Here's what is happening on the campaign trail today

With hair cuts now permitted again, there's been plenty opportunity for a photo op for Scottish Politicians as they canvas for your vote on May 6th.

Author: Lewis MichiePublished 5th Apr 2021

It's Easter Monday, but there's no rest for Scottish Politicians on the campaign trail.

Here's what they are doing today..

Scottish Labour:

Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar is in Glasgow and he's taken the opportunity to get a hair cut.

More importantly he's wanting to see the 'test and trace' system in Scotland grow stronger as restrictions ease, preventing going back into Lockdown.

Mr Sarwar said:

"Lives and livelihoods are still at risk."

"As we see lockdown come to and end, as we see businesses start to open again, we have to recognise the economic impact but also the longer term health and wellbeing impact - so we've got to make sure this is the last lockdown".

SNP:

It's about the Justice system for the SNP today - with Humza Yousaf focusing on their pledge to introduce a 'victims commissioner' if re-elected into Government.

The Justice Secretary is also talking about 'Barins Hoose' - a take on a system used by Scandinavian countries - as the party look to change how children and young people are treated in the Scottish justice system.

"At present young people caught up in the justice system might have to go through multiple different services, in multiple different locations." He said.

"Scandinavian countries have introduced a model that provides a welcoming and safe environment for children that have to engage in the justice system - all the care and support a child and their family needs is delivered under one roof."

Scottish Liberal Democrats:

Like Anas Sarwar, Willie Rennie has had a hair cut and is speaking about the recovery from Covid, and not going back into strict restrictions.

The Lib Dem Leader wants to use testing more effectively.

Mr Rennie told our Political Correspondent Alan Smith:

"We need to make sure that people are careful, and that people stick to the rules.

"We are only using about a third of the gold standard PCR test that the government have got available to them, I think that is neglect, I think we should be getting out there and testing as many people as we can."

Scottish Conservatives:

Scottish Tories Leader Douglas Ross is in Edinburgh outlining plans for a 'nature bill'.

They want to protect Scotland's natural environment.

He said:

"It's so important that we protect nature in this country, we know that 1 in 9 species in Scotland is under threat of extinction.

"We want to do more to protect those species, to open up areas in urban towns and cities that have maybe been laying derelict for some time - we want to develop them into green spaces."

The Greens:

On the agenda for the Green Party today, ending fox hunting.

Scottish Green Alison Johnstone proposed a bill in 2019 to close the loopholes and also to protect mountain hares.

Mountain hare protections were won in wildlife laws last year, but the Lothian candidate has pledged to finish the job next term if re-elected.

Commenting, Alison Johnstone said: “Most people think fox-hunting is already banned in Scotland, but loopholes in the law mean that hunting continues much as it did. It is my intention to close these loopholes and end all hunting with dogs for good.

“When I consulted on my bill proposal to protect Scotland’s foxes and hares it received an overwhelmingly positive response from the public, but the job is only half done. Protections for mountain hares came into force in March, but the cruel chasing and killing of foxes with dogs still continues. Let’s put an end to it after May.

“A strong group of Scottish Green MSPs in the next parliament could do so much more to protect Scotland’s wildlife. We are in a nature emergency, which is why we are asking people to vote like our future depends on it.”

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