Key points
- Swinney confirms bid to become SNP leader|Forbes also expected to make statement
- Connor Gillies: Swinney expected to be 'unity candidate'
- Polls open across England and WalesIHow to watch Sky News coverage
- Elections taking place across 107 local authorities in England
- Mayoral contests are also taking place, including for London mayoralty
- Twenty-five London Assembly seats are up for grabs
- A by-election is taking place in Blackpool South
- Voters across England and Wales will elect 37 police and crime commissioners (PCCs)
- Live reporting byCharlotte Chelsom-Pill
We promised more dogs at the polls ... and we happily deliver
Earlier we promised to bring you more pictures of dogs at the polls (see post at 8.30am).
Meet Pepper and Peggy...
They patiently joined their owners at a polling station in Baildon, West Yorkshire.
And enjoyed a spot of sunshine too.
More than 700 migrants cross Channel on busiest day of year so far
More than 700 migrants were detected crossing the Channel on Wednesday - a new daily record for the year so far.
According to the Home Office, 711 people made the journey in 14 boats.
That would work out to an average of 51 people per boat.
The provisional total for the number of Channel crossings this year so far now stands at 8,278.
Crossings have surpassed the record for the first four months of a calendar year.
Voters cast ballots from back of car after polling station opening backfires
Some voters in Cambridge have reportedly had to cast their votes from the back of a car this morning after the opening of a polling station backfired.
Cambridge Electoral Services said voters at Milton Road Library were given the "rare" experience after problems getting into the building.
The problem now appears to have been resolved, with polling stations at the library "up and running".
Writing on X, Cambridge Electoral Services thanked polling teams "who remained calm and carried on".
Swinney defiant on Scottish independence
John Swinney is asked whether he thinks as SNP leader he will deliver independence for Scotland.
"Yes," he replies.
Earlier, he used his speech to say he has believed all his adult life "that Scotland's future is best served as an independent country".
He said he recognises "most people need to be convinced of that point before independence can be achieved", adding he wants to focus on reaching out to people with "respect and courtesy to address the obstacles in the way of winning the case for independence".
But he said he accepts his party "is not as cohesive as it needs to be".
"I will give all that I have in me to ensure the success of our course," he said.
Opposition parties 'better watch out', Swinney says, as he vows to unify SNP
John Swinney is now taking questions.
Sky'sScotland correspondent Connor Gilliesputs it to him that some are suggesting he is another continuity candidate. He also asks whether he will offer Kate Forbes the post of deputy first minister if he is appointed.
Mr Swinney avoids the second question, saying he will come to that in due course.
He instead focuses on his bid to bring change to the SNP, saying "the opposition parties better watch out what's coming to them".
"We just can't go on as we are today," he says.
"That's that's the reason I'm standing, because if we go on the way we were going today, I think we will face tough times."
He says he is "stepping up to the plate" to "make sure we deliver the change that we need to deliver".
"But I tell you one thing, once I draw the SNP together as one unified team, the opposition parties in Scotland better watch out what's coming towards them," he says.
Swinney wants Kate Forbes to 'play a significant part' in his team
Announcing his bid to become SNP leader, John Swinney has said he wants to see Kate Forbes "play a significant part" in his team.
"She is an intelligent, creative, thoughtful person who has much to contribute to our national life," he says.
"And if elected, I will make sure that Kate is able to meet that contribution and that will be part of a united team that draws together our whole party, which given my deep, deep devotion to the SNP, I think I am best placed to put together."
He goes on to say he wants Ms Forbes to be part of "team SNP and a very involved, senior participant in team SNP".
Kate Forbes is expected to give a statement later today.
Ms Forbes, who narrowly lost out to Humza Yousaf in last year's leadership election, has not confirmed her intention to enter the leadership contest.
However, she has so far refused to rule herself out of the race.
John Swinney confirms bid to become SNP leader
John Swinney has confirmed he intends to stand as leader of the SNP for a second time.
Mr Swinney previously served as SNP leader between 2000 and 2004, later becoming Nicola Sturgeon's number two from 2014 to 2023.
Announcing his bid, Mr Swinney said: "I want to build on the work of the SNP government to create a modern, diverse, dynamic Scotland that will ensure opportunity for all of her citizens."
"I want to unite the SNP and unite Scotland for independence."
He lists "the pursuit of economic growth and social justice" among his priorities.
He also says he wants to "design an approach to net zero that takes people and business with us".
Mr Swinney's leadership bid comes after Humza Yousafannounced he was standing down as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister earlier this week.
John Swinney gives statement - and is expected to launch SNP leadership bid
John Swinney is starting his statement.
He is expected to launch his campaign to become leader of the SNP for a second time.
It comes after Humza Yousafannounced he was standing down as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister earlier this week.
The SNP's Kate Forbes is also expected to give a statement later today.
John Swinney and Kate Forbes to make statements before expected SNP leadership battle
John Swinney is expected to declare his bid to become the new leader of the SNP later today, Sky News understands.
Kate Forbes is also expected to make a statement later on Thursday.
It comes after Humza Yousafannounced he was standing down as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister following his decision last week to cut power-sharing ties with the Scottish Greens - a move which saw his leadership collapse.
Mr Swinney previously served as SNP leader between 2000 and 2004; later becoming Nicola Sturgeon's number two from 2014 to 2023.
He is considered a front-runner for the top job once again, having garnered support from senior figures within his party, including from the SNP's Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn.
The Perthshire North MSP is expected to make a statement in Edinburgh on Thursday morning.
However, he could face competition from the party's former finance minister Ms Forbes, who narrowly lost out to Mr Yousaf in last year's leadership election.
Though the Skye, Lochaber, and Badenoch MSP has not confirmed her intention to enter the leadership contest, she has so far refused to rule herself out of the race.
Read more here:
What are the mayoral contests taking place today?
Voting is taking place in 11 mayoral elections across England today.
They include a contest for mayor of London, as well aselections to the London Assembly, with 25 seats available.
Metro mayor contests are also taking place today in:
- East Midlands
- Greater Manchester
- Liverpool City Region
- North East
- South Yorkshire
- Tees Valley
- West Midlands
- West Yorkshire
- York and North Yorkshire
Metro mayors are directly elected leaders who chair combined authorities.
Of these mayoral posts, three - East Midlands, the North East, and York and North Yorkshire - are newly created and are holding their inaugural election.
There is also one city mayoral election in Salford.
