24/05/2017 Politics Scotland

Hello and welcome to Politics Scotland.

Coming up on the programme this afternoon...

With the UK now on a "critical" alert after the Manchester bomb -

security has been stepped up around the country.

We'll hear from the First Minister as she updates

Campaigning for the general election continues to be suspended -

we get the latest from Westminster and we'll update you with

Good afternoon - thanks for being with us today.

With me throughout the programme is Professor John Curtice.

Thank you for being with us. Much more from you later.

Firstly, let's go straight to Manchester - a city in mourning

after the attack at the Arena on Monday night, which claimed 22

Our reporter Rebecca Curran is there now.

Rebecca, can you update us on the situation where you are just now?

Yes. Firstly there have been three more arrests in Manchester today.

Police trying to establish whether or not the attacker was working

alone. We know they were made in the south of the city in the early hours

of this morning but I do the heart of Manchester city centre, we are at

St John's Square. All these people coming to leave floral tributes. All

of these tributes from Manchester Town Hall had been moved up and what

a sight to behold. They have been left here and put next to floral

tributes that were already here. People have been coming all day to

pay their respects and they have been writing messages both on the

concrete and they have been leaving messages on the statue behind me. If

I has but today said that despite how busy it is here it is so quiet.

People stand shoulder to shoulder not necessarily saying anything to

each other but just wanting to pay their respects. There are a team of

street pastors here as well. They say they are here to support to

anyone who might need it. I spoke to a woman and her 15-year-old daughter

hero they who were involved in the attack on Monday night. People were

starting to come out and be something would be coming soon and

so was just this huge bang. I can't even describe the sound of it. This

loudness that shook the whole building. People dropped and then

got to their feet and were running and screaming. Where me and my

friend had come out we were heading to the fore yet because that was the

exit. If we had left ten seconds earlier we wouldn't have been there

when it happened because we were two blocks away from it. Obviously we

are and in an increased security state at the moment. You don't have

to look far to see the extra officers here in Manchester city

centre. Two police were behind me on horseback. We have seen armed

officers today but people have seen many more. And above that there is a

huge number of police vehicle stall in the area and that huge cordon

remains around Manchester Arena. We have been told to expect that

increased police presence and more armed officers on the street and

both Prime Minister Theresa May and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

uphold the public they should not be unduly alarmed but to remain

vigilant. What is the latest on the two girls from Barra who were caught

up in the attack? We know that 15-year-old Laura MacIntyre from

Barra has been found alive in hospital. We learned that last

night. She is understood to being treated for serious injuries

including burns and her family who flew down from Barra are said to be

at her bedside. Unfortunately we don't have any more news about her

friend 14-year-old Elidh MacLeod. She remains unaccounted for. The two

girls had attended the concert together and hasn't been seen since.

Greater Manchester Police have said their officers are supporting Elidh

MacLeod's family. They can confirm at this point how many people remain

missing. Rebecca Curren in Manchester, thank you for all stop

Now, as we came on air the First Minister was just

finishing a statement and press briefing.

Presiding Officer I'm grateful for the opportunity to give parliament a

further update following the awful events in Manchester on Monday

night. In particular are thought to be appropriate to set up the

implications of the decision taken last night by JTAC the Joint

Terrorism Analysis Centre to raise the security threat level from

severe too critical. I received a briefing last night in the UK

Government national Security adviser on the reasons behind that decision.

I have spoken to him again within the last hour. Clearly it would not

be appropriate to go into detail into what is an ongoing

investigation. However the increase in the threat level is due to a

concerned that the attackers were carried out the atrocity at the

Manchester arena may not have been acting alone and that therefore it

is possible that is a further terrorist attack could be imminent.

However it is important to be very clear that it remains the case that

no specific threat to Scotland has been identified. In light of the

increase in the threat level I took the decision last thing to convene a

further meeting of the Scottish Government's resilience Committee.

That took place in the early hours of this morning involving the Deputy

First Minister, Justice Secretary, Lord of the Kent the Fire and Rescue

Service, Ambulance Service and the regional partnerships. . That was an

opportunity for us to discuss the immediate implications for Scotland

of the heightened security status. Clearly this is something that will

be kept under ongoing review, taking account of any intelligence

available to the police. As the Chief Constable indicated this

morning police Scotland have now established a multi agency

coordination centre, a governing police says -- station to lead

response across the country and with key partners. Over city centre later

this afternoon to see its operations from itself and receive first big

thing about the nature of the response. However I want outlined

today, as clearly as is possible at this stage, what some of the

practical consequences for Scotland are likely to be over the next few

days and what the public can expect to see. I know there have been media

discussion in particular about the use of military personnel to support

the police in their duties under what is known as Operation Temperer.

Operation Temperer is an established plan from mobilising military

support to the police service following a major terrorist attack.

The decision about whether to authorise it is a matter of the UK

Government. Operation Temperer as two distinct phases. The first phase

involves the deployment of the military to sites currently provided

with armed policing by Ministry of Defence Police and Civil Nuclear

Constabulary. This frees up those armed police officers to support

police forces across the UK. The second phase involves the deployment

of military personnel to support the police to guard specific sites under

the control and direction of the police. It is important to stress

Presiding Officer that at present only the first phase of Operation

Temperer has been authorised. What this means in Scotland is that

military personnel will be used at civil nuclear and Ministry of

Defence sites here in Scotland. There are a total of 12 subsites in

Scotland. Nine Ministry of Defence and three civil nuclear sites. These

sites, which are not accessible to be general public, will be secured

by the military as of today. The presence of military personnel at

sites of this nature but in Scotland and across the UK will free up the

armed police who are not normally on duty there and the Zampa police will

create a tendency resource which can be deployed across the UK. Any

decision to make use of that contingency resource in Scotland

would be for the Chief Constable. However police Scotland have no

plans at this stage to do so. They have confirmed that they have

reviewed security across Scotland to ensure that the right level of

policing is in place and that they can provide that level of policing

from within their own resources. This is of course something that

will be kept under review by Police Scotland. It is important to point

out that they have made significant progress in the last year to around

600 trained firearms officers in Scotland. They have also increased

the number of officers on duty at any one time. As they moved to

critical, police Scotland has effectively doubled the number of

armed response vehicles on patrol since Monday night. It is likely the

public will see more armed policing in future, particularly at transport

hubs and around city centre. However, and it is maybe worth

stressing at this point given the understandable attention that

Operation Temperer is receiving, we do not currently envisaged that

military personnel will be deployed on the street in Scotland or in

other public locations. However as with all operational matters this

will be kept under review by the Chief Constable. As I said, a moment

ago, it is likely that the duration of the increased threat level the

public will see more armed police on the streets than usual. Particularly

around transport hubs and city centres. I want to be clear that

this represents a specific response to the increased threat level

following the Manchester attack. The threat level is kept under review

and is only kept at this level as long as an attack is judged to be

imminent. Therefore it should not indicate a more general of long-term

shift in Scotland to having armed police on regular patrol. As I said

yesterday the police are also completing a review of the public

event due to take place over the next few weeks. This includes a full

review together with the Scottish football Association of this we

can's Scottish cup final to ensure that there is an appropriate

deployment of police and stewards. This work is ongoing and the other

major events being assessed include the visit on Friday of President

Obama, the Edinburgh Marathon due to take place this weekend and the

Lisbon Lions memorial event in Glasgow. In addition guidance is

being issued to organisers of all large events. I want to stress that

the aim here of the police is to allow public events to continue as

far as possible as normal. However the public should anticipate

additional safety measures at these events and these measured is Mike

include full body and bike searches and the presence of armed police.

For that reason as well as urging people to cooperate with the

measures I urge people to leave extra time if they are going to an

event or travelling through an airport train station. In all of

this very clear aim is to strike a balance between protecting public

safety and ensuring that day-to-day life goes on as normal. These

enhanced security measures are part of how we aim to do that. As always

the public have a role to play as well. A message to the public is

this. This is clearly a very anxious time but there is no need to be

alarmed. Many of the steps that are being taken now are precautionary. I

repeat, there is no intelligence of a specific threat to Scotland.

However I do love the public to be vigilant and to report any concerns

or suspicions that they may have today police. Presiding Officer,

before I finish today I also want to provide a further update to the

chamber on the specific impact on Monday night's awful events. My

thoughts and I am sure there everyone in the chamber remain with

the families of those who have lost their lives, those victims who were

injured and with the people of Manchester more generally. I can

advise the chamber that Police Scotland family liaison officers are

now currently in Manchester providing support to the families of

Lori McIntire and Elidh MacLeod from Barratt toss Laura MacIntyre. There

is significant information in the media about the condition of flora.

However the families have requested privacy at this time and I do not

intend to go into any further detail today. Supportable continue to be

provided to them at this unimaginably different -- difficult

time. They will want to know they are very much in our thoughts. More

widely we know that in total seven people have presented at hospitals

in Scotland. However I am pleased to report that all have been since

discharge from hospital. It is possible that other people who

witnessed the terror attack or its immediate aftermath have returned to

Scotland and are feeling stressed or upset. Anyone with concerns about

themselves or their children should contact their GP for support. Health

boards have been reissued with an commission providing guidance to

adults and children who have witnessed traumatic events. As I

mentioned in my statement yesterday the events of Monday night were

upsetting for all of us but they may have been especially upsetting for

young people. So this is a time to ensure that parents and teachers

talk to children about any concerns they have. We remain in contact with

education Scotland to provide the support they need for those

competitions. As a said earlier on I know that this is an anxious time

for everybody across the UK. My message is that people should be

vigilant but not alarmed. The steps I have been describing today are

precautionary. Most importantly of all people should continue to go

about their day-to-day business as normal. The Scottish Government rev

-- resilience operation will remain open for the near future to ensure a

response and I will continue to update Parliament is required. The

Justice Secretary will also be happy to is big to any member who has

concerns queries. Finally let me end, I'm sure on behalf of all of

us, by putting on record again my heartfelt thanks to our emergency

services. Their bravery and dedication is not news to us, but at

times like these it never fails to inspire. We are grateful to each and

every one of them. I'm joined by Professor John Curtice of

Strathclyde University. The First Minister said to be vigilant but not

alarmed, looking at precautionary measures, I suppose, after the

Manchester attack. Reading between the lines, she's essentially saying,

look, we are part of the United Kingdom, and a level of security has

been raised to critical, and as a result, measures are being taken.

Primarily, there are more Armed Forces on the streets. She seems to

believe the moment there is no reason to believe that those who

might be associated with the bomber, and clearly the concern is that the

police as yet have not necessarily identified who may have helped this

gentleman he responsible for this atrocity, that that does at least at

the moment involve Scotland, and summarily, the reason we are at

critical, is that the police are looking for people around the United

Kingdom. There is no immediate concern that perhaps there might be

an atrocity in Scotland. Alas, no one can ever release things out. Ten

years ago, there was the Glasgow Airport attack, of course, but as

the First Minister was pointing out, there has been a huge interest in

the military being on the streets, but Nicola Sturgeon was saying that

there will be soldiers present at nuclear bases. At Buckingham Palace,

the military are being deployed, but in Scotland, the military will not

be deployed in order to do jobs that policemen would do. All that has

happened is, the military have been employed to help the Ministry of

Defence at nuclear bases. What is clear to anyone who has been in

Scotland in the last 36 hours is that there are more police officers,

and armed ones, around than usual, and that is something that will

continue in the coming days. What might you were talking about the

First Minister working within the United Kingdom Security remit, as it

were. Just a word about how that works with the Scottish Government's

resilience Centre and the Cobra meetings in London.

How the security that is graded is a matter of advice to the UK

Government, which the Government tends to accept. In Scotland,

policing is devolved, some in the end, operational decisions about how

to respond and implement the changes is one for the chief police officer

in Scotland, as the First Minister said, and it is for Scotland's own

resilience committee to decide what measures take place in Scotland.

Given the situation and what we know, she is saying, what should we

do about Scotland in particular, given the UK wide threat situation?

Policing is a devolved issue, but when it comes to the military, it is

a close operation with the rest of the UK. If Police Scotland decided

they needed the assistance of the military, it is clear that in this

kind of instance, Police Scotland effectively, because the security

threat has been raised, has the right to request the MoD to provide

them with military personnel should they decide they need them. It is

also clear from the First Minister's statement today is that no such

request has been made north of the border. As John was pointing out,

the Government here has not asked for troops to be deployed. It is

expected the threat level will remain high for around ten days.

Here's our home affairs correspondent, Reevel Alderson.

Armed police on duty at Dundee railway station, a visible response

to the Manchester bombing. They have been deployed in Inverness too in

what police say is reassurance to the members of the public. Other

major buildings like the Scottish Parliament now also see an armed

presence after the UK's terrorist threat level was raised to critical.

The last time this was done was in the aftermath of the Glasgow Airport

attack. The heightened alert at that time lasted for four days, this time

it could be longer. We are looking for 14 days. We're looking at

resourcing events in Scotland over that time frame. That will be

reviewed, as colleagues move the investigation forward and more

intelligence becomes available, and we will respond as required. The

first big test of the new arrangements will be on Saturday at

Hampden Park for the Scottish cup final. Ministers are urging fans to

be patient. We will have additional police resources, including firearms

officers. Fans coming into the ground are likely to face a full

body search will stop an important thing will be for those attending

these events to give themselves more time to make sure they can get

through the additional security measures that will be put in place.

Troops will be deployed on guard duty is to nuclear installations

such as Torness power station, and to nuclear defence installations

such as the Clyde naval base. Police Scotland says it has no immediate

plans to seek military help. It says it is confident it has sufficient

armed officers of its own to meet current security requirements.

I'm joined now by our Westminster correspondent, David Porter.

David, looking at the security situation, where you are just now,

now that we are at this critical level of raised security around you

at the Palace of Westminster and at Buckingham Palace too, no doubt?

There was a Cobra meeting this morning, and that follows the

announcement by the Prime Minister yesterday that the level of security

was going up, raced from severe to critical, which means they believe

another terrorist attack could be imminent will stop I stress the word

code. They believe it could happen. In the Houses of Parliament, police

are being replaced by the Army today to provide security. They will be

working under police direction, but the whole idea of this at Downing

Street and Buckingham Palace is to free members of the police up, those

armed officers from the Metropolitan Police, so that they are available

for other operations if need be. Under this idea where you now have a

critical sense of security, a critical terror threat, up to 4000

troops could be deployed. At the moment, we understand that figure is

in the region of about 1000 troops, but you very much get the

impression, seeing what is coming out of Westminster here, and indeed

what is going on in Manchester with police operations ongoing in the

centre of Manchester today, that there is a feeling that Salman Abedi

did not work on his own and there are accomplices out there. There is

a concern that they want to try to stop anything potentially before it

could happen. That is why the terror threat has been raised to critical.

It doesn't happen very often. The last time was in 2007 full stop and

it is not kept at that level for any longer than it has to, but there is

an ongoing security operation following events in Manchester on

Monday evening. And no one wants to take any chances. The military

presence, and we will have seen this in 2007 as well, does it create a

sense of tension, an unusual atmosphere perhaps, having the army

seemingly out on the streets? It is a difficult one. It is a fine line

to tread on, this one. To some extent, it reassures people that

they know they are being protected. Others get very worried when they

see troops but we are not used to that in Britain. Here in London, and

particularly around Westminster, people are far more used to seeing

armed police because of the security of the House of Commons, and it is

noticeable that railway stations have armed police sometimes. People

in London will be far more comfortable with it. Others

throughout the UK, I think, will feel quite discomfited at seeing

armed police around, and in certain instances, seeing troops being

deployed. At this point in the programme, you would usually have

some MPs with you to chat to. We are in the midst of a general election

campaign, but we're not even really speaking about the ordinary

campaigning, because that has been suspended too. Any indication as to

when things might get back to some normality at least? No clarity on

this yet, Andrew, although it does appear the consensus that

campaigning ought to be suspended is starting to fray a little bit. UK

are publishing their manifesto tomorrow and they say it would be

giving in to terrorists if they suspended campaigning any longer. I

must say, I do not get the impression that the other major

parties are yet ready to start campaigning, and I would imagine

that that news conference and manifesto launch from Ukip tomorrow,

a lot of the questions they will be asked are, why are you launching a

manifesto when the rest of the election campaign is still

suspended? What I think will probably happen is that you will see

a graduated return to the campaign, perhaps starting at local level,

local leafleting, that type of thing. Speaking to some of those

from the major parties down here at Westminster, they do seem to be

thinking that it could be the weekend, and maybe even taking the

bank holiday into account, it could be next week before things get back

to pace. That will mean that a week of the general election campaign has

been lost, for all intents and purposes. There is a feeling, I

think, I most UK ministers and senior politicians from the other

parties that while there is this very live security operation going

on, that people are having to dedicate themselves to that, and it

would be wrong while there are still children who are very severely

injured, some of them fighting for their lives in hospital in

Manchester, that it would be wrong to get back to campaigning. But we

have a general election. We know it will be on the 8th of June. At some

point, the campaigning will have to start, but I get the impression

that, Ukip aside, it will take a graduated approach and we will not

be back into the full pelt of politicians trading insults for some

time to come. David Porter at Westminster, thank you very much.

Professor John Curtice is here with me.

Let's look at the suspension of campaigning - the lengthy suspension

is unprecedented. As David was saying, we are thinking back to

1997. That is the last time when a major event was interrupted for as

long as a week. That was to do with the death of Diana Prince of Wales.

That was because the nation was taken by grief rather than because

of a security threat. Last year, Jo Cox was murdered before the EU

referendum, which caused a suspension of around three days or

so, but for a general election, this is undoubtedly the biggest

interruption that has ever occurred. The nearest I can think of for a

general election is a murder which graced the beginning of a general

election campaign in 1979. That is probably the first election in which

it began to be quite difficult to get access to senior politicians

without security clearance, but even that did not cause the subsequent

campaign to oppose. This is unprecedented, and we are seeing...

As David Porter already said, some parties have already started local

campaigning today and it will gradually gear up, but we have to

remember, postal votes are already going out and some people will be

voting in the next few days. I guess some people would say there clearly

is a lot of and frankly there is shock about what has happened, which

is one of the reasons why people don't want to get back into

campaigning. On the other hand, some people will say, actually, in some

sense, this is an attack on the British way of life, democracy etc,

and if we allow this to suspend the democratic process, we are giving in

to the terrorists. There will be judgment about the balance of those

two sets of considerations. I am sure parliament might have been

recalled after attacks such as this. It would have been in circumstances

such as this, but we don't have a parliament with MPs. They have a

Government operating in a caretaker role until the election. This is one

of those events that we keep ministers in office for and that

they are expected to deal with and take action is necessary. At the end

of the day, somebody has to be responsible for the nature and --

the nation. John, thank you for that just now.

Today we have Linda Fabiani for the SNP, Colin Smyth

for Scottish Labour, and Mike Rumbles from

Thank you for joining me. In different and unusual political

circumstances just now. Linda Fabiani, let's first talk about the

security situation. Nicola Sturgeon meeting that statement in Parliament

really saying to people that precautions are being taken but not

to be alarmed. I think it was a very measured statement, it was very wide

welcomed by everyone in the chamber and I felt from the general public

that the First Minister has made such a statement. It seemed to me

that precautions that had been taken are very proportionate to what is

happening and of course we have to take precautions because of the

security threat, so I think it was very plain. Everyone expected the

decisions taken and this is certainly an issue that we all have

to be as one. Ross Thompson from the Scottish Conservatives, you were

watching a statement and I am sure you would agree with that. I agree

with the sentiments there. It will be unsettling for many people across

Scotland to see armed presence on our streets but we have to be clear

it is absolutely necessary to ensure public safety at this time. And to

ensure that this and life continue as normal and to stress that this is

only a precaution. There is no intelligence to suggest any threat

to this to this building, this city, to Scotland and people should

continue with their normal lives as they would each and every day. Colin

Smith from Labour, I suppose maybe people watching this may be worried

seeing statement said this but I think the message is that

politicians are trying to get out is to be worried, these are just

precautions. Yes, this is sending a clear message to the public that we

are taking precautions but they should go about their lives as

normal as best they possibly can and they should be reassured by the

additional police looking after us and it is important to pay tribute

to the work they are doing to keep us safe. Mike Rumbles from the

Liberal Democrats, you are a former military man of course. But some

people be concerned at seeing soldiers in the streets of though

some people will see them as providing vital security increasing

for your safety? That this is absolutely true. We have complete

confidence in the police and security services in doing their

job. I think the key message to come across to the general public is to

use that phrase keep calm and carry on. Go around your normal business

but just be alert for unusual circumstances. What they mustn't do

is change our behaviour and let the terrorists affect us in that way so

keep calm, carry on and I think that is the message. Let's just turned to

the campaign which are Westminster Correspondent David Ward was

piloting. Linda Fabiani, political campaigning of course has been

suspended just now and of course that is the right thing to do I

sure. Of course it is. It shows respect for what has happened in

Manchester, respect for the victims and the families. I know that all

the parties here in Scotland are certainly talking about this and

having discussions, because again, as I understand felt very strongly

that we should be at one on this so note that discussions are ongoing

about when it would be appropriate to start campaigning either

nationally or locally again. I am not party to these discussions but I

am certainly pleased that they are going ahead. Linda, it is perhaps a

real show of political unity, these talks perhaps when the parties

getting together to discuss about the right thing might be to do. I

think that is right. We all have political differences and sometimes

these are very stark and arguments get very heated, some things that

happen transcend all of that. I think it is right across the

Parliament, what we are concerned about is the current situation and

as I say, respect and huge sympathy from Manchester and all those who

have been affected by this, so sometimes the party politics is much

less important than standing together. Ross Thomson, ball --

party politics set aside just now and I think all politicians

concerned about sensitivity at this point. Absolutely, it was the right

thing to do to suspend the campaign. The last thing people want doing a

time of grief and shock is politicians on their door or to have

the knock-about of a political campaign so it is right to do spend

locally and nationally and this is not the reasons of security but

reasons of respect. It is important that we give people that time to

reflect, which is really important in our country's history after this

event has happened. Colin Smyth from Labour, Ross is talking about time

to reflect and that time might seem to carry on for some while actually.

Ukip look like they are launching their manifesto tomorrow but a lot

of the other political parties not wanting to get started again

campaigning quite a few days yet. That is right. I certainly don't

agree with Ukip's decision. I think it is important we pay our respects

and our thoughts are very much with the people in Manchester at this

time. It would not be appropriate to have this campaign that would have

normally during a journal collection. There will be some level

of campaigning taking place and the Royal Mail will be delivering

political party freepost leaflets and that will continue and that is

not something the parties have any control over because they will have

been given to the Royal Mail weeks ago so people will see things

through the letterbox of the next few days, postal votes forms will

start to arrive today and tomorrow and over the next couple of days so

they will be low-level political activity taking place but I think it

is not right that we begin the cut and thrust of an election campaign

at this moment in time and our thoughts should be with those who

have suffered an appalling loss this week. Mike Rumbles from the Liberal

Democrats, Colin speaking about the cut and thrust being set aside just

now. When do you think I'd be a suitable time for some form of

campaigning? Would be the weekend? That might be campaigning policy

positions and not really being highly critical of each other for

example? We have to get back to campaigning. This is part of the

democratic process. I certainly believe the national campaign should

start and kicking at the appropriate point. Tamara was not the

appropriate point. But others have suggested, by the time the weekend

gets here I think we do have to get back into electioneering again and

maybe starting with a different tone but it is important that we get on.

We are advising everyone in the general public to carry on as normal

and for politicians should start to get their views across as part of

the general election campaign at the appropriate point which I wouldn't

have thought would be before the weekend. Starting with Linda, I want

to pick up with a debate that you will be covering in Parliament, the

work of Parliament continues, about cyber security after that attack a

couple of weeks ago. Linda Fabiani, I think the Scottish Government are

saying they are trying to take a tough stance on this just now. You

will have to pass to someone else because as deputy residing officer I

am chairing part of that debate so it is not for me to talk about the

content. Ross Thomson, you will be seeking reassurances I suppose from

the Government about the cyber security threat particularly when it

comes to the health service. Absolutely. One of the big threats

we still face is cyber security, something which is a country we need

to be more prepared for because attacks are coming in all different

forms and every day from different places and as you can see and have

seen, it has a real impact on the provision of public services. We

have seen that with the NHS, so naturally the public are very

concerned about what it means in terms of data, personal data, so we

have to make sure proper safeguards are in place. And the Government is

taking every measure and every step it can to ensure these things are

safe and protected. Colin Smyth from Labour, it is of course a concern

for your party and no doubt as well that patient records are protected

and people can access the health service whenever they wanted and not

when some hacker has decided to hold it to run some? That is right. The

business of Parliament will continue today and will be asking a number of

robust questions about the attacks on the health service. We will make

sure that we have learned any lessons from the attacks, that the

investment has been made and that computer systems across health

boards in Scotland are well protected and the health records

against further attacks. I'm sure that debate will be well presided

over by the end of this afternoon. Mike Rumbles from the Lib Dems, an

important point for you as well, you want to see the system is protected.

I'm sure you want to see up-to-date systems and that perhaps has been a

bit of concern that the systems are quite old-fashioned. There are some

real problems with the IT systems up and down the country. Some of the

questions that will be asked why are some organisations more heavily

affected than others and why have some organisations not been affected

at all? That has seen above the question, has another investment

gone into protecting our IT systems and what responsibilities to the

Scottish Government have ensuring that all public organisations across

the country are well protected. These will be up tomorrow. Temp one

from Labour, Mike Rumbles from the Lib Dems, Ross Thomson from the

Conservatives and Linda Fabiani from the SNP. Thank you for joining us in

unusual circumstances. A final thought from

Professor John Curtice... Certainly unusual times, argy-bargy

of normal politics is set aside, when do you think normal campaigning

right restart? Mike Rumbles suggesting perhaps the weekend but

in a perhaps rather different form. I think probably the crucial

junction is Sunday morning, because of political anoraks Sunday mornings

are full of television interviews with senior politicians and I would

imagine that that probably be the latest bridge as it were we go back

to some form of campaigning, though as we have already said Ukip are

probably starting tomorrow, the Scottish screens will publish their

manifesto on Friday so I think we will gradually build up. Saturday

and Sunday most liquid. -- Scottish Greens. Also the way at which the

tone of the campaign changes. One of the major issues that has been posed

in this election is about leadership and who is best able to lead the

country. That kind of debate almost inevitably invites personal attacks

and comments. Whether or not that will become more difficult in the

atmosphere, we will have to wait and see although perhaps maybe too easy

for the current mood to change once we go back to campaigning. It clear

think we can certainly anticipate that probably there will be more

debate about protection against terrorism, whether we are spending

enough money on the so-called Prevent Strategy etc. That probably

get a certain amount of discussions that there wasn't -- that wasn't

otherwise the case. Others will want to argue, what happened in

Manchester has shown the importance of having a health service that is

capable of dealing with crises. That also will maybe rise to differ.

Certainly it is going to be probably difficult for politicians to work

out the mood of exactly how to pick up this campaign again in such a way

that reflects what has happened which is clearly just simply shot

two people but that the same time -- shocked people. The way we run our

public services and how we run our police and military is important and

therefore the decision we make on June the 8th is an important

decision and will be worthy of some debate in advance of people making

their choice. Politicians obviously very sensitive about this issue.

This was going to be a key campaign week with several manifesto

launches, the SNP manifesto launch was cancelled and we had expected

the Scottish Lib Dem manifesto this week and the Scottish Greens as

well. This was quite a critical week in the campaign phase. By the end of

this week we inspected to have all the public manifesto is out.

Beginning to have major television interviews with various participants

including not placed interviews with Andrew Neil and others on

television. That has been suspended. It will have to be compressed into

next week, by which time quite a few people will have voted, around 20%

of people vote by post and most people have their ballot papers and

the weekend, Bank Holiday weekend to consider how developed so I think

one of the reasons why politicians will want to be found running by

Sunday at the latest is that if they were delivered until Tuesday, quite

a significant section of the vote will have been cast before they have

even got back into the campaign. It is significant. A fifth of people

having postal votes. People have got postal votes can return them as soon

as they arrived and that has always meant that certainly getting the

manifesto is out and having the important part of the campaigning

actually concluded by as much as two weeks before polling day matters and

is important. We have lost a week of that and certainly those parties who

is it where I somewhat unfortunate in being having their manifesto

publication being delayed I think will be keen to get this done

quickly but given the Bank Holiday on Monday the truth is Tuesday is

the earliest opportunity that they will have available to them.

Professor John Curtice from Strathclyde University, thank you

for your company. Reporting Scotland at 6.30

on BBC One will have We're back at noon tomorrow

with First Minister's Questions. More political news on our website

but from all of us have a It would be the greatest night

of their lives... the night when Celtic Football Club

captured the hearts of Europe... They were like brothers. I loved

them. Absolutely loved them. A bunch of boys fae Baillieston,

Bellshill and Saltcoats ..became the first British club

to win the European Cup. When it came to my TV habits,

I'd watch anything. But now I can sign in online

and get more of what I love. I'm kept up to date

with the shows I love