Summary

  • Scotland's six larger parties continue on the campaign trail across the country

  • Many of the leaders are out in Glasgow and the west, discussing issues including women's healthcare, the benefits bill, ferries and business properties

  • Meanwhile the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has said the party manifestos fall "well short" of meeting child poverty targets

  • Party leaders have shared opposing views over whether the King should still visit Present Donald Trump in the US so soon after a shooting incident in Washington

  • Voters will go to the polls on 7 May to elect 129 members of the Scottish Parliament, less than two weeks away

  • Have you decided which party should get your vote? If not, you can read the BBC's guide on where the main parties stand on the issues most important to voters

  1. The headlinespublished at 16:55 BST 27 April

    That brings our live coverage of the Holyrood election campaign to a close.

    Here are the key things we heard today:

    Today's editor was Mary McCool and the writer was Craig Hutchison. Thanks for joining us.

  2. 'I'm going back to Sweden because nursery is cheaper'published at 16:47 BST 27 April

    A woman with shoulder length dark hair out for a walk with her baby in a city
    Image caption,

    Maria was out for a walk with her baby in Leith Links in Edinburgh

    We've been hearing throughout the day from politicians about the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's analysis which says none of the parties' manifestos contain policies strong enough to attain the targets on child poverty.

    We've been hearing from voters on the issue.

    Maria, 34, is a mother of two in Edinburgh and she tells us she is moving back to Sweden because the education system is "a little bit more affordable back home".

    It's "definitely, definitely cheaper" for children to go to school and nursery in Sweden.

    She hopes the next election will focus more on our next generation.

    Ruth is a mum of two in Leith
    Image caption,

    Ruth, a mum of two in Leith, says going back to work has to be worthwhile

    Another mother of two is Ruth, 36, and she says the promised childcare provision is not there in Leith due to waiting lists and nurseries closing down.

    She says: "Free hours of childcare and tax-free childcare sound amazing but it is not enough to make work worthwhile.

    "It needs to be worth it to go back to work."

  3. BBC Verify

    Immigration row over 'local connection' rulepublished at 16:38 BST 27 April

    We mentioned earlier that campaign rivals clashed on BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show during an election debate about immigration and housing.

    Reform UK's Thomas Kerr claimed the SNP had removed the "local connection rule" from the homelessness system, which had allowed local authorities to refer a housing applicant to another council area on the basis of their connection to that area.

    The rule was removed from the homelessness system in 2022, external but the SNP’s Mairi McAllan, who is the Scottish government cabinet secretary for housing, said the change in rules had nothing to do with immigration, because refugees are not deemed to have a connection to any other area - so councils have never been able to refer them elsewhere if they claim for homeless support.

    McAllan added that the rule had in fact been suspended so that, for example, someone fleeing domestic abuse in Inverness could choose where they lived without being sent back to the Highlands for housing support.

    The change in the local connection rule was putting more pressure on the housing sector, Kerr claimed - especially in Glasgow - adding: "We are seeing people prioritised over others who are here locally".

    People seeking asylum living in Glasgow are housed in accommodation provided by the Home Office.

    Those asylum seekers who are then granted permission to remain in the UK then have to leave this Home Office accommodation.

    At that point many end up claiming homelessness support, which is the responsibility of the city council.

    Since 2012, external, all unintentionally homeless households in Scotland are entitled to accommodation with no assessment made of the priority of their need.

  4. Do you have a question about the Scottish election?published at 16:12 BST 27 April

    What are your questions about the forthcoming Scottish election? Our experts will be answering your queries during the campaign.

    Get in touch by filling in the form on BBC Your Voice.

    Please read our terms and conditions and privacy policy.

    Your Voice
  5. Swinney 'politely declined' state banquet invitationpublished at 16:10 BST 27 April

    Parties have been giving their reactions to the King's visit to the US in the immediate aftermath of a shooting in Washington.

    King Charles is due to attend a state banquet tomorrow with President Donald Trump.

    First Minister John Swinney was also invited to the event, but last week said he had "politely declined" the offer because he was occupied with election campaigning.

    Swinney has also said he would have a duty to engage with elected political leaders if he was re-elected as first minister.

    John Swinney and Donald Trump shake hands in the Oval OfficeImage source, Scottish government
  6. Sarwar most concerned for journalists during Washington attackpublished at 15:47 BST 27 April

    David Henderson
    Scotland news correspondent

    Similarly, the Scottish Labour leader said it’s for the King and Queen and the security services to make a judgment on whether they should still make an official visit to the United States.

    Anas Sarwar said what concerned him most by the attack at the White House Correspondents' Dinner was the threat to journalists.

    He said he didn’t want to see attacks or violence aimed at any politicians or journalists around the world.

  7. Trump says King Charles will 'be very safe'published at 15:29 BST 27 April

    King Charles and Donald TrumpImage source, Reuters

    Donald Trump has said King Charles will "be very safe" during his state visit to the US, which is due to begin later on Monday.

    Further security talks took place between the White House and Buckingham Palace after the shooting in Washington DC on Saturday.

    Asked about the security implications for the royal visit, the US president told CBS' 60 Minutes on Sunday that the grounds of the White House, where King Charles will visit, are "really safe".

    The King and Queen privately reached out to the Trumps to give their sympathies after the attack, during which a Secret Service agent was lightly injured and the president and his wife were rushed to safety.

    The four-day state visit will begin in Washington DC, with the King and Queen being greeted at the White House by Trump and the First Lady Melania Trump.

    Read more about the state visit in our news story.

  8. If it's safe, King's visit should go ahead, says Findlaypublished at 15:12 BST 27 April

    We've been asking politicians on the campaign trail whether King Charles should still travel to the US after a gunman fired shots at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington.

    The King is due to attend a state banquet with President Donald Trump tomorrow and Buckingham Palace has confirmed the visit will go ahead.

    Russell Findlay says: "I think it’s really up to the King’s security team to make that assessment along with the US authorities.

    "I think if they decide that it’s safe to do so then that should be what happens."

  9. Don't sully Royal Family with US state visit, says Cole-Hamiltonpublished at 15:01 BST 27 April

    We're asking each party whether King Charles should go ahead with his visit to the US after a shooting incident on Saturday.

    Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton simply says the King and Queen should not be put in this position.

    "Donald Trump is a gangster, he's brought this global economy to its knees," he says.

    "He has killed tens of thousands of people in the Middle East. I just don't think we should be sullying the Royal Family with this particular state visit."

  10. Scotland's population is shifting - could it affect the election outcome?published at 14:46 BST 27 April

    Phil Sim
    Scotland political correspondent

    A busy street in Glasgow city centreImage source, Getty Images

    Scotland's population is on the move.

    People move house every day, up and down and across the country. Over time, the citizenry of one town will boom, while another will shrink in on itself.

    And that requires constant redrawing of the electoral map.

    The independent boundary commission has concluded its third review of Holyrood's constituencies and regions, to make sure each MSP represents roughly the same number of people.

    The new map could have a bearing on how parties campaign, and how the election plays out.

    In fact, it's technically already seen one seat change hands.

    Read more on how Scotland's shifting population could affect the election outcome here.

  11. How would the Tories address child poverty? 'Make work pay'published at 14:33 BST 27 April

    James Cheyne

    Also on the question of child poverty targets, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay says the only way lift everyone out of poverty is through a "healthy, vibrant, confident economy".

    He says "that is something that's certainly lacking under the SNP".

    Findlay adds: "The economy is stagnating, jobs are being lost, prices of everything are going through the roof and it is critical that we fix that, that we address it, that we make work pay and we create a benefit system that is fair for everyone."

  12. Good work is the best route out of poverty - Reform candidatepublished at 14:20 BST 27 April

    Emma Clifford Bell

    Back to child poverty targets, Thomas Kerr says it is a difficult issue to tackle - and that he has seen what poverty is like having grown up in the east end of Glasgow.

    "Both of my parents were drug addicts when I was growing up. So I've seen it first- hand," he says.

    The Reform UK candidate adds his party's policy is very clear - the best route out of poverty is good work.

    He says that is why Reform want to make sure that work pays, cut taxation and get the economy stimulated.

    Kerr argues that growth would allow the government to tackle child poverty.

  13. Kerr claims Glasgow is 'at breaking point' due to mass illegal migrationpublished at 13:54 BST 27 April

    Emma Clifford Bell

    Reform UK Thomas Kerr
    Image caption,

    Reform UK's Thomas Kerr campaigns in Baillieston

    Thomas Kerr of Reform UK says Scotland's priority today is to focus on the issue of migration.

    The former councillor claims the central belt and Glasgow "are at breaking point" because of mass illegal migration.

    Kerr says the SNP's Mairi McAllan "let the cat out of the bag" during an appearance on the Sunday Show, when she said migration is "good and necessary" for the economy.

    "We want to try and control migration, make sure that we're tackling the issue of illegal migration and prioritise Scotland first," he says.

  14. Reform candidate backs King's visit to USpublished at 13:42 BST 27 April

    Asked whether he thinks the King should go ahead with his visit to the US, Kerr says: "I do. I think it's really, really important that we have our allies in the US.

    "The US is one of our biggest trading blocs across the entire globe.

    "We have a president in Donald Trump who is very, very supportive of the UK. I think it's right that we use that asset as much as possible.

    "So I think that it's right the King and Queen are still making that visit, especially after what happened in the past few days."

  15. King shouldn't be going to US under any circumstances - Greerpublished at 13:30 BST 27 April

    Selena Jackson

    "The King shouldn't be going to the US under any circumstances," says Ross Greer.

    The Scottish Greens co-leader says: "Donald Trump is a profoundly dangerous individual.

    "We should not be holding hands with war criminals like this."

    He argues Trump is not someone anyone would want to associate with, and ultimately, the King has the opportunity to say no.

    Greer says: "I think it's disappointing that he's still willing to go to the US, but critically while he's there, is not willing to meet the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, particularly given his own brother's association with Epstein."

    President Trump and King Charles laugh and talk sitting at the table at the banquet while the president was on a trip to the UK in September.Image source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Trump and the King were pictured interacting amicably at many points in Trump's state visit to the UK in September

  16. A backdrop of further gun violence in the USpublished at 13:18 BST 27 April

    Trump, wearing a bow tie and tuxedo, points to a reporter in a room full of raised hands trying to get his attention.Image source, Getty Images

    Though candidates will be focused on speaking to voters in local communities, world events may well be on their minds.

    On Saturday night, a gunman attempted to storm the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington. The acting US attorney general says the suspect was likely targeting President Donald Trump.

    President Trump and other senior administration figures wereevacuated from the dinner after a man fired several shots while attempting to enter the venue. The suspect, identified in US media as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, was detained at the scene.

    King Charles and Queen Camilla are due to head to the US for a state visit this week. Buckingham Palace has confirmed this will indeed go ahead.

    The palace said the King was "greatly relieved" to hear the US president, Melania Trump and other guests had been unharmed. The King is due to attend a state banquet tomorrow.

    First Minister John Swinney was also invited to this banquet, but turned down the invitation.

    Our reporters have been asking the parties for their reaction to events over the weekend - and whether King Charles should still travel to the states.

  17. Swinney is 'breathtakingly out of touch', says Findlaypublished at 13:05 BST 27 April

    Reacting to John Swinney's remarks, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay says the SNP leader is "breathtakingly out of touch" with the people of Scotland.

    Findlay says Scots will be "appalled" that a Holyrood vote on a referendum is a priority during a cost-of-living crisis.

    Quote Message

    Swinney's new threat to demand another unwanted referendum is a wake-up call to those who think he's not serious about breaking up our country. It's all he really cares about.

    Russell Findlay, Scottish Conservative leader

  18. Lots of questions over Swinney's promise of Holyrood vote on referendumpublished at 12:58 BST 27 April

    Lynsey Bews
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    cottish National Party (SNP) leader John Swinney delivers a speech on the early actions a re-elected SNP Government would take to support people, at Pearce Institute, GlasgowImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    SNP leader John Swinney delivers a speech on the early actions a re-elected SNP Government would take to support people, at Pearce Institute, Glasgow

    Journalists have also been asking John Swinney lots of questions on the SNP’s plans when it comes to independence and the push for another referendum.

    Mr Swinney wouldn’t be drawn on whether his promise of a parliamentary vote is predicated on his party winning a majority, despite being pressed on this detail by reporters.

    He previously said a majority for the SNP would provide a mandate for another referendum.

  19. Swinney promises 'unwavering commitment' to tackling child povertypublished at 12:45 BST 27 April

    Lynsey Bews
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    John Swinney says eradicating child poverty is central to his aspirations for Scotland, promising an “unwavering commitment” to tackling the issue.

    The SNP leader argues the measures to address it are set out in his party’s policy proposals - in areas such as housing, childcare, employment and family support.

    He says an SNP government would take a “cohesive, whole-of-government approach”.

  20. Lib Dems would offer £400 uplift to unpaid carerspublished at 12:32 BST 27 April

    We've been asking Scotland's party leaders to react to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation analysis which says none of the parties' manifestos go far enough to meet child poverty targets.

    The Scottish Lib Dem leader insists: "Child poverty is absolutely at the heart of the Scottish Lib Dems manifesto.

    "That's why we want to see a £400 uplift to unpaid carers every year."

    He says lots of children who are in families with caring responsibilities are in that poverty trap.

    Cole-Hamilton also pledges to insulate cold Scottish homes with an emergency £100m package of home insulation, targeted at the poorest families