:00:00. > :00:08.Theresa May launches the Scottish Conservative manifesto,
:00:09. > :00:16.saying she'll never let the union drift apart.
:00:17. > :00:19.We will have reaction from the other parties.
:00:20. > :00:28.The college lecturers' dispute is resolved.
:00:29. > :00:30.Scallop fishermen are banned from a Highland loch where dredging
:00:31. > :00:35.Could Celtic make history this weekend as the first Scots side
:00:36. > :00:38.to complete an undefeated league season since the 19th century?
:00:39. > :00:40.And billionaire philanthropist Andrew Carnegie is remembered
:00:41. > :00:59.with the opening of a new complex in his hometown, Dunfermline.
:01:00. > :01:01.The Prime Minister has promised a personal campaign
:01:02. > :01:03.to preserve Scotland's place in the United Kingdom.
:01:04. > :01:06.After launching the Scottish Conservative manifesto in Edinburgh,
:01:07. > :01:08.Theresa May told BBC Scotland there was more to the union
:01:09. > :01:15.She said, "We are at heart one people".
:01:16. > :01:18.But opponents say Tory policies are divisive and damaging.
:01:19. > :01:26.This from our political editor Brian Taylor.
:01:27. > :01:35.Ruth Davidson said the Tories want to bring the SNP down to size, to
:01:36. > :01:41.curb Nicola Sturgeon's ambitions. That is to send the SNP a clear and
:01:42. > :01:46.unequivocal message. No to their unwanted plan for another referendum
:01:47. > :01:50.on independence. To do that, she needs a little help. She claimed
:01:51. > :01:57.Labour was engaged in civil war and urged Labour voters to switch. In
:01:58. > :01:59.swathes of the country it is only the Scottish Conservatives who are
:02:00. > :02:05.strong enough to take on the SNP, and in many places we can only win
:02:06. > :02:08.if you join us. The Prime Minister said that she would handle Brexit
:02:09. > :02:13.talks. She would consult Nicola Sturgeon but there was no place for
:02:14. > :02:17.the First Minister at the Brexit negotiation table. That was for the
:02:18. > :02:22.UK Government. The Tories say they would use cash returned from the EU
:02:23. > :02:26.for a shared prosperity fund, spreading resources across the UK. A
:02:27. > :02:29.promise no return to the Common Fisheries Policy, and they would
:02:30. > :02:33.support North Sea oil and gas. Although this is a UK election, the
:02:34. > :02:39.leader has also flagged up policies in devolved areas, education reform
:02:40. > :02:43.and house-building. I am now travelling with the Prime Minister
:02:44. > :02:47.across Scotland. Theresa May characterises contemporary politics
:02:48. > :02:52.as a journey. Step one, the best possible deal from Brexit. Step two,
:02:53. > :02:57.turn attention to the other union, the union of the United Kingdom.
:02:58. > :03:02.Theresa May says it is her personal priority to strengthen that union.
:03:03. > :03:05.Visiting an East Lothian all each firm, she said the UK worked for the
:03:06. > :03:13.economy but there was more to the union than that. As well as being an
:03:14. > :03:19.economic issue, is this an emotional issue for you as well? It is a
:03:20. > :03:23.personal priority for me. There are good economic arguments for the
:03:24. > :03:27.union but there are also, I think, the deep historic ties that we have.
:03:28. > :03:33.If you look across the United Kingdom, we are four nations but we
:03:34. > :03:37.are at heart one people. She declined to forecast how many
:03:38. > :03:41.Scottish seats the Tories will take, and sidestepped questions about how
:03:42. > :03:48.to measure wind Scotland might be ready for a second independence
:03:49. > :03:53.referendum. Brian Taylor joins me now from Edinburgh. Why are the
:03:54. > :03:59.Conservatives unwilling to spell that out. They do not want to say no
:04:00. > :04:04.to a referendum because they do not want to sound arrogant or
:04:05. > :04:09.undemocratic. But they set two criteria for the referendum, saying
:04:10. > :04:12.Icher be after Brexit is not just settled in negotiation terms but
:04:13. > :04:17.actually concluded and implemented. That could take several years. They
:04:18. > :04:22.say there should be a second criterion, the issue of popular
:04:23. > :04:25.consent. Theresa May was asked repeatedly at the news conference
:04:26. > :04:30.how you measure that. Is it opinion polls, is it the election is
:04:31. > :04:35.currently being held? The Tories declined to say. They are saying not
:04:36. > :04:41.now during Brexit, but in practice they hope it is not ever. They hope
:04:42. > :04:45.they can undermine, cajole people to turn away from the cause of
:04:46. > :04:51.independence from the cause of nationalism and towards the cause of
:04:52. > :04:54.unionism and the Conservative Party. They hope steadily over time to
:04:55. > :04:59.pre-empt the issue of an independence referendum returning.
:05:00. > :05:01.Naturally, there SNP opponents take a different view.
:05:02. > :05:03.Elsewhere on the campaign trail in Scotland, the other main
:05:04. > :05:05.parties have been attacking the Conservatives manifesto plans
:05:06. > :05:07.for social care, pensions and the winter fuel payment.
:05:08. > :05:21.Kezia Dugdale, being put to the test that Glasgow's Science Centre this
:05:22. > :05:27.morning. The Scottish Labour leader is keen to highlight the importance
:05:28. > :05:30.of subjects like technology and maps for Scotland's next generation, but
:05:31. > :05:35.attention quickly turned to the older, and the Conservative
:05:36. > :05:39.manifesto plans for less pension protection. This is a slash and burn
:05:40. > :05:44.manifesto from the Tories which will Britt apart the fabric of society.
:05:45. > :05:48.If you want to protect pensions, those benefits we invest in through
:05:49. > :05:53.the tax system, it is only the Labour Party placed to do that.
:05:54. > :05:58.Meanwhile, in Moffat, Nicola Sturgeon was seeing double, but the
:05:59. > :06:02.triple lock was on her mind, too. The First Minister says the SNP
:06:03. > :06:06.should be in the driving seat at Westminster to stand up
:06:07. > :06:10.Conservatives. The benefit freeze, the removal of support from disabled
:06:11. > :06:14.people, these are leading to what has been described as the greatest
:06:15. > :06:17.increase inequality since Margaret Thatcher. The reason there are no
:06:18. > :06:24.costings is because they don't want to talk about the reality. He has
:06:25. > :06:28.been to the butcher, the baker, and now the candlemaker. Willie Rennie
:06:29. > :06:31.continued his quirky campaign. The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader
:06:32. > :06:39.also took time today to condemn the Conservative plans. It is a
:06:40. > :06:43.cold-hearted, mean-spirited approach by the Conservatives. By cutting
:06:44. > :06:46.back on social care and free school meals, cutting back on pensions, it
:06:47. > :06:51.is going to damage the living standards of people who need
:06:52. > :06:55.support. With less than three weeks until you go to the polls, it seems
:06:56. > :07:01.these party leaders have found some common ground.
:07:02. > :07:08.Within the past hour, a deal has been struck to end the college
:07:09. > :07:12.lecturers strike. Lecturers were Jude to walk out of three days next
:07:13. > :07:18.week. Jamie MacColl I've joins me. What can you tell us? This had
:07:19. > :07:21.escalated into the most serious industrial action in Scottish
:07:22. > :07:25.education for 30 years, and at its heart was a dispute over pay.
:07:26. > :07:29.Lecturers were angry that a deal reached last year to help equalise
:07:30. > :07:33.pay at different colleges across Scotland had not been put into
:07:34. > :07:38.practice. The colleges argued that pay could not be separated from
:07:39. > :07:42.conditions. We have seen six strikes in recent weeks and that was due to
:07:43. > :07:46.escalate to a three-day strike next week today, intensive talks took
:07:47. > :07:51.place to try to head off next week's strike. A breakthrough happened, an
:07:52. > :07:56.agreement has been reached in principle and the strike is now off.
:07:57. > :08:00.Some of the details have still to be finalised but the crucial bit is
:08:01. > :08:04.that lecturers will get their pay rise. But talks lie ahead when it
:08:05. > :08:08.comes to sorting out differences in hours and holidays across the
:08:09. > :08:12.country. But the crucial bit is that lecturers will get their pay
:08:13. > :08:16.increase, the strike is over and this will be a huge relief to many
:08:17. > :08:25.students who had been becoming increasingly concerned as exams and
:08:26. > :08:28.deadlines approached. A key associate of Craig Whyte has
:08:29. > :08:31.revealed that could have been misleading not to have revealed the
:08:32. > :08:35.role of a ticket firm in the takeover. He was questioned about
:08:36. > :08:40.cash flow projections made ahead of the buyout years ago. The
:08:41. > :08:44.involvement of picketers, said to have helped fund the deal, was
:08:45. > :08:46.removed. Craig Whyte denies fraud by pretending he was buying Rangers
:08:47. > :08:49.with his own money. Scallop fishermen have been banned
:08:50. > :08:52.from a Highland loch after a rare The emergency move follows
:08:53. > :08:55.an investigation into damage caused to the flame-shell reef
:08:56. > :08:57.on Loch Carron near Plockton. Our environment correspondent
:08:58. > :09:09.Kevin Keane reports. This is scallop dredging, a
:09:10. > :09:12.legitimate industry, key to the economy of communities along the
:09:13. > :09:17.West Coast, but this sector is often in conflict with local creel boats,
:09:18. > :09:22.and now conservationists. In a single go, one dredger caused huge
:09:23. > :09:27.damage to this rare flame shell reef. It should be buzzing with
:09:28. > :09:32.marine life, but instead Starfish had arms torn off, and broken shells
:09:33. > :09:35.scatter the sea bed. As a result, an emergency marine protected area has
:09:36. > :09:41.been declared, which makes dredging here banned. It was not completely
:09:42. > :09:46.destroyed. Part of it was destroyed but much of it was still intact, so
:09:47. > :09:52.this will allow that to recover. We will take measures over the period
:09:53. > :09:56.to make this area permanent. The reef is rare but not unique. The
:09:57. > :10:02.restrictions imposed today cover only the one at this site. There is
:10:03. > :10:07.now much concerned that others close by remain unprotected. It is not
:10:08. > :10:12.enough, simply not enough. It is one area of our inshore waters. And
:10:13. > :10:17.everyone knows that we are not managing our inshore waters as well
:10:18. > :10:20.as we should be. Local fishermen tell me it is unusual but not
:10:21. > :10:25.unheard of to dredge for scallops in this part. But they emphasise that
:10:26. > :10:30.the fishermen responsible for the damage were doing nothing illegal.
:10:31. > :10:33.The Scottish Government says it is urgently looking at other sites, to
:10:34. > :10:36.see whether they also need closing off.
:10:37. > :10:39.A new system of training medical staff at the Royal Hospital
:10:40. > :10:41.for Sick Children in Edinburgh is saving money
:10:42. > :10:44.The mother of one young girl who was treated under
:10:45. > :10:46.the new programme says it saved her daughter's life.
:10:47. > :11:01.In a training room, a dummy is wired up to monitors. He is programmed to
:11:02. > :11:05.assimilate a child with a deteriorating medical condition. He
:11:06. > :11:09.was brought to the emergency department... A specialist team is
:11:10. > :11:16.briefed on the background. Now they can respond to a call from the ward.
:11:17. > :11:20.This is a PET in action, a paediatric emergency team. We want
:11:21. > :11:24.to recognise the problem, start treatment and escalate as quickly as
:11:25. > :11:28.possible to get the most senior and appropriately trained people into
:11:29. > :11:32.the room. We managed to show that by generating that culture in the
:11:33. > :11:34.hospital, whether the team are there or not, that behaviour in the
:11:35. > :11:42.doctors reduces unexpected admissions. That is the training
:11:43. > :11:47.over and the staff are going through a debrief. This training takes place
:11:48. > :11:51.across Scotland roughly about once a year. The difference here is that it
:11:52. > :11:54.is taking place once a week, and it is bringing together staff from
:11:55. > :11:59.different departments. There is a cost involved, around ?75,000 a
:12:00. > :12:06.year, but this study has found that the savings are potentially more
:12:07. > :12:12.than ten times that. At home, cuddled up with mum, five-year-old
:12:13. > :12:18.Natalia. She has long-term medical conditions and has to spend many
:12:19. > :12:20.nights in hospital. Her mum, Ashley, recalls the night a paediatric
:12:21. > :12:25.emergency team operating under the new system was called for her. They
:12:26. > :12:32.did lots of things, giving her oxygen, antibiotics. It still wasn't
:12:33. > :12:38.helping. And within a couple of hours she was in intensive care. If
:12:39. > :12:43.they were not as quick at getting her into intensive care, she might
:12:44. > :12:46.not be here today. As well as the cost savings, the doctors behind the
:12:47. > :12:52.trial say that there is clear evidence that the number of deaths
:12:53. > :12:57.also dropped. In the year before we introduced it, we had seven kids
:12:58. > :13:02.tying after getting more and well on the wards. And in the two one-year
:13:03. > :13:07.periods after, we had two each. Small numbers, but they clear trend.
:13:08. > :13:11.It is difficult to prove it scientifically from one study in one
:13:12. > :13:16.hospital, because lots of factors can come into that. Doctors are
:13:17. > :13:21.analysing how the findings can be used in other units across Scotland.
:13:22. > :13:26.Theresa May promises to not let the union drift
:13:27. > :13:30.apart as she launches the Scottish Conservative manifesto.
:13:31. > :13:34.Former Great British Olympian Zola Budd gears up
:13:35. > :13:41.for the first Stirling Marathon on Sunday.
:13:42. > :13:44.Now we return to the general election, and tonight we're
:13:45. > :13:47.Aberdeen, with its dependence on the offshore industry,
:13:48. > :13:50.has been suffering from the sharp drop in the oil price,
:13:51. > :13:53.although in recent months there have been some signs of recovery.
:13:54. > :13:55.In his latest report, our political correspondent
:13:56. > :13:58.Nick Eardley has been to the Aberdeen North constituency,
:13:59. > :14:13.A city synonymous with oil and gas, an industry which brought wealth and
:14:14. > :14:18.jobs. But after a slump in the price of oil, one in which some have been
:14:19. > :14:24.left struggling. Like here. This food bank is one of nearly 40 in
:14:25. > :14:30.Aberdeen and it is getting busier. A lot more than we used to get. It is
:14:31. > :14:38.kept going by volunteers. They also sell donated items to locals. A food
:14:39. > :14:44.bank varies between 20-25, up to excess of 50 individuals on a daily
:14:45. > :14:51.basis. This time last year we were doing up to 100 food parcels a week.
:14:52. > :14:56.We can now do up to 170. He blames welfare changes for rising demand.
:14:57. > :15:00.It is to do with the ?20,000 benefit cap on families which stops them
:15:01. > :15:05.claiming in excess of ?20,000. It has reduced a lot of payments for
:15:06. > :15:10.people and reduced their disposable income. We put John's views to the
:15:11. > :15:15.Conservative candidate. They have seen a big spike in demand. We
:15:16. > :15:19.obviously want to support families and the caps were introduced because
:15:20. > :15:24.we want to ensure that people are encouraged to go to work, and that
:15:25. > :15:29.is why we want to improve job opportunities for people. She is one
:15:30. > :15:33.of those trying to unseat the SNP's Kirsty Blackman. The welfare state
:15:34. > :15:36.should be a safety net and it is not catching those people. The economy
:15:37. > :15:41.is clearly not working for everybody. The weekly shop is much
:15:42. > :15:46.more expensive than previously while wages are not rising. They don't
:15:47. > :15:50.feel the economy is working for them. But is it working for others?
:15:51. > :15:55.We travelled along union Street to speak to a local business owner. It
:15:56. > :15:58.has been a tough time with the downturn in oil and gas. We are
:15:59. > :16:03.still a popular venue but we are not getting the customers we used to
:16:04. > :16:07.before. Until the last election, Labour held this seat since the
:16:08. > :16:13.1930s. Labour has always been on the side of working folk and that is our
:16:14. > :16:16.pitch again. A ?10 minimum wage, investment in education, more money
:16:17. > :16:22.in the NHS, which will trickle to Scotland. Substantial cuts in some
:16:23. > :16:30.people's wages, but they still have the same bills to pay. But we need
:16:31. > :16:35.to look at a much wider economy. Did you have anything in mind?
:16:36. > :16:38.Diversification is a buzzword and Dean Walker is something of an
:16:39. > :16:44.expert, retraining oil and gas workers to cut. I think they are
:16:45. > :16:50.glad not to be just relying on the oil and gas sector, and it being as
:16:51. > :16:56.vulnerable as it can be and how quickly it can change. How is
:16:57. > :17:03.business? Fantastic. Would you say the economy was working for you?
:17:04. > :17:07.Absolutely. At the food bank, the views on diversification are echoed
:17:08. > :17:11.by John is less optimistic about the future. I am not sure about the
:17:12. > :17:15.economy in Aberdeen. I can only see it getting worse.
:17:16. > :17:17.There are five candidates in the Aberdeen North constituency.
:17:18. > :17:26.You can find more information on the BBC Scotland News website.
:17:27. > :17:29.The Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says the club is on the brink of
:17:30. > :17:31."a unique bit of history" this weekend.
:17:32. > :17:34.If the champions don't lose at home to Hearts on Sunday,
:17:35. > :17:36.the Parkhead side will complete an undefeated league season
:17:37. > :17:41.in Scotland's top division. That hasn't been done since 1899.
:17:42. > :17:53.Another day, another set of awards for Celtic. This time, the sponsor
:17:54. > :17:57.'s manager and Player of the Year. No prizes for Sotec's greatest win
:17:58. > :18:04.last night, just plaudits. That's magnificent! What a golfer Patrick
:18:05. > :18:07.Roberts. In particular for Patrick Roberts, due to return to parent
:18:08. > :18:14.club Manchester City, his captain would love him to stay. Yeah,
:18:15. > :18:18.definitely. He's a top quality player, he's young. He's got a lot
:18:19. > :18:22.of learning to do as well, but he will get better and better. Roberts
:18:23. > :18:28.hasn't been the only Celtic star this season, Scott Sinclair made
:18:29. > :18:31.quite an impact on his debut on day one. There was the Dembele Derby,
:18:32. > :18:35.when a hat-trick humbled Rangers. After the League Cup was won in
:18:36. > :18:38.November, the league title was wrapped up before Easter, 45 matches
:18:39. > :18:46.in all domestic petitions, no defeats. On a point of creating a
:18:47. > :18:51.unique bit of history, the players are very much focused on performing,
:18:52. > :18:55.like we have been all season. There is a consequence to playing well and
:18:56. > :18:59.winning. And for us, that will be the focus and the result of that,
:19:00. > :19:04.hopefully, will be that we goes the season unbeaten. This weekend
:19:05. > :19:08.promises to be a record-breaking one for Celtic on several fronts if they
:19:09. > :19:12.can win. They two short of a new goals record and a victory away from
:19:13. > :19:19.the most points in a season, and the most wins. So this group of players
:19:20. > :19:24.is one match away from a piece of sporting history. Arsenal did it in
:19:25. > :19:29.England in 2004, but not since the early days of football in the 1890s
:19:30. > :19:33.have the Scottish champions gone through an entire season without
:19:34. > :19:39.losing a match. That stat might need to be updated on Sunday afternoon.
:19:40. > :19:42.The city of Stirling will host its first marathon on Sunday,
:19:43. > :19:44.and there's a reunion taking place between two legends of the sport.
:19:45. > :19:47.South African born Zola Budd competed for Great Britain
:19:48. > :19:49.in the 1980s, often against Scotland's Commonwealth
:19:50. > :19:54.The rivals will meet on the start line again, for the first time
:19:55. > :20:01.in over two decades. Rhona McLeod reports.
:20:02. > :20:08.Put that behind you and I might start fast! All joking aside, the
:20:09. > :20:13.start may not be as fast as before, but these two women are serious in
:20:14. > :20:19.their intentions for the Stirling Marathon. Zola Budd was the
:20:20. > :20:24.controversial import to the British team for the Los Angeles Olympic
:20:25. > :20:30.Games in 1984, and that drama was followed by another as America's
:20:31. > :20:35.sweetheart went tumbling. Dekker is down! The World Champion and one of
:20:36. > :20:39.the favourites is now flat out on the infield. Now aged 50, Zola
:20:40. > :20:43.coaches at an American university, her running is for fun, and the
:20:44. > :20:46.Stirling Marathon presented a unique appeal. I jumped at the chance
:20:47. > :20:52.because of the history. I love history. To be able to run in an
:20:53. > :20:56.environment like this, it is really privileged. People are spoiled by
:20:57. > :21:03.being around this history, and they don't really appreciate it as much a
:21:04. > :21:06.someone like me from somewhere else, and not having access to this. I
:21:07. > :21:09.mean, this is amazing. So what about long-time rival Liz McColgan, the
:21:10. > :21:14.ultimate competitor? Who will have bragging rights for the over 50s
:21:15. > :21:18.soup but that title? Gone are the days when I am worried about who I
:21:19. > :21:26.beat. I am more worried about having gel in my hair now! I just want to
:21:27. > :21:29.go round and enjoy it. For me, personally, because I was an elite
:21:30. > :21:32.athlete, you don't get the same enjoyment because everything is so
:21:33. > :21:38.focused on winning, you missed the fun side of it. For me, personally,
:21:39. > :21:43.to go out and enjoy that aspect of it, it will be amazing. You are
:21:44. > :21:48.going to be lining up alongside Liz McColgan, is there any rivalry at
:21:49. > :21:56.all, a tiny bit, perhaps? I think the marathon is a discipline that
:21:57. > :22:01.teaches you humility. I still have that apprehension, will I finish
:22:02. > :22:11.not? Is it going to be OK or not? Yes, I respect the distance. 6500
:22:12. > :22:13.will respect the distance on Sunday, but there are views and plenty of
:22:14. > :22:17.history along the way. The story of the philanthropist
:22:18. > :22:22.billionaire Andrew Carnegie is remembered with the opening
:22:23. > :22:24.of a new complex in Dunfermline, As well as the world's
:22:25. > :22:29.first Carnegie Library, it houses a museum, galleries
:22:30. > :22:32.and reading rooms. And while it bears
:22:33. > :22:33.the industrialist's name, it also celebrates other people
:22:34. > :22:36.from the town who've gone Our arts correspondent
:22:37. > :22:49.Pauline McLean reports. This is the first public library
:22:50. > :22:55.Andrew Carnegie built. Opened in 1883 in the town where he was born,
:22:56. > :23:00.it was the first of 2500 built worldwide in his name. But now this
:23:01. > :23:04.19th-century treasure is at the heart of a 21st century complex,
:23:05. > :23:08.which brings all the town's cultural collections under one roof. There's
:23:09. > :23:13.a really rich history and heritage here. This building is a fantastic
:23:14. > :23:17.building, but what happens in the building is important. It is about
:23:18. > :23:21.the library, but also telling the Dunfermline story, telling the story
:23:22. > :23:24.of the people of Dunfermline, whether that is the history we have
:23:25. > :23:30.gathered in, which is so rich, or the objects on display. From Kings
:23:31. > :23:34.to musicians, the town has many different stories to tell. Even if
:23:35. > :23:41.some of them are surprised to find themselves in a museum. It makes you
:23:42. > :23:50.feel old. You are in a museum! I am really chuffed. This was where the
:23:51. > :23:58.band was born. We formed here, we are named here. We are Dunfermline.
:23:59. > :24:01.We still live here. There is even a thread running between the local
:24:02. > :24:08.mill and the Queen's wedding dress, silk made in secret in 1947. She
:24:09. > :24:12.turned up for work one day, the bosses said, you are not doing your
:24:13. > :24:15.normal work, Barbara, sit at the loom, there is an extra bowl of
:24:16. > :24:20.water and cloth, keep your hands extra clean. She says she only
:24:21. > :24:26.discovered she was making special silk when she received an invitation
:24:27. > :24:29.to the wedding. Ten years in the planning, the complex is already
:24:30. > :24:33.open for business, but local school children were among the first to
:24:34. > :24:35.visit. They heard stories of the people that made their town and took
:24:36. > :24:38.its name around the world. Time for the weekend
:24:39. > :24:50.weather forecast. It has been sunny for some of us
:24:51. > :24:54.today, but most of us have had fairly cloudy skies with drizzle
:24:55. > :24:58.down the east coast. You can see more clearly on the satellite
:24:59. > :25:01.picture, there is the strip of sunshine around the west Coast.
:25:02. > :25:05.Elsewhere, cloudy, and rain affecting eastern parts of the
:25:06. > :25:09.country as well. As we head through the next few hours, that wet weather
:25:10. > :25:14.edging westwards. The few showers across the south-west as well. As we
:25:15. > :25:19.head overnight, cloudy and increasingly damp with outbreaks of
:25:20. > :25:23.rain, mist and Merc to Shetland and at times around the closed as well.
:25:24. > :25:28.Not a cold night, around eight Celsius in towns and cities. What it
:25:29. > :25:37.means is, starting the weekend, it is cloudy and dank. For the central
:25:38. > :25:40.lowlands, northwards, brain in first light, central belt southwards, a
:25:41. > :25:46.cloudy start, but as we head through the afternoon, more bright and sunny
:25:47. > :25:51.spells. But fairly frequent and at times heavy showers, a rumble of
:25:52. > :25:55.thunder in the mix. By mid afternoon, around 4pm, sunshine
:25:56. > :26:02.coming through, particularly through South Ayrshire towards Kintyre, but
:26:03. > :26:05.eastwards, it could be heavy. North and central lowlands, likely to
:26:06. > :26:13.still be fairly cloudy at this point with fairly light and patchy rain,
:26:14. > :26:17.but persistent nonetheless. We will start to see an improvement as the
:26:18. > :26:21.rain pulls away. It will be a slow process. Wind freshening in the
:26:22. > :26:25.east. If you are walking or climbing more than Rangers, cloudy and damp.
:26:26. > :26:33.The wind is light coming from the west. Temperatures there around
:26:34. > :26:37.four. A number of heavy showers develop, the odd rumble of thunder
:26:38. > :26:41.but bright spells interspersed, too. The rest of the afternoon into the
:26:42. > :26:45.evening and overnight, showers still with us. But sunshine to end the day
:26:46. > :26:50.across the south-west quadrant of the country. The general theme as we
:26:51. > :26:54.head overnight toward Sunday, low pressure responsible for Saturday's
:26:55. > :26:57.whether pulling away, high-pressure starting tonight in from the
:26:58. > :27:05.continent. For most of us, Sunday is a better day whether - wise.
:27:06. > :27:11.Clouding over by the afternoon and a little weather front tickling the
:27:12. > :27:12.west Coast. East of that, unsettled, but on balance, Sunday is better
:27:13. > :27:17.than Saturday. That is the forecast. Now, a reminder of
:27:18. > :27:19.tonight's main news: Sweden drops a long running rape
:27:20. > :27:22.investigation into the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange,
:27:23. > :27:26.he calls it an important victory. And Theresa May launches
:27:27. > :27:28.the Scottish Conservative manifesto, saying she'll never let
:27:29. > :27:30.the union drift apart. I'll be back with the headlines
:27:31. > :27:39.at 8pm and the late bulletin just Until then, from everyone
:27:40. > :27:42.on the team around and across the country,
:27:43. > :27:44.have a very good evening.