals, despite Labour’s substantial support for the measure at Westminster.The Scottish bill was defeated in a late night free vote at Holyrood on Tuesday, five years after it was first proposed and a year after it was first tabled, by a larger than expected 12-vote margin. Continue reading...

A letter from 15 critics to the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh condemns ‘divisive move’ that saw non-Scottish publications excluded from reviewing the musical’s press nightTheatre critics in Scotland have written to the Royal Lyceum theatre in Edinburgh condemning a “divisive” and “London-centric” decision to not invite reviews from UK national publications for its new musical version of One Day.The show, based on the 2009 novel by David Nicholls, held a press night on Wednesday but only critics writing for Scottish publications were invited to review it. A separate press night for other critics is planned for a later date, when the show opens in London. Continue reading...