Marina Force

Assistant Editor, @BBCScotlandNews | Before, @ITVBorderRB @GMB @STVNews | Got a story? [email protected]

[Paris Gourtsoyannis @PGourtsoyannis]

Another Scottish Labour MP says “any and all candidates willing to have the chance to put themselves forward” - ie Burnham

[Paul Hutcheon @paulhutcheon]

Another Scottish Labour MP - Maureen Burke - calls on the PM to quit.

[Matt Graveling @mattgraveling]

🥇History made live on the BBC!🥇

The favourite moment of my broadcasting career - Kenya's Sabastian Sawe broke the 'impossible' sub 2 hour barrier at @LondonMarathon.

I was live with @MartineBBC on @BBCNews & @BBCWorld talking about Tigst Assefa's record when Sawe flew past!🇰🇪

[Kieran Andrews @KieranPAndrews]

Reform UK’s candidate for Galloway and West Dumfries has been urged to apologise after ITV Border uncovered online messages calling for the deportation of British Muslims and endorsing far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

https://t.co/zuVIVfBeLw

[Representing Border @ITVBorderRB]

'I think that's unlikely but I would certainly lend what support I could to that campaign.'

Liam McArthur says he does not see himself bringing back another bill on assisted dying if he is returned as an MSP after May's Holyrood election.

[Kieran Andrews @KieranPAndrews]

Liam McArthur's assisted dying bill is comfortably defeated in the Scottish parliament

For: 57
Against: 69
Abstention: 1

Both sides had predicted a much closer vote

[Representing Border @ITVBorderRB]

NEW: @AnasSarwar suggests Labour is considering suspending the membership of MP Joani Reid after her husband was one of three men arrested on suspicion of spying for China.

Reid has said: 'I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken the law.'

[Emmanuel Macron @EmmanuelMacron]

In Delhi, we are inaugurating the Franco-Indian Center for Artificial Intelligence in Health, jointly led by AIIMS, Sorbonne University, and the Paris Brain Institute.

Research, training, innovation: France and India are harnessing AI for the common good!

[Politics UK @PolitlcsUK]

🚨 NEW: Keir Starmer is set to appoint Antonia Romeo, the current head of the Home Office, to be his Cabinet Secretary once Chris Wormald resigns

She would be the first ever female to lead the Civil Service

[@thetimes]

[Kieran Andrews @KieranPAndrews]

It’s not all that long ago Sarwar believed he would save Starmer. Now he is first to wield the knife.

Why Anas Sarwar went over the top to demand Keir Starmer quits as prime minister.

Analysis for @ITVBorderRB @ITVborder @ITVNewsPolitics

https://t.co/TCF0oZJ6EX

[Steven Swinford @Steven_Swinford]

Douglas Alexander, secretary of state for Scotland, says that he 'respects' Anas Sarwar and that he has 'reached his own decision' about Starmer

Given that Sarwar just called for Keir Starmer to quit in the most brutal fashion, saying that he promised to deliver change but has failed to do so, those comments seem very... diplomatic, if I can put it that way

'Anas has reached his own decision and I respect that. My job - as Anas acknowledged today - is to make sure Scotland’s voice is heard in Cabinet. My focus remains on doing that.

'The Prime Minister has recognised not just that lessons have to be learned but also that we change how we do government. He is right about that and has my support

'Like all Labour MPs we want the Labour government to be the government that the people of this country hoped for when they rejected the Tories. That is where all of my energies are and will remain focussed'

[Paul Hutcheon @paulhutcheon]

Labour MSPs who have publicly backed Anas Sarwar’s call for the PM to quit:

Jackie Baillie
Monica Lennon
Pauline McNeill
Mark Griffin

Also at the Sarwar press conference: Neil Bibby and David Russell.

[David Phillips @fiscalphillips]

Key finding 1⃣ from @theIFS #ScotBudget Report.

Current plans imply a 0.6% real-terms CUT in health spending (after transfers to councils for social care).

With pay set to INCREASE 1.5% in real-terms, top-ups almost certainly needed to avoid job and service cuts!.

[Representing Border @ITVBorderRB]

'Do you think he lasts until May?'

'Yes but we need full transparency and answers.'

@AnasSarwar is lukewarm in his backing for @Keir_Starmer over Lord Mandelson scandal.

Adds: 'Peter Mandelson has betrayed his country, he has betrayed the victims of Jeffrey Epstein.'

[Representing Border @ITVBorderRB]

EXC: First Minister has ordered an audit of all the Scottish government's dealings with Peter Mandelson. @JohnSwinney says investigation will examine if Scotland's interests were undermined by Mandelson during the financial crash and in last year's talks around US whisky tariffs.

[Scottish Lib Dems @scotlibdems]

The Scottish Liberal Democrats are sad to announce the passing of Lord Jim Wallace, former Deputy First Minister and leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

The thoughts of everyone in our party are with his family at this time.

[Robert Peston @Peston]

The NEC special committee has blocked Andy Burnham’s ambition to stand as a candidate in Gorton and Denton by a margin of 8 to 1, Labour sources tell me. The reasoning of the majority is as per the note I wrote below. The debate was “respectful and collegiate” (!!!) said one source. Only Lucy Powell, Labour’s deputy leader, voted to allow Burnham to stand. Shabana Mahmood as chair abstained

[ITV Granada Reports @GranadaReports]

BREAKING: Labour blocks Andy Burnham from standing in next by-election
https://t.co/CPHpgdjxze

[Steven Swinford @Steven_Swinford]

BREAKING:

Kemi Badenoch has SACKED Robert Jenrick

She says she was presented with clear irrefutable evidence he was plotting to defect

The Times reported that moves were afoot for Jenrick to join Reform UK last month

https://t.co/Ob6siHnsuE

[Representing Border @ITVBorderRB]

Labour won't oppose the Scottish Government's budget.

Leader @AnasSarwar tells @KieranPAndrews his party will 'reserve the right' to look at options to potentially change the financial plan if his party wins the Holyrood election in May.