expecting that humza yeusaf expecting that humza yousaf mu expecting that humza yousaf will resi . n expecting that humza yousaf will resin in the - expecting that humza yeusaf will resign in the next _ - expecting that humza yeusaf will resign in the next hour - - expecting that humza yeusaf will resign in the next hour or- - expecting that humza yousaf will resign in the next hour or so. . will resign in the next hour or so. this is bute house in edinburgh, where we are expecting a news conference at around midday. he travelled there from his dundee home. his senior advisers have been inside with them. humza yousaf has been struggling to secure backing for his minority government after the end of his power—sharing deal. this is a picture of him arriving with his wife at the back of bute house. he was brought in from his official residence in dundee. these are the live pictures outside the front of bute house. humza yousaf has been struggling to find backing for his power—sharing government. he

is facing two confidence votes in the coming days, one on him personally and the other in his actual government. this all came about after the first minister's decision last week to end the deal with the greens and it followed a backlash over the snp's decision to scratch the 2030 climate targets. the greens accused mr yousaf of selling out future generations over climate and had been due to hold a vote themselves over whether to remain in power with the snp in response to that. the snp has 63 msps in the 129 seat parliament. if those seven green msps vote against him he is reliant on the support of the soul alba party msp, ash regan, to continue his role. she used to be

a member of the snp but defected to alex salmond's alba party. mr yousaf apparently ruled out cutting a deal with the alba party. that would lead to a 64—61; tie vote in which case into parliament if there was time about the presiding officer would be expected to remain the status quo. what we are expecting in the next hour as a news conference from humza yousaf you could see their entry bute house in the last half an hour. we are expecting in the next half an hour or so for him to hold a news conference where we understand he will resign as scotland's first minister. you can see the picture of

the door at bute house. at the moment mr yousaf is in there with his wife and senior advisers. we are expecting bad news conference at midday. we will bring it to you live. sir keir starmer has been talking about the situation in the scottish parliament. he condemned it and called for a fresh start. he has been speaking to reporters. let's have a listen to what he had to say. i despair of the situation in scotland. it is absolute chaos in the scottish parliament from the snp. we have chaos in the scottish parliament, chaos in the westminster parliament. one in seven are on waiting lists, there is a cost of living crisis, and all the snp can offer is chaos. we need that general election and a fresh start. 50

offer is chaos. we need that general election and a fresh start.— election and a fresh start. 50 that is sir keir starmer _ election and a fresh start. 50 that is sir keir starmer commenting i election and a fresh start. 50 that| is sir keir starmer commenting on the current situation in scotland. there is the live view of bute house in edinburgh where we are expecting in edinburgh where we are expecting in the next 30 minutes or so a news conference by the first minister, humza yousaf. if he does resign, then the scottish parliament has 28 days to choose a new first minister. it will be up to the members of the scottish parliament to nominate a candidate to replace humza yousaf. by candidate to replace humza yousaf. by convention, that will be the leader of the party with the most representation in parliament, which is currently the scottish national party. the nominees are given the opportunity to argue the case, then the msps cast a vote for their preferred candidate. when the party has a majority in parliament that process is a formality, but that is at the moment because the snp does

not have a majority in the scottish parliament. if msps can decide on a new first minister, they are then recommended to the king for appointments, who rubber—stamped the process. the new first minister then picks their new first minister. if the msps can't decide on a new first minister, parliament must be dissolved and a new election called. that is the situation we are in if, after we expect, humza yousaf resigns today. in terms of who might replace him as first minister, well, the name that is being, quite an obvious one, is kate forbes. she narrowly lost to humza yousaf in the snp leadership contest which saw him

become leader, that happened in march last year. when the scottish greens, they don't like her stance on a number of social issues. it is possible she could govern by doing deals elsewhere with other parties if she was to win the leadership election. our political correspondent in scotland is hearing from the scottish conservatives that they could work with kate forbes him some policy areas but want to see independence take a back—seat. another name that is doing the rounds is that of the former deputy first ministerjohn swinney. our political correspondent has been hearing this. he is seen widely as a safe pair of pants in the party, but he didn't want the job last time around so we would have to say things have changed. stephen flynn is another name. he is the party westminster leader. he can't be

first minister from westminster, but he could technically lead the snp if humza yousaf goes as party leader. it is all a complicated situation in terms of who could take over as the snp leader if, as we expect, humza yousaf does resign in the next half an hour. we are waiting for that news conference at bute house. if you want to follow all the developments, there is a live page “p developments, there is a live page up and running on the bbc news website and app which is all the latest information from our correspondence around scotland. james cook has been posting there, our political editor. nick eardley is at westminster, listening to what is at westminster, listening to what is going on there, as well as in holyrood. all of that information is going into our live page and we will

going into our live page and we will go back as soon as we hear any developments. i want to focus on the other elections taking place this week, and that is the local elections in england. there are elections in england. there are elections for merits and also police and crime commissioner elections in england and. they are days away, on thursday. the speculation continues over whether rishi sunak might name the date for a general election. while not to talk about. let's talk about the local elections. over the past few days we have been looking at different areas of england and i am joined by peter henley, are south of england political editor, and by amy holmes who is political reporter at bbc three counties radio. amy, i want to start with you. what are the different parties concentrating on

in hertfordshire and buckinghamshire to try to win over voters there? the conservative _ to try to win over voters there? tue: conservative party to try to win over voters there? tte: conservative party chair seem to be pushing more towards highlighting what is police and crime commissioner to have been doing in the last three years in our patch rather than local elections. you can sort of understand that, this year the tories are only defending one council here, whereas they had the three police and crime commissioner is already. sir keir starmer was also more on the police and crime commissioner side of things, stating to me that they focus on anti—social behaviour if their candidates were lucky enough to win that particular role. he also looked at first—time buyers. the lib dems launched their local election campaign on our patch, partly because the party has done very well in our local elections, last year they picked up four councils. this year, the lib

dems are targeting a new seat that is available here. i spoke to the co—leader of the greens and they were keen to focus on moments happening locally with their councillors who have done reasonable jobs in the last few years and last year picked up 22 councillors, enoughin year picked up 22 councillors, enough in east hertfordshire to be the minority administration there. what are the key issues for people in your area, is it housing, rent? the thing is that the local authorities can do something about? it feels a bit like last year that it is split between the national stuff and making a comment on how the conservatives have been in government for the last 1a years. in 2023 the conservatives lost over 90 council seats here. in local elections more than national, there is a concentration on what those local personalities are doing. they

may not be councillors even from the established parties, just ones that are doing a really good job focusing on the local issues. t fiiii are doing a really good “ob focusing on the local issues.— on the local issues. i will ask the same question _ on the local issues. i will ask the same question to _ on the local issues. i will ask the same question to you. _ on the local issues. i will ask the same question to you. what - on the local issues. i will ask the same question to you. what are | on the local issues. i will ask the i same question to you. what are the parties concentrating on there to try to win over votes? tt is try to win over votes? it is different _ try to win over votes? it is different in _ try to win over votes? it is different in different - try to win over votes? it is different in different places. bin collections in one counsel, potholes and lots _ collections in one counsel, potholes and lots of — collections in one counsel, potholes and lots of places, the councils that control road repairs have had a terrible _ that control road repairs have had a terrible time this year and it is peorrle? — terrible time this year and it is people? mines. obviously, overall, 'ust people? mines. obviously, overall, iust the_ people? mines. obviously, overall, just the lack of money that there seems _ just the lack of money that there seems to— just the lack of money that there seems to be for local services. there — seems to be for local services. there are _ seems to be for local services. there are individual services have been _ there are individual services have been cute — there are individual services have been cuts. even local councillors are blaming that on central government. cost increase and, as it is for— government. cost increase and, as it is for everybody. also a huge demand on adult _ is for everybody. also a huge demand on adult and —

is for everybody. also a huge demand on adult and children's social care services — on adult and children's social care services. the cost of that has gone up services. the cost of that has gone up tremendously. it is different in different— up tremendously. it is different in different places. labour can do quite _ different places. labour can do quite well in my part of the south of england where there are newer families_ of england where there are newer families moving into new housing that has— families moving into new housing that has been built, places like worthing — that has been built, places like worthing where they have taken control— worthing where they have taken control of— worthing where they have taken control of the council, in sussex. the same — control of the council, in sussex. the same seems to be happening in atdershot _ the same seems to be happening in aldershot and farnborough were new housing _ aldershot and farnborough were new housing has been built, but not necessarily the services there to support— necessarily the services there to support people who have moved in. that changes the demographic in the area _ that changes the demographic in the area i_ that changes the demographic in the area ithink— that changes the demographic in the area. i think also there is a difference between the councils where _ difference between the councils where they elect a few of them each year a _ where they elect a few of them each year a rolling programme, where they elect a few of them each yeara rolling programme, and where they elect a few of them each year a rolling programme, and the ones _ year a rolling programme, and the ones where — year a rolling programme, and the ones where they hold them every four years and _ ones where they hold them every four years and all the council seats are up years and all the council seats are up at _ years and all the council seats are up at the — years and all the council seats are up at the same time. difficult for the councillors from the conservative party where they are not doing — conservative party where they are not doing well in the polls, an example — not doing well in the polls, an example would be dorset, where 82 seats— example would be dorset, where 82 seats are _ example would be dorset, where 82 seats are up and it has in the past

been _ seats are up and it has in the past been a _ seats are up and it has in the past been a very— seats are up and it has in the past been a very safe conservative area, not just _ been a very safe conservative area, notjust liberal been a very safe conservative area, not just liberal democrats challenge and there. _ not just liberal democrats challenge and there, but also the greens and independent councillors. they don't believe _ independent councillors. they don't believe that sir keir starmer is definitely going to be the next prime — definitely going to be the next prime minister. they are casting about— prime minister. they are casting about for— prime minister. they are casting about for independent ratepayers in these _ about for independent ratepayers in these local elections. they don't believe — these local elections. they don't believe the mainstream media and they dont— believe the mainstream media and they don't believe mainstream political— they don't believe mainstream political parties either. do they don't believe mainstream political parties either.- political parties either. do you think that _ political parties either. do you think that apathy _ political parties either. do you think that apathy will - political parties either. do you think that apathy will mean i political parties either. do you i think that apathy will mean that political parties either. do you - think that apathy will mean that the turnout might be low because we also have police and crime commissioner is being elected, as well. t is being elected, as well. i wouldn't call it apathy. i don't think— wouldn't call it apathy. i don't think people are switched of politics. _ think people are switched of politics, it is not that they are bored, — politics, it is not that they are bored, they are keen to express their— bored, they are keen to express their opinion, they don't believe their opinion, they don't believe the conservative government or the labour— the conservative government or the labour opposition, as well. they are

looking _ labour opposition, as well. they are looking for— labour opposition, as well. they are looking for something different in local elections. there are councils in our— local elections. there are councils in our region that is run by independents. the isle of wight, as well. groups of people who say they are just _ well. groups of people who say they are just here to try to sort things out on _ are just here to try to sort things out on the — are just here to try to sort things out on the local stage. we are local people _ out on the local stage. we are local people standing in local elections, and that— people standing in local elections, and that seems to go down well. we used to— and that seems to go down well. we used to have independence in the police _ used to have independence in the police and — used to have independence in the police and crime commissioners but that has— police and crime commissioners but that has become very much a party political— that has become very much a party political football and people will probably slip their ballots and a lot our— probably slip their ballots and a lot our elections are not. you mentioned — lot our elections are not. you mentioned local _ lot our elections are not. you mentioned local and - lot our elections are not. tm. mentioned local and national issues, but an international issue, the war in gaza, is that having an effect on your local area? tt in gaza, is that having an effect on your local area?— your local area? if you are worried about the potholes, _ your local area? if you are worried about the potholes, events - your local area? if you are worried about the potholes, events have l your local area? if you are worried l about the potholes, events have not been collected in seven weeks in one of our— been collected in seven weeks in one of our areas. — been collected in seven weeks in one of our areas, the gaza war is not something — of our areas, the gaza war is not something that you probably express

your opinion to your local councillor, apart from maybe oxford where _ councillor, apart from maybe oxford where there was a spate of mainly muslim _ where there was a spate of mainly muslim councillors resigning over the gaza — muslim councillors resigning over the gaza war. some of those are up for re—election. overall, i would say it— for re—election. overall, i would say it is— for re—election. overall, i would say it is not— for re—election. overall, i would say it is not something that is being — say it is not something that is being brought up on the doorstep, that is— being brought up on the doorstep, that is what the labour candidates are telling — that is what the labour candidates are telling me. is that is what the labour candidates are telling me.— are telling me. is the israel gaza war playing _ are telling me. is the israel gaza war playing into _ are telling me. is the israel gaza war playing into what _ are telling me. is the israel gaza war playing into what people - are telling me. is the israel gaza war playing into what people are| war playing into what people are sent to you there? tt war playing into what people are sent to you there?— sent to you there? it certainly is in the bedfordshire _ sent to you there? it certainly is in the bedfordshire police - sent to you there? it certainly is in the bedfordshire police and l sent to you there? it certainly is - in the bedfordshire police and crime commissioner contest where the candidates for the workers party of britain has been using a leaflet that appears to suggest that a vote for the labour party is about four genocide. the labour party are trying to get him to stop using that leaflet. mr akbar was a prominent luton councillor for 25 years, but

he did resign from the party because