Image source, SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Our main political story today was John Swinney "politely" turning down an invitation from Donald Trump to attend a state banquet next week due to election campaigning.

We asked representatives of all Scotland's larger parties whether they would have accepted the offer from the White House:

• Swinney says he would have a duty to engage with elected political leaders if he was re-elected as first minister but that his priority during the election campaign is engaging with the people of Scotland
• Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton called Trump a "gangster" and agreed with Swinney's decision not to attend the banquet
• Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, also cited election pressures as the reason he would decline the invitation to dine, but stressed he would always work in Scotland's national interest
• The Scottish Greens' co-leader Gillian Mackay was adamant she would "absolutely not accept an invitation to dinner with the US president" calling Trump a "rogue leader"
• Tory MP Andrew Bowie said he probably would not accept the invitation if he was up for election 14 days from the state banquet
• The only party representative who would enthusiastically accept the invite was Reform UK candidate Graham Simpson, who said he would be "delighted" to attend

With that we draw our live coverage of the Scottish Parliament election campaign to a close. Today's editor was Graeme Esson and the writer was Craig Hutchison. Thank you for joining us.

Are Scotland’s free eye tests unique in the UK?published at 17:14 BST 21 April

17:14 BST 21 April

Phil Sim

John Swinney stated in a post on X, external that “Scotland is the only part of the UK with free eye tests, and the SNP will protect them”.

It is true to say that all eye tests in Scotland are free for UK residents, refugees and some eligible overseas visitors.

However, while there is not a universal offering in other parts of the UK, free tests are available for groups including under-16s, over-60s, those in full-time education, people with diabetes or glaucoma, and those on income-related benefits and Universal Credit.

Ultimately around two thirds of eye tests carried out in the rest of the UK are free, while a third are self-funded, according to, external the Federation of Opthalmic and Dispensing Opticians.

The latest figures available, external from NHS England suggest around 13 million funded sight tests are carried out each year.

In Wales, external, more than 865,000 NHS sight tests were carried out in 2024/25, as well as almost 460,000 in Northern Ireland, external.

There are 73 constituency seats up for grabs in the Scottish Parliament election - with the rest of the 129 MSPs elected from regional lists.

As always there are some seats and regions that are key battlegrounds - and our political correspondent Phil Sim has identified nine to watch.

They are:

• Rutherglen and Cambuslang
• Dumbarton
• Eastwood
• Edinburgh Central
• Shetland
• Strathkelvin and Bearsden
• Banffshire and Buchan Coast
• Inverness and Nairn
• South Scotland Region

Click here to find out more on why these could be decisive in the final result.

Andrew Bowie, the shadow secretary of state for Scotland, is the final politician we asked about whether he would accept an invitation to dine with Donald Trump at a state banquet.

The Tory MP said: "Probably not if I was up for election 14 days from that state banquet.

"I think that my priority would probably be in Scotland - but the British government will more than adequately represent Scotland overseas at that event next week."

He said that if he had the opportunity to raise issues with the US president, he would thank Trump for his interest in the north east of Scotland and the "huge economic benefits" from his golf course.

But he added that the big issue for Scotland was tariffs on whisky.

Back to the question of the day - would Scotland's politicians dine with Donald Trump?

We already know Scotland's First Minister John Swinney "politely declined" an invitation from the US president to attend a state banquet at the White House next week, due to election campaigning.

The SNP leader said he had a four-minute conversation with Trump about the invitation to join the dinner with the King and Queen at the White House.

"I explained, regrettably, I would be unable to join that event, because I think my priority is to be here to engage with the people of Scotland during the election campaign," says Swinney.

When asked if he would visit the White House if he was re-elected and re-invited, Swinney says that as first minister he has a duty to do so. "I've got to engage with political leaders that are elected," he says.

Swinney adds that when he last met Trump he raised the issues around Gaza and whisky tariffs.

There have been changes to the boundaries for this election so some constituencies and regions have changed name and shape.

You can check which constituency and region you are in by clicking here.

You can also find out who the candidates are in your area.

The Scottish government is usually formed from the party that holds the most seats in the parliament, or alternatively a coalition of more than one party.

The government is led by the first minister, who appoints a number of ministers to be in charge of departments such as education, health and finance.

There are two ballots in the Scottish election - one peach and one lilac.

Watch our video to find out the difference.

Jenni Davidson
BBC Scotland senior politics reporter

Reform UK candidate Graham Simpson says Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar approached him “on at least three occasions” about the two parties working together to defeat the SNP.

Simpson, who was a Reform UK MSP in the last parliament, told BBC Scotland News that Sarwar had told him at Holyrood that they needed to work together after the election to get rid of the SNP.

Sarwar has repeatedly denied that he approached members of Reform to suggest working together - allegations that sparked angry exchanges with Reform's Scottish leader Malcolm Offord during and after a Channel 4 debate last week.

Simpson said his claim was genuine and that he did not know why the Scottish Labour leader was denying it now.

Simpson also denied calling Offord "useless" or describing fellow Reform candidate Thomas Kerr as a “weasel”.

Sarwar says he stands by his claim that Simpson used those terms about his colleagues.

In response, Simpson said Sarwar needed to “just calm down a bit”, stop making personal attacks and concentrate on the issues at hand rather than a “rather silly” tit-for-tat row.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said Simpson's “hostage video” would not convince anyone.

She said Scottish Labour would not apologise for telling the truth and that Reform should “stop digging”.

The 2021 election took place on Thursday 6 May, when Scotland was still dealing with Covid restrictions.

The SNP won 64 seats - one short of a majority but one more than it won in the previous election.

The Scottish Conservatives came second with 31.

Next was Scottish Labour, on 22.

The Scottish Greens had eight and the Scottish Liberal Democrats secured four seats.

If you're just joining us here's a recap of the action on the election trail so far:

• Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton started campaigning early with a visit to the children’s hospice Rachel House in Kinross to focus on helping children and young people
• The incredible overhead kick by Scott McTominay against Denmark was the artistic backdrop for the Scottish Green co-leaders to call for a cap on the costs faced by football fans
• Reform UK's Graham Simpson was in Holyrood Park in Edinburgh calling on voters to back his party
• Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, was at Glasgow Kelvin College saying he would "fix the mess" left by the SNP and "build a better future for Scotland"
• SNP leader John Swinney is in Dundee, where he will be speaking at the STUC Congress stressing his party's support for people with the cost of living
• Fishing is the main issue for the Scottish Tories today, with Tim Eagle pledging to keep Scotland's fishermen as a "top priority"

Image source, PA Media

The Scottish Parliament is made up of 129 MSPs.

Of that total, 73 represent local areas known as constituencies.

The rest of the MSPs are drawn from eight regions which together cover the whole of Scotland. Each region elects seven MSPs.

The regions are:

• Central Scotland and Lothians West
• Edinburgh and Lothians East
• Glasgow
• Highlands and Islands
• Mid Scotland and Fife
• North East Scotland
• South Scotland
• West Scotland

This means that people in Scotland are each represented by eight MSPs - one representing their constituency, and another seven representing their region.

Votes used to be counted as soon as the polls closed at 22:00 on Thursday, with the results being announced overnight and into Friday morning.

This time, the count will begin on Friday morning.

The first declarations are expected at lunchtime, with most results in by the evening.

The Scottish Parliament election will take place on Thursday 7 May.

Polling stations will open at 07:00 and close at 22:00.

A total of 129 MSPs will be elected to the parliament, often referred to as Holyrood after the area of Edinburgh where the parliament building stands.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is looming, with the cut-off point at 5pm today.

You can download an application form online or get one in person from your local registration office - but it's now too late to post the form back.

We contacted all Scottish councils to ask what people can do ahead of the deadline.

The local authorities who responded say it is still possible to either scan and email the completed form or deliver it by hand to a local Electoral Registration Office.

You will be able to find the necessary information on your council's website.

Suzanne Allan
BBC Scotland News

When asked if she would accept an invitation to dinner by Donald Trump, the co-leader of the Scottish Greens, Gillian Mackay replies: "We would absolutely not accept an invitation to the White House.

"It's very clear he's a rogue leader on the world stage committing war crimes wherever he fancies, threatening to bomb civilian infrastructure.

"That's not someone that we should be sitting down with for dinner".

Jenni Davidson
BBC Scotland senior politics reporter

Reform UK's Graham Simpson says he would be “delighted” to go to a state banquet with Donald Trump.

Simpson adds that he’d be “shocked” if the US president invited him to dinner - but that if he did, he’d be happy to attend.

He says America is a great country and that he would have “loads” to talk about with Trump.

Simpson says this would include his love of America, his holidays there, his fondness for jazz and the jazz clubs he’s visited.

Image source, PA

Scottish Labour's leader says he would have declined the offer to attend a state banquet with Donald Trump next week.

Anas Sawar, who was speaking while visiting to a college to promote apprenticeships, says he needs to concentrate on the election campaign.

The US president invited First Minister John Swinney to travel to Washington to attend the banquet - but the SNP leader declined because of the election campaign.

Asked if he could work with Donald Trump, Sarwar says he will always work in whatever is Scotland's national interest.

Louise Cowie
BBC Scotland reporter

The leader of the Scottish Lib Dems calls Donald Trump a “gangster” and says he agreed with John Swinney's decision not to join him for a state banquet.

Alex Cole-Hamilton also says the SNP has failed to deliver on health, education and needed to take a rest from government, on the back benches.