26/01/2016 Reporting Scotland

100 days until the Holyrood election -

the campaign for your vote starts to inflate.

The storm which brought snow to the US brings gales to Scotland,

but the engineers building the Queensferry Crossing say it'll

Haggis pakora and a Syrian take on Auld Lang Syne -

it's a Burns night with a difference.

Also on the programme, the jarl squad is on the loose.

The Vikings are in charge in Lerwick, where the annual

100 days until Scotland goes to the polls to choose the next

While Labour's Kezia Dugdale insists she can turn round her party's poor

showing at recent elections, the SNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon says

she's taking nothing for granted, and fighting for every vote,

aiming to keep her party the party of Government.

Here's our political editor, Brian Taylor.

Labour's Scottish leader talks tactics with Jeremy Corbyn's Shadow

Cabinet. Polls suggest Labour is struggling in Scotland, Kezia

Dugdale says it is her job to turn that round. It is a challenging

time, the polls are evidence of that but I'm determined to turn that

around. I am upbeat about the future and faced with a choice between

using the new powers of the parliament to invest in education or

to continue to manage austerity like the SNP are doing, I know which one

Scots will choose. Nicola Sturgeon defends the SNP's record in power

but looks to the future. There is much more we need to do. Education

is top of my agenda, we need to reshape and reform the health

service, and make sure we are supporting a knowledge innovation

led economy so we have big ideas and big ambitions in this campaign and I

look forward to persuading people to put their trust in us. Ruth Davidson

says she is ready to tackle the challenge as principal opposition at

Holyrood. I would say to people out there if you don't change the

Government, think about changing the opposition, have an opposition that

will truly hold the Government to account. We will always stand up for

Scotland's place in the UK. People in Scotland like their liberal

values of investing in education, protecting the NHS and what's best

about it, but also safeguarding civil liberties and the environment.

People like those policies, that package is progressive and positive

and that's why I think more and more people will come back to the Liberal

Democrats. Enduring the inclement climate in Glasgow, the Greens save

can move up the Holyrood ranks with focus on the environment. There is

no reason we couldn't overtake the Liberal Democrats to become the

fourth party, but the Liberal Democrats to become the

thing is to get the Liberal Democrats to become the

about the direction Scotland can go in. A fairer, more sustainable and

healthy society. Told you these elections were a big deal! The

Electoral Commission and the homeless charity Shelter have urged

everyone to register to vote, but don't worry the ballot box that you

feel should be to scale. -- that you fill.

More from Brian in a moment, but first, before a single vote

is cast it's already clear that fewer than one in five of the MSPs

in the next parliament will have served continuously

since the new Scottish Parliament convened in 1999.

Our political correspondent, Glenn Campbell, takes a look

Douglas Ross running the line at Peterhead's weekend match against

Dunfermline. Soon he will be running Peterhead's weekend match against

for office as the Conservatives' lead candidate in the Highlands and

Islands. People don't want serious politicians who stand up in the

chamber, make a speech and vote on something, they want some body with

outside experience and sport is something a lot of people are

interested in. The SNP he hopes to succeed is Mary Scanlon. Sometimes I

get a bit angry and frustrated so I think it is time for me to move on

and let someone else pick up the mantle. More than 20 MSPs are

standing down at the selection including almost half the Tory

group. The next Scottish parliament will bear very little resemblance to

the first. Of those elected back in 1999, almost three quarters will

have gone, and of those who would like another term only 24 have

served continuously since the start. Those who are in here over the next

five years should have much more power than any of their

predecessors, as Holyrood takes on the extra tax and welfare

responsibilities recommended by the Smith Commission on further

devolution. They will be operating in a climate that is not as generous

financially, and they may well have a lot more responsibilities within

that, making decisions that lead to generating more revenue as well as

spending it. There will be some difficult debates. Debate past

leaders could avoid, but at this election it is not just the

personalities that will change, so too will the priorities and powers

of the Scottish Parliament. Brian, the changing face of Holyrood

there, what'll be different What is going to be really different

is the point made about taxation, the debate about education, the

health service, transport, in short about public spending. On this

occasion in the next 100 days all parties will have to spell out their

plans on tax, and talk about how they will replace or amend Council

tax, their plans for business rates and above all what they will do with

the new powers coming Holyrood's away on income tax and rates in

Scotland. They are big questions and that is why this is a really big

election. You're watching Reporting

Scotland from the BBC. Still to come on

tonight's programme... Turning a classroom into a classy

restaurant to whet young appetites In sport, a home has been

found for East Kilbride in their Scottish Cup

tie against Celtic. Elsewhere the Braveheart of France

'98 says today's Scotland players And we report from Melbourne,

where the feel-good factor is having a very positive effect

on the Murrays down under. The engineers in charge

of the construction of the Queensferry Crossing say

they're using every available break in the winter weather to ensure

the bridge can be completed, as scheduled, by

the end of this year. The project directors

insist confidence remains Our transport correspondent,

David Miller, reports. Take a look at the future. The

Queensferry Crossing is now less than a year from completion. This

remarkable drone footage reveals the progress being made. Construction

remains under budget and on schedule, despite the winter

weather. This this is the first break in the weather we have had

here all day. The rain has stopped for the moment but as you can

probably see, the wind remains strong, and all of that has an

impact out there, where high winds can play havoc with the schedule.

Sections of the deck cannot be slotted into place in high winds,

that can mean a long and frustrating wait for workers. We took a section

out there on the barge, we had it sitting underneath the South Pier

all day. It looked as if it wasn't going to be able to go, but we knew

there was a chance of a lull, and they got finished at 2am in the

morning. Bosses say that once it is complete, the new crossing will be

well-placed to withstand the elements. The wires are coated in

wax, then encased in this sheathing. The wires were exposed for a year or

so before they were protected against the elements, and when they

were protected a lot of moisture was already in the cable at that point

before so that is the fundamental difference between the two. It is

still hard to believe the first vehicles are due to cross this

bridge in December, much remains to be done but plans are already under

way for the opening celebrations. of America brought heavy rain

and winds to much of Scotland today. High winds upturned

two lorries on the A1. Pupils in Aberfoyle had to be

rescued from a flooded school. And in Edinburgh a bus passenger

was injured after a chimney smashed Two lorries upturned by gusts of

wind on the A1 this morning, and exposed stretch. For the two

drivers, a lucky escape. In the capital the high winds were

responsible for another close call. In Edinburgh there were dramatic

scenes earlier when a chimney pot fell from one of the buildings and

smashed into the window of a boss. It left a passenger injured. The

road remained closed for much of the day. As the rain hammered down and

winds swept through there was transport disruption. Waves crashed

over the train line, and in Stornoway waves battered against the

shore. Much of the afternoon was spent pumping water away on the A9.

On the M8 carriageway was closed for a while. It is persistent rain, not

necessarily a downpour, it is just constant. The hills are wet, the

water is running off them onto the road network. Even though the

drainage system is running free, that amounts of water on the road to

the drainage system cannot cope with. Firefighters were called out

to a flooded school in Aberfoyle and rescued 22 people. But the bad

weather always brings joy to some, this windsurfer was catching very

big waves in Troon. With more rain on its way tonight, maybe it is time

to get home and dry. Tony Blair says he thinks Scotland

will become an independent country if the UK votes to break away

from the European Union. Speaking to a French Radio station,

the Former Prime Minister added that he hopes voters

in the forthcoming EU referendum First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said

there would be "overwhelming demand" for a second independence vote,

should Scotland be taken out of Europe despite

choosing to stay in. As Burns Night was marked

across the country, refugees from Syria and elsewhere

were welcomed to a multicultural Burns supper in Glasgow,

all part of efforts to help them understand more about

Scottish culture. The aim was to celebrate a fusion

of music and customs from different But how's it all working

in practice for the most Sarah Toom went along to the city's

fruit market to find out. The Burns Night with a twist. Meyer

Youssef played to an audience including some of her countryfolk,

refugees. The idea was the fusion of their customs with Scottish culture.

TRANSLATION: The confusing things I arrived included that I really need

services to help bring us together. Things like what it is appropriate

to do, what it is not appropriate to do, what do people like, what people

don't like. Knowing the language is crucial. This man came to Glasgow

with his family a year ago, he still doesn't speak much English, but are

people getting appropriate help from authorities for learning English,

and mental health support? I have seen people destroyed completely.

When they arrived at the country they welcomed them at the airport,

but they don't know they need to show more support rather than

welcome them and give them hugs. They need to give them more trauma

support and enable them to fit in in the country. Sharing food at a Burns

supper is another way of helping communities to mix. Already many

Scots are helping refugees to settle in. Burns' lines shows he can

Scots are helping refugees to settle recognise the herd people have, and

the response has been one of humanity. Events like this one

symbolise the intention for refugees to participate and thrive in

Scottish society without losing their own sense of national

identity, and as more continue to arrive, we will see whether that

symbolic fusion translates into reality.

A man has been arrested after a shopkeeper was shot

in the leg during an attempted robbery at a convenience store

The 25-year-old, who's been detained, is expected to appear

Figures out today show there were no lives lost in accidents on the A9

between Inverness and Dunblane during the second half of last year.

It's the longest period of time without a fatal crash on the road

Safety groups say it's clear that average speed cameras,

installed last October, are saving lives.

Councillors in Glasgow have taken the unusual step of backing

a controversial housing development and an opposing plan to keep

Planning committee members gave approval for 60 flats to be built

on former playing fields in the city's west end.

They also backed plans by the North Kelvin Meadow group,

who have transformed the derelict land in recent years.

A final decision will be taken later.

Scotland's multi-million pound hospitality industry is finding it

So it's trying to get across to young people that it can

An initiative got off the ground today to take that message

As Andrew Anderson discovered, it's meaning a temporary

Scotland's hotels, restaurants and bars are finding it increasingly

difficult to find skilled workers. We have no chefs in Scotland that

are available at the moment. We estimate about 3,000 chef vacant

cyst across Scotland. If young people are interested in working

with food and drink there are qualification, skills and training

and good wages. A number of classrooms have been transformed

into a mock hotel, restaurant and spa. It's hand on experience for the

pupils. We want our young people to leave our school with all the

employable skills required. It's not just about qualifications, which our

young people get, it's about the soft skills, organisational skills,

communication skills, people skills, working as a team. We want them to

communication skills, people skills, be able to do that. The organisers

hope this event will change perceptions about hotel and

restaurant work to show them there can be a rewarding career. Have they

succeeded? I've learned new skills, I've learnt different job

opportunities if I didn't want to go down the further education route I

could go into catering and things. It's planned to roll it out to other

schools across Scotland to help youngsters find job and an

increasingly important industry to find staff. Now the sport.

The man known as Braveheart, who led Scotland at our last

World Cup, says too many of today's internationals play

The former Scotland skipper, Colin Hendry, is referring

to the English Championship and says that might be why we haven't

qualified for a major championship since France '98.

David Currie has been speaking to him and another

Introducing the antigravity treadmill, newly installed it uses

NASA technology to speed recovery from injury. If only there were a

contraption to hasten the national team's recovery. These men aren't

rocket scientists, but one has a theory about what's gone wrong. The

problem is that some of the players, a lot of the players, aren't playing

at the top of the tree. The part of their develop am would come as part

of playing in the Premiership and top of the tree. A lot of players

are alike to be selected by Scotland. Because of the money they

are content and happy. Qualifying for the 2018 World Cup starts this

autumn. Gordon Strachan and company facing England, Slovakia, Lithuania

and Malta. I think we have enough talent, yeah, to qualify. It has got

better. I don't think anybody can argue with that fact. What got

better? Performance level. The way the team and the squad are

improving. Performance level. We maybe just lack a goal. Space age

technology will never solve Scottish football ills, if there was a

miracle machine what would it be used for. Recarnate another Kenny

Dalgleish. We're working on it! Yes, indeed.

The SFA have confirmed East Kilbride's Scottish Cup tie

against Celtic next month will now be played at Airdrie's Excelsior

The match was supposed to be played at Hamilton's New Douglas Park,

East Kilbride, seen here beating Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale

in the last round, held talks with the SFA today

and it was decided Airdrie's 10,000 capacity stadium will be used

There are two fourth round Scottish Cup ties

It's Dundee versus Falkirk and also the replay of Forfar

You can keep up-to-date on Sportsound, BBC Radio Scotland

810 medium wave and the BBC Sport Scotland website.

Now, to Scotland's other big Cup competition.

The St Johnstone Chairman, Steve Brown, says it's

an "unnacceptable fiasco" that Hibernian fans have three times

as many tickets as Saints supporters for their League Cup

It's being staged at Tynecastle and Brown believes the SPFL's

decision-making process on ticket allocation has been "outrageous."

It's been older brother Jamie grabbing the limelight -

chasing not one, but two Grand Slam titles.

chasing not one, but two about the Brits who could be

contesting four semi-finals here this week. Two of them could involve

Jamie Murray, one of them will. He is through to the semi-finals of the

Doubles with his Brazilian partner, Bruno Soares. They now play against

each other in the mixed-doubles tomorrow. Bruno is trash talking

already. Take him out of his comfort zone. What happens now, you don't

speak to each other for the next 24-hours? After this interview we're

done until tomorrow afternoon. System is shut down. I don't want to

see him any more. The focus switches to the younger Murray brother, Andy,

in quarter-final action tomorrow morning against Ferrera of Spain. He

has tremendous respect for the way Andy Murray's game has come on in

the past 12 months. He is playing really good. He finished Number HMRC

two in the World. He improved his game. Game. He improved his forearm.

I will try to do my best. Ferrera are expected at 3.3 o 0pm tomorrow

morning after Britain's Johanna Konta plays her quarter-final

against the Chinese qualifier. It could be quite a week indeed for

British tennis here Down Under. Shetland's world famous celebration

of its Viking heritage is building The highlight of the Up Helly Aa

fire festival is the torchlit procession through Lerwick,

and the burning of a replica galley. The organisers are hoping

the weather will improve Up Helly Aa starts in Lerwick with a

parade through the streets. This is Up Helly Aa starts in Lerwick with a

the first time the public gets to see this year's costumes and it's

the first time the public gets to arousing start to the world-famous

fire festival. These are the men around whom Lerwick rotates for the

next 24-hours. They parade, they feast, they are greeted by a civic

reception and visit schools, hospitals, care centres and the like

often meeting people who would have difficulty getting outside to see

them in action. Since it began a in the 1880s has never caused Up Helly

Aa to be called off or delayed it. It has been a wet and windy start to

this year's festival. It has lived up to my expectations. It's been

great. The boys are doing me proud. Carry on. Exclude the weather and

carry on. Carry on he does, as do the hundreds of locals and visitors

who have turned out to watch so far. People are Hardy here, as far as the

weather is concerned, they just don't let that affect them. You

know, it's a lot of fun. -- hardy. The weather, you forget it's there.

The weather is meant to improve for the climax of the festival, the

torch-lit procession of almost 1,000 guys and the burning of the galley

after that it won't matter that much as the party continues indoors until

breakfast tomorrow. Hardy souls in Shetland. We can stay

with the weather. Christopher is here with the weather. Any sign a

let-up in the weather that has caused so much havoc? Yes, briefly.

Hello there plenty of rain and wind. One of our Weather K Wafflers

captured the scene in Aberfoyle. This evening will be dry, but the

rain will turn later -- Weather Watchers. There is a Met Office

warning in force. The rain will march northwards and falling as snow

as it meets the colder air on high ground to the north of the central

belt. Really quite grim conditions if you are journeying overnight on

high roads like the A9. Tomorrow the rain should clear through quickly. A

lot of standing water on the roads to deal with. By the afternoon

showers will arrive from the west as well. By mid afternoon a fairly

showery picture. The winds freshening from the west. Nothing as

strong as today. After a fairly light morning of wind it will ramp

up as we head through the day. Quite chilly as well at times, six or

seven Celsius in the north. Certainly the showers across the

highland region will be wintry perhaps down to low levels. It's

rain for Auckney and Shetland, breezy though from the west,

south-west. As we head through the rest of the afternoon into the

evening the showers will continue. We are dragging in colder air. The

risk of a few wintry showers further east and indeed further south.

Looking ahead towards Thursday. That showery westerly continues. Then, as

we head through towards Thursday evening, the weather front brings a

spell of heavier persistent rain. Thursday, a dry start to the east,

the showers coming in, again one or two wintry, that heavier rain

arriving as we head through towards the evening and lasting as we head

through Tiger Woods Friday morning too. That's the forecast. Sally.

Christopher, thank you very much, you have had a very long day.

I'll be back with the headlines at 8.00pm and the late bulletin just

Until then, from everyone on the team - right

across the country - have a very good evening.