16/05/2017 Reporting Scotland

On Election Reporting Scotland tonight.

Labour launch their UK Manifesto but what does it mean for Scotland?

The SNP celebrate 10 years in power at Holyrood.

Plus we're on the campaign trail with the Liberal Democrats

Bedtime soon but not before your nightly guide

We're here until 8th of June covering the campaign

Today felt a bit like Groundhog Day with the official launch

Thanks to last week's leak it sounded a bit familiar.

And in case you hadn't noticed, today also marked

Here's our Political Editor Brian Taylor.

One among many, crazier Dugdale joined Jeremy Corbyn to launch the

Labour manifesto. On stage the court tax-and-spend offer plus the public

ownership of real and Royal Mail and renews trident and supports gas and

ownership of real and Royal Mail and constitutional Convention for the

UK. Jeremy Corbyn stands firmly against independence because of the

yesterday it would bring. 15,000,000,000 lb of additional

cuts. We stand against austerity and understand the damage it can do.

Nicola Sturgeon rejects that forecast.

Today marking a decade in devolved power.

Today is a very special day for the SNP.

She says Scotland needs the SNP again at Westminster to counter

Conservative austerity and die-hard Brexit.

She says Labour has lifted policies like free tuition fees from the SNP,

I don't think anyone believes Labour is going to be in government

and so the question for Scotland is how to best protect Scotland

against an increasingly hardline Tory government at Westminster

that we know would like to impose more cuts and more austerity

and we can only do that by sending strong SNP MPs to Westminster

In Dumfries Ruth Davidson decries Labour's recipe.

She says the financial plans would leave a bad taste and she says

Labour is still not firm enough on the Union.

People across Scotland know that the party that will stand up

for the decision that we made as a country and that will tell

Nicola Sturgeon to think again is the Scottish Conservatives.

Cheery fun here, but he reckons that Labour's offer is simply a mess.

Labour are not capable of providing a competent opposition in this

country and that is very clear from the performance

of Jeremy Corbyn and he doesn't seem to know his positions on Brexit

What we need is a clear and a compassionate and fair voice,

a competent voice for our country and the Liberal Democrats

Labour will launch the Scottish manifesto next week.

We've got a panel of top pundits tonight to discuss

I'm joined in the studio by Paul McNamee - the UK Editor

of the Big Issue and the SNP activist Suzanne McLaughlin.

In Edinburgh tonight is Duncan Hothersall,

here is the Labour manifesto. A traditional fixture of the campaign

and the matter to the politicians and the media, the public here?

Absolutely. I think it is always a mistake to underestimate voters.

They are not stupid. They absolutely care and I actually think this is an

interesting manifesto. It has people talking. Is this the recognisable to

people in Scotland because they already have most of these policies

in Scotland. Put in place by the Scottish Government. I think people

care about is when you are on the doorsteps and talking to people and

meetings, the care about a way out poverty and austerity, that is what

they want. The people of Scotland are lucky enough that there is hope

and a way out. I think this is a step forward for people and the rest

of the UK. It was Jeremy Corbyn's big moment to sign after the leak

last week Digital out of? I thought it was very competent and he spoke

without tripping up and he got through all the policies that we

knew were coming. It's not a ringing endorsement. The thing with Jeremy

Corbyn is that today there are a lot of policies that people like. Nobody

is going to argue about trying to do more for the health service or

education, or workers in low income. Nobody is going to argue with any of

that. There might be an appetite for higher taxes for higher earners and

that agenda but the bottom line is it doesn't matter. He is not good to

get elected. There is a certain amount of a dance going on here and

I think it is fascinating because Jeremy Corbyn obviously at some

place in his heart of hearts I am guessing knows he is not good to be

prime ministers saw what he is doing essentially a sitting at an agenda

for the next people coming along seeing as you go to be this labour

that people want even if they didn't want me? That is the crucial

question, can you believe in this manner as prime ministers? Did he at

least close the credibility gap? I think he has had a terrific few

least close the credibility gap? I weeks in the campaign. I think he

has presented a very solid and strong Labour set of policies and I

think probably for people in Scotland the critical statement in

that manifesto is the clear opposition to independence as to a

second referendum. We have a situation in Scotland and the

general election the Conservatives and the S are essentially

polarising the country. We have to move past constitutional politics

and reset that line, we have had the referendum and you move onto other

things. Applicant a really strong set of Labour policies. He has

clarified the constitutional question, Labour opposes a second

referendum, it is unwanted and unnecessary. A clear no to that of

its also a promise to set up a People's Constitutional Convention

its also a promise to set up a to consider the option of a more

federal UK. Is that kicking devolution powers into the long

grass? Let's be clear, policies are all one thing but you have to enact

them and you have to be empowered to do that. This federalism issue, we

have Jamie Cobham pondering it and people don't believe Labour any

more. Didn't believe Jeremy Corbyn to be any position to enact any

progressive policies. The people in Scotland want that they have one

choice and that is SNP. Stronger for Scotland or the way. Jeremy Corbyn

is a Democrat and he is playing the game to a certain degree, she has to

say this to pander to middle England but the subtle fact of the matter is

that she is a Democrat and he is not to ignore the will of the Scottish

climate. She also has to walk a taken on Trident, renewal supported

by the National manifesto but still opposed by the party in Scotland.

And also it was a slightly wishy-washy approval because he also

said he wants to talk about some kind of talks for multilateral

said he wants to talk about some disarmament globally so it is

something he has never quite got hold of because of his past and this

is the problem with the credibility of Jeremy Corbyn that has passed

each coming back or just on one point there, the idea that the only

alternative at the SNP, I think that is slightly troublesome because we

need a full rainbow of approach and ideas rather than just one kind of a

monolithic organisation. Duncan, the ideas rather than just one kind of a

Trident issue, how are they going to ground this problem with London and

the Labour manifesto? People and the labour movement have always had a

range of views on this issue, and I think what is interesting in the

discussion is this criticism that if you do take the view that Labour

can't win the election, not a view I take, you can then put against

Labour the option of an SNP that is only standing and 59 out of 650

seats. Literally standing in 600 plus seats and could form a

Government. SNP isn't even trying to plus seats and could form a

form a Government so adamant that Labour mini couldn't win if you hold

that view, it was the S out of the water. Like very much.

More from the campaign trail coming up, but first Suzanne Allen has

After the longest trial in UK criminal history, a husband and wife

Edwin McLaren from Renfrewshire was found guilty of property fraud

His wife Lorraine was convicted of mortgage fraud.

Some knew him as Adrian, David or Evan, his real

name is Edwin McLaren, and today he became

The homeowner thinks that he is paying money into her account.

But the court found he had sold her house -

little did she know he was not putting money in,

helping himself to the proceeds of the house sale.

This was an advert he put in the paper but he didn't

Instead of a loan until the house was sold in the future,

the court heard he had the trust of vulnerable people and told

them to sign documents and the house was his.

This woman said her father had a heart attack when he found out.

He just wants to curl up into a ball and die after what Edwin McLaren has

effectively done to him and as far as the family is concerned

Edwin McLaren is scum who basically preys on people

In the case of one couple Edwin McLaren turned up here,

at the cancer centre to get a document signed, the homeowner

said he was so weakened by his cancer treatment

that he did not even know what the document was.

It turns out that he and his wife were signing over their house.

Of the cases that made it to court, there were more than 30 victims,

the length of Scotland and one in England.

This is Edwin McLaren's own home with a yellow Bentley in the garage,

he lived there with his wife Lorraine who was also found guilty

of one count of fraud, both husband and wife

We had over 200 people involved in the investigation

and in my experience this is one of the most complex property

When this woman made an agreement with Edwin McLaren he called himself

Evan and she said she was struggling financially and also

As I say, I was really unwell, suicidal.

And then he came forward as quite a nice person.

And not this animal that he turned out to be.

Text messages between the conman and the homeowners are evidence

of how they had to beg for the money he hadn't paid them.

And today's verdict is not the end for the victims,

many have got to go to the civil court to try to get

Edwin and Lorraine McLaren now wait to hear their sentences.

Fiona Walker, reporting from Glasgow.

The Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown has told a court that former TV

weatherman Fred Talbot tried to sexually abuse his

friend on a camping trip to Scotland in the 1970s.

Mr Talbot denies assaulting several boys in Moffat

in Dumfries and Galloway and on the Caledonian

Edinburgh council has denied bullying property owners to recover

debts arising from the capital's controversial system

A number of owners claim officials have repeatedly brushed aside

concerns about work - typically worth hundreds

But the council say difficult cases have been independently reviewed

and insist their approach is reasonable.

in order, to suddenly receive a bill for ?24,000 was frightening.

In tennis, Andy Murray is out of the Italian Open

He lost 6-2, 6-4 to Italian player Fabio Fognini

The world number one has struggled in form since topping the rankings

He keeps his number one status despite being knocked out

That's all for now - back to Stephen.

As we saw earlier, the First Minister has been

marking a decade of SNP in power at Holyrood.

If a year is long time in politics, an awful lot can

Alex Salmond let out of his helicopter and into power. A

surprise result after years of Labour dominance in Scottish

politics, the SNP had a lot to prove. That is the end of. Meanwhile

at Westminster there was another changing of the guard as Tony Blair

stood down as Labour leader, to be succeeded by Gordon Brown. The

Liberal Democrats are elected a freshfaced young MP, Nick Clegg as

party leader. The day of the Scottish elections was also the D3

three-year-old Madeleine McCann was reported missing while on holiday in

Portugal. Ten years on, what happened to her remains a mystery.

The biggest news story of the year in Scotland was the failed terrorist

attack on Glasgow airport. A flaming car was driven into the terminal

entrance, five people were injured and the attacker died. It made a

tabloid star of John Smeaton. I personally ran up and attacked him

along with five people. And on television, we said goodbye to Jack

and Victor as the last series of still game was broadcast. Or was it?

That was then but this is no. -- now.

With me now our nightly political panel, this evening its Labour MSP

James Kelly and Lib Dem candidate Alan Reid, in Dundee

tonight Stewart Hosie - who's a candidate for the SNP -

and Conservative candidate and MSP Ross Thomson is in Aberdeen.

Welcome to you all, thank you for joining me. A big day for the SNP,

ten years in power. The Tories say you have peaked and the only way is

down, how will you prove them wrong and what will be the measure of your

success? We set out in 2015 to win the UK election in Scotland. We set

out in 2017 to win the UK election in Scotland. We are campaigning very

hard in every seat, the manifesto has not been launched yet but when

you see it it will be an exciting and vibrant proposition, a real

opposition to the deep austerity, more cuts and hard Tore Brexit

promised by to leave me and the Conservatives. More seats on the 8th

of June? I won up put a limit on it. I am convinced we will do very well

indeed. According to traditional political wisdom, the SNP should be

in decline after ten years and the opposition in ascendancy, instead of

that, you have collapsed as a party, quite a turnaround? After ten years

of the SNP in power, people will reflect on the division and the

obsession with the independence reflect on the division and the

referendum... How come they are doing so well and you are doing so

badly? There has been ?1.5 billion of SNP cuts, 4000 less teachers and

education, 1000 less support staff. People are fed up with the effing

Tories... We are sending a message to the SNP. -- fed up with the SN

PE. Even the gloomiest predictions suggest they are by far the biggest

party at the general election. The SNP no doubt will amend a good

number of seats but there is an opportunity across Scotland to send

a clear message to the First Minister that there are things to be

getting on with such as her so-called priority of education when

we have children leaving school who cannot do the basics of reading and

writing. The economy is on the brink of recession. The waiting time

targets forced hospitals are being breached. But Conservative to send a

message to the First Minister, ditch the referendum, forget the

divisiveness of the referendum. You are accepting there will be an SNP

landslide on the 8th of June? I think there will be a good number of

colleagues who will be joining David Mundell on the benches. Labour

collapse should leave space for effective opposition and that should

be you but it has turned out to be the Tories and said, what have you

done wrong? That is definitely an effective opposition in Scotland but

that is a large number of seats where the Liberal Democrats are

second to the SNP and we are confident that those people are fed

up with a second independence referendum and will vote for a

Liberal Democrat candidate... What are you basing that on because the

tide seems to be turning towards the Tories and not to you? Time after

time that people are saying they want to stop the SNP and the second

independence referendum and I am confident they will vote for the

candidate best placed to defeat the SNP and in several constituencies

that is the Liberal Democrats. Let us talk about the approach in

that is the Liberal Democrats. Let general terms, Bank of Scotland

growth showed a slight improvement but we remain behind the UK in terms

of business growth. Increasing corporation tax, hammering their

higher paid, how will that encourage their Scottish economy? Because the

central theme of the very successful man of Haass talks launched today is

the promotion of public services. -- successful man of five -- manifesto

launched today. There will be extra money for the Scottish project.

Every programme for education, reversing the cuts the SNP have made

we will produce skilled students who will contribute to a growing

Scottish economy. That is a positive action from a positive Labour

message today. You have considerable powers of attacks which you choose

not to use, is it time to use them? You heard the Finance Secretary this

week talking about the tax rates for future budgets. All this talk of

independence, the second independence rather ignores the fact

that this is a UK election. On the point of the labour kept -- launch

is that those in -- earning over ?50,000 should pay a tax of 50%

rather than 45%. I have never heard an argument to half the threshold so

that someone would be paying a tax rate design for multimillionaires. I

think Labour have got this wrong and I would like to see the back of the

cigarette packets on which the analysis which gives them a 6

million spent in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. He bundled them

altogether which shows the paucity of ambition Labour have for this

country. The top rate of tax used to be higher than what Labour are

proposing. Margaret Thatcher was prime minister then. Is there

anything wrong in principle with increasing tax when it is required?

I actually wasn't born in 1979 so I cannot remember those days. Take my

word for it. Jeremy Corbyn is bringing forward plans for 48

billion more in spending and the people will be paying for that and

that is the ordinary hard-working people and businesses in terms of

the huge hike in corporation tax which will put businesses of

investing and cost jobs. The very people Jeremy Corbyn says it wants

to help other ones he will hurt, ordinary hard-working people in

Aberdeen. You want to end the ordinary hard-working people in

sector pay cap, how much of the tax increase will go towards meeting

this pay cap? In Scotland, where income tax is devolved to the

Scottish Parliament, our policy is to spend it on education and mental

health because education standards have fallen badly in Scotland and

people, children for example are waiting 600 days for a mental health

assessment which is completely unacceptable so more money has to go

into education and mental health which is why we believe the Scottish

Parliament should increase tax. We're out of time no, thank you very

much for joining us today. -- time now.

Now just before we go, our image of the day.

It's not nice to laugh at a colleague so that's

This is the BBC's Ben Brown keeping viewers abreast of the situation

and getting a bit of a slap for his trouble.

And that's Election Reporting Scotland.

Tomorrow on the campaign trail Kezia Dugdale takes listeners

questions on BBC Radio Scotland and the Lib Dems launch their UK

Manifesto, plus there's childcare and ice cream.

Laura McIver is here tomorrow at 10.30 for all of that.

Good evening. The week ahead is fairly unsettled. Low pressure is

whirling around us at times. Longer spells of rain and breezy but

equally some sunshine, May sunshine is quite strong when it comes out.

To end the day, dry and cleared and chilly overnight. Much cooler than

my site. A dry and bright day. A few showers across the Hebrides with a

breeze. Around eight in the morning, temperatures are around ten or 11

Celsius, colder than this morning. Largely dry and bright but there

will be a few showers across the west coast but mainly in the

Hebrides. Winds generally light. Through the course of the day, it

will remain la -- largely dry and bright. The showers holdall in the

south-west, edging inland. A different story south of the border,

they have a lot of rain and it will be a wet day through the wheels, the

Midlands and Central and southern England. Humid temperatures in the

south-east. That rain will be with them for most of the day. For us and

for Northern Ireland it is a case of sunshine and showers. Showers are

few and far between tomorrow, focused on the north and north-west.

Temperatures down from today but pleasant with light winds. The rest

of the afternoon into the evening, little change for us but downsize

the rain remains, quite heavy in the Home Counties and East Anglia. Come

Thursday, sunshine across the board with