John Swinney, Anas Sarwar, Russell Findlay, Ross Greer, Alex Cole-Hamilton and Malcolm Offord squared off at the final TV debate of the Holyrood election.

With nine days to go until the Holyrood election, opinion polls show the SNP on course for a record fifth term.

Tonight’s STV debate at the Signet Library in Edinburgh – featuring the six party leaders – was one of the final chances for the political parties to make an impression with a significant number of voters.

The debate was moderated by STV’s Colin Mackay and there were plenty of fireworks, particularly when the leaders questioned each other.

Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon watched the debate and here is how he rated the six leaders who want to lead the country.

John Swinney (SNP)

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The First Minister’s aim was not to mess up on live TV and he achieved his ambition.

Rivals pounded him on the NHS and the cost of living crisis, but he never looked like hitting the floor.

He enjoyed himself after months of facing questions from rivals at Holyrood.

3/5

Anas Sarwar (Scottish Labour)

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Sarwar needed a strong showing given his party is significantly behind the SNP in the polls.

He urged Malcolm Offord to “look in the mirror” over his divisive election campaign and challenged Swinney on the death of tragic 10 year old Milly Main at a scandal-hit hospital.

He had a good night.

3/5

Russell Findlay (Scottish Tories)

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Findlay delivered his lines on opposing independence in his usual robust style, but he had no election-changing moment.

His previous support for Tory zoomer Liz Truss was also thrown back in his face.

He gave the appearance of a man who knows he will not be leader for much longer.

2/5

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Scottish Lib Dems)

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The Scottish Lib Dem leader can appear repetitive at times, but he put in his best debate performance of the campaign.

Confronting Malcolm Offord over Nigel Farage’s criticism of the hand gun ban in the wake of the Dunblane tragedy was his best moment.

He was also strong on holding John Swinney to account over the ferries scandal.

3/5

Ross Greer (Scottish Greens)

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Greer is not everyone’s cup of tea, but he was handed a gift by Malcolm Offord when the Reform leader showed off about his wealth.

He also mocked the Scottish Tory leader over his subterranean poll rating and previous support for Liz Truss.

Greer will be an influential figure after May 7th.

3/5

Malcolm Offord (Reform)

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Reform’s leader in Scotland was pulled up about racism and thuggery in his party, as well as his previous support for Donald Trump.

His car crash moment was an inexplicable boast about having six homes and five cars during a cost of living crisis, which his rivals will use against him until polling day.

A terrible night.

1/5

​An existing wind turbine is set to be replaced by a new, higher turbine at Magdalen Grange Farm, Carr Lane in Gristhorpe, Filey, after the scheme was given the go-ahead by North Yorkshire Council.

Mark Hutchinson’s plan sought permission for the new turbine in order to increase the efficiency and longevity of the farm’s green infrastructure.

​The previous wind turbine was 24.6 metres to hub height and 34.2 metres to blade tip height.

​According to plans, the new Vesta wind turbine measures 46 metres from the ground to the blade tip and 31.5 metres to the hub.

​Concerns about the proposal were raised by the Ministry of Defence, which said the development was located within its low flying area and it was concerned about “the potential of the turbines creating a physical obstruction to air traffic movements”.

​The MoD said its aircraft may operate as low as 250 feet or 76.2 metres above terrain features in order to conduct low level flight training.

​“The addition of a turbine in this location has the potential to introduce a physical obstruction to low-flying aircraft operating in the area”.

​To address the impact, the MoD requested the addition of a condition requiring that sufficient data is submitted to ensure that the structure can be accurately charted to allow deconfliction.

Magdalen Grange Farm Wind Turbine Location. Google Maps

​No objections to the plan were made by Muston Parish Council.

​According to submitted plans, the turbine requires two standard 16.5m articulated HGVs for delivery, resulting in a total of four HGVs for the development.

​The scheme stated: “As no abnormal loads are required, the highway and transportation impact is minimal and the proposal is therefore considered to have a negligible effect on the local highway network.”

​North Yorkshire Council approved the application, subject to conditions.

Real Madrid have no intention of selling Aurelien Tchouameni to Manchester United this summer, according to reports.

United are in the market for at least one new central midfielder in the summer transfer window with Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba and Sandro Tonali all on the club’s shortlist.

Tchouameni, who joined Madrid in a €100 million (£85.3m) deal from Monaco four years ago, is also on United’s radar.

However, FootMercato reports that Tchouameni is considered ‘indispensable’ by Madrid and the Spanish club are not looking to sell the midfielder.

The report adds that Madrid are even looking to extend Tchouameni’s contract, which has just two years left to run.

Speaking this week, Rio Ferdinand endorsed United’s interest in Tchouameni but doubted whether the Madrid midfielder would be a realistic option this summer.

‘Tchouameni would be great but is he available? I don’t know if he’s available. His experience is huge,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

‘I think he speaks English as well, so that’s not an issue. I think he’s a fantastic footballer.

‘I remember the game France-England in a tournament, I think it was Qatar. He was majestic. He was strong. He was commanding. He’s played in huge games. He has the experience. So I wouldn’t worry about him, I’d be very happy to get him.

‘Baleba has got huge potential but has had a bit of a dip this season from where he was the season before.

‘Anderson I think would be a great signing. Again, Premier League proven, great energy, I think there can be huge improvements, his ceiling is quite high, I think there is more to come from him that you can get out of him at Man United. I think Michael Carrick would be a great tutor for him as well.

‘It’s going to be difficult. Who is available – let’s go from there.’

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“Between the UFC250 Fight, the Great American State Fair, Freedom250 Grand Prix, and this new passport celebrating our freedom, President Trump continues to proudly lead a renewal of national pride and patriotism during our historic semiquincentennial celebration,” they added.

HECK! based in Lime Lane, Kirklington, near Bedale, will host the event on Saturday, May 2, from 10am until 12pm.

Visitors will have the chance to tour the site, meet the team, and learn more about roles in hygiene, production, picking, and the mixing room.

The event follows the success of the company’s first open day, which took place in February and attracted hundreds of people from across the region.

Jackie came to HECK!’s first Jobs Open Day just to take a look, but she walked out with a job offer (Image: HECK!)

Jamie Keeble, co-founder of HECK!, said: “We were thrilled with the response to our first Jobs Open Day,” said HECK! co-founder Jamie Keeble.

“It was fantastic to meet so many enthusiastic people and to showcase what makes working here so unique.

“Food production is exciting, fast-paced and rewarding and we’re excited to open our doors again on 2 May and to continue welcoming new talent into our team.”

Among those who found success at the first event was Jackie, a local resident who attended out of curiosity and left with a job offer.

HECK! HQ in Lime Lane, Kirklington (Image: HECK!)

She initially started as a production supervisor, but her experience in quality control led to a new opportunity within the business.

Jackie said: “Attending the first HECK! jobs open day was a turning point for me.

“I initially stepped into a production supervisor role, but my background in quality control quickly came into play.

“Before long, I was given the opportunity to move into a Technical Coordinator position.

“With my experience from PFF Innovations Plastics in Keighley and years in quality assurance across different industries, it felt like a natural fit.

“Now, I’m proud to support audits, inspections and equipment calibrations across the business, helping strengthen food safety and quality systems so our customers can always receive the highest standard of product.”

Jobseekers of all experience levels are encouraged to attend and discover the variety of roles on offer.

The day will include site tours, team meet-and-greets, a short interview and a behind-the-scenes look at the production line in action.

HECK! one of the largest private employers in the area, is is looking to fill a variety of hands-on roles, including team leaders and team members across the mixing room, picking, hygiene and production departments.

HECK! encourages all attendees to register their interest in advance via its website.

Sky’s new action thriller Prisoner features stars Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle, which was partly filmed in Wales

The Sky drama series is essential viewing for thrill-seekers and some of the show was filmed in Wales.

One of the leads in Sky’s forthcoming action thriller Prisoner has discussed the difficulties of working on the six-episode series, reports the Mirror.

French actor Tahar Rahim disclosed how he and his co-star Izuka Hoyle remained handcuffed together throughout four months of production.

Discussing the obstacles of filming while tethered to his co-star, The Serpent actor said: “Being handcuffed to someone for four months filming could easily be a nightmare, but Izuka is a beautiful soul.

“We got on incredibly well and became real friends. She’s my partner in crime. It was a pleasure.”

The duo portray high-value prisoner and mafia informant Tibor Stone (Rahim) and prison transport officer Amber Todd (Hoyle) respectively.

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Following an assault on their prison convoy by the organised crime syndicate that Stone is due to testify against, Todd takes the snap decision to handcuff herself to him and guarantee he reaches court for the trial within four days.

Yet Tibor isn’t simply any informant; he’s a skilled assassin capable of eliminating numerous individuals dispatched to silence him before he can divulge everything.

This necessitated both Rahim and Hoyle executing stunts together while their characters remained handcuffed.

Reflecting on these obstacles, the Golden Globe and BAFTA nominee said: “Being handcuffed during big stunt sequences made things more complex.

“Our stunt team was brilliant and inventive, open to ideas and incredibly collaborative.

“Izuka and I had to constantly adapt and choreograph every movement together.

“Izuka has great instincts and she’s strong, which made everything easier. I decided to just flow with her and to treat it like a dance.

“For me, acting with a partner is a kind of dance: you listen, you feel, you respond.”

Meanwhile, Big Boys and Scottish BAFTA winner Hoyle said: “Having them on made us realise just how close we were going to be to each other for such a long period of time, and that took some getting used to.

“Tahar is incredible. He’s physically fit, so in terms of us pushing each other, it was great.

“Our competitive streaks would come out… ‘We can go faster than that. We can do better than that. We can push harder than that.’ And we did. Everyone around us would be like, ‘F****g hell’.”

Prisoner will be released on Sky as a boxset on Thursday, April 30

Floral names continue to be popular in Scotland

As the seasons shift and nature blooms with colour, parents throughout Scotland are increasingly opting for flower-inspired names for their baby girls.

From timeless classics to more distinctive botanical options, floral names remain consistently popular, symbolising beauty, rebirth and a bond with the natural world.

Specialists at Chicksx.com analysed the most recent data from the National Records of Scotland to reveal the top 10 most popular flower baby girl names in Scotland, alongside their meanings and seasonal associations.

Top ten most popular floral inspired girl names in Scotland

1. Lily (231 babies)

2. Ivy (180 babies)

3. Rosie (167 babies)

4. Poppy (135 babies)

5. Daisy (123 babies)

6. Willow (106 babies)

7. Violet (89 babies)

8. Rose (67 babies)

9. Holly (52 babies)

10. Flora ( 42 babies)

In first spot is Lily, with 231 babies receiving the name which is by far the most dominating moniker on the floral name chart.

The timeless floral name symbolises purity and renewal. Lilies bloom in late spring and early summer, and can often be seen in Scottish gardens and countryside settings, making the name a classic choice that reflects elegance and natural beauty.

In second place is Ivy, with 180 baby girls receiving the name in 2024, which is inspired by the evergreen climbing plant commonly found across Scotland’s stone walls and historic buildings. Representing fidelity, resilience and growth, Ivy remains popular for its strong yet delicate botanical roots.

Rosie was also a popular choice in third place with the name being a diminutive of Rose. Roses are widely grown across Scotland, from private gardens to public parks, symbolising love and beauty while adding a warm, affectionate feel. 167 babies were named Rosie in 2024.

In fourth place is Poppy, named after the vibrant red flower associated with remembrance across the UK, including Scotland. Seen in fields and used in national commemorations, poppies carry both beauty and deep cultural meaning. 135 baby girls were named Poppy in Scotland in 2024.

Daisy comes in fifth with 123 baby girls receiving the moniker in 2024. They are named after the cheerful flower that blooms widely across Scottish fields and lawns. Symbolising innocence and new beginnings, it perfectly captures the freshness of spring.

The other floral names to make the top ten in Scotland are Willow (106 baby girls), Violet (89 baby girls), Rose (67 baby girls), Holly (52 baby girls) and Flora (42 baby girls).

Discussing the popularity of floral inspired names, Al Alof, CEO of Chicksx.com, said: “In Scotland, especially, which is home to some of the world’s most beautiful natural landscapes, flower-related names offer a truly timeless elegance and a nod to home for Scottish babies.

“Flora, in particular, is a flower-inspired name with powerful Scottish roots, despite its Latin origins. It is deeply associated with Scotland through the 18th-century Jacobite heroine Flora MacDonald and has long been used as the Anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic name Fionnaghal (or Fenella).

“For Scottish parents who are looking for a rarer flower-inspired name, Heather is a strong choice, with just nine baby girls given the name in 2024. Heather is quintessential to Scotland’s landscapes, an iconic shrub that transforms moorlands, hills and bogs into stunning shades of pink and purple from early July to mid-August. A sure sign of summer, the name Heather carries with it scenes of warm, sunlit afternoons and the hope of renewal”

Professor Andrea Musacchio, director at the Max Planck Institute and also a co-investigator, said “Our expertise in the biochemical reconstitution of the kinetochore complements the diverse skillsets of our team and gives us the opportunity to understand these patterns during cell division in healthy cells, and what goes wrong in cancer cells that allow them to evolve and become resistant to chemotherapy.”

“The DOJ will not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that James Comey had the intent to threaten or harm President Trump,” Gurulé, now a Notre Dame Law School professor, said in a statement to the BBC. “The indictment is a transparent attempt to intimidate one of the President’s perceived political enemies.”

During his historic State Visit, King Charles addressed a joint session of Congress in Washington DC, delivering a speech applauded 22 times whilst calling for a renewed UK-US special relationship over America First policy

The King has called on Donald Trump to move away from his America First stance and pledge himself to a renewed partnership with Britain for the benefit of the world.

Charles was given multiple standing ovations during a stirring speech at a joint session of Congress, where he spoke of the shared principles underpinning the “special relationship”.

The monarch highlighted the profound bonds built between previous Kings, Queens and Presidents, and argued that in these shifting and frequently turbulent times, Britain and the United States must “stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy, to protect all our people from harm”.

Charles’ moving and contemplative address this afternoon came after a triumphant official ceremonial welcome at the White House, where President Trump lavished praise on the bond between our two countries built up over centuries.

The landmark State Visit had been thrown into uncertainty in recent months owing to Trump’s relentless stream of attacks on the UK, alongside allied reluctance to support his war in the Middle East.

However, in a striking shift, the President told those assembled on the White House lawn at the official ceremonial welcome: “Americans have had no closer friends than the British.”, reports the Mirror.

Championing the “special relationship” between America and the UK, Trump turned towards the King who listened closely throughout his 20 minute address and said: “We hope it will always remain that way”. The King’s most diplomatically delicate overseas trip to date unfolds against a background of criticism directed by Mr Trump personally at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer regarding the conflict in Iran. Officials at Downing Street have been banking on the royal family’s soft-power diplomacy to mend the divide, and make progress towards building a fresh, united path forward.

During his address, which prompted members from both chambers to rise to their feet and applaud 22 times, Charles remarked he felt “the weight of history on my shoulder”.

Referring to the shocking attempted assassination of the President last Saturday, when a heavily armed gunman tried to break into the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington—an incident that cast further doubt over the visit—the King said: “We meet in times of great uncertainty; in times of conflict from Europe to the Middle East which pose immense challenges for the international community and whose impact is felt in communities the length and breadth of our own countries.

“We meet, too, in the aftermath of the incident not far from this great building that sought to harm the leadership of your Nation and to foment wider fear and discord. Let me say with unshakeable resolve: such acts of violence will never succeed.

“Whatever our differences, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy, to protect all our people from harm, and to salute the courage of those who daily risk their lives in the service of our countries.”

Charles also took a moment to reflect on his late mother’s visit in 1991, when she became the first British monarch to address Congress, yet made clear that Britain and the US must now look ahead to a fresh chapter.

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He said: “Our shared values prevailed. Today, we find ourselves in a new era, but those values remain. It is an era that is, in many ways, more volatile and more dangerous than the world to which my late Mother spoke, in this Chamber, in 1991.

“The challenges we face are too great for any one Nation to bear alone. But in this unpredictable environment, our Alliance cannot rest on past achievements, or assume that foundational principles simply endure.

“As my Prime Minister said last month: ‘Ours is an indispensable partnership. We must not disregard everything that has sustained us for the last eighty years. Instead, we must build on it’. Renewal today starts with security. Drawing on these values and traditions, time and again, our two countries have always found ways to come together.”

The response to Charles’s address, drafted with input from the Government, will not have gone unnoticed by Downing Street, who, despite the seemingly strained ties with Washington, were eager to deploy the royals in a bid to shore up the special relationship. For weeks, the State Visit had been mired in controversy surrounding the war in Iran, Trump’s tariff threats, and even his intervention in Britain’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

The royals had also faced criticism for refusing to meet victims of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the former close associate of the King’s brother, Andrew. Royal sources indicated the King wished to recognise the victims’ suffering alongside others facing hardship across the globe, emphasising the importance of international cooperation.

He said: “In both of our countries, it is the very fact of our vibrant, diverse and free societies that gives us our collective strength, including to support victims of some of the ills that, so tragically, exist in both our societies today.”

This sentiment of shared heritage and warmth had been repeated just hours earlier on the White House lawn, with Trump speaking about his family’s fondness for the royals and even disclosing his mum had a crush on Charles as a young man.

Senior figures from Mr Trump’s administration were amongst the attendees, including Vice-President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Steve Witkoff, special envoy for peace missions.

Numerous military units participated in the ceremonial welcome, from the United States Marine Corps Honour Guard to the United States Space Force Honour Guard, who performed despite the rain, which ceased before the royals’ arrival. Trump declared: “In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British.” He described it as a “tremendous privilege to host” Charles and Camilla, branded the King a “very elegant man”, paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II as a “very special woman” and disclosed his mother, Mary, had a “crush” on the King during his younger years.

“She really did love the family but I also remember her saying very clearly, ‘Charles, look young Charles, he’s so cute’. My mother had a crush on Charles – can you believe it? Amazing how… I wonder what she’s thinking right now?”

The royal visit had been in the pipeline for months – possibly years – to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. Yet it’s arrived at a significant moment in our collective history.

While Charles spoke of “one of the greatest alliances in human history”, Trump suggested the event should serve as an opportunity to look ahead.

He said: “So today we look back on 250 years. Let us remember what has made our countries the two most exceptional nations the world has ever known.

“And together let us go forward with even stronger resolve to carry on our sacred devotion to liberty and to the traditions of excellence that have been our shared gift of all mankind. Your Majesties, thank you once again for making this important visit. We are so honoured.” On Wednesday, Charles and Camilla head to New York where they will lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial in the lead-up to the 25th anniversary of the atrocity.