Process closed at midday. The party was like secretary then confirmed Thatjohn Swinney is the party leader. Mr swinney has also posted on social media, saying he feels deeply honoured to be elected leader of the party, adding that he will give his all to serve the party and scotland. Of course with mr swinney being unopposed in this context, it means the snp has avoided extending the uncertainty at the top of scottish politics. Had there been another contender in this contest, it would have meant a Leadership Battle going on for the next three weeks, untiljuly 27. There had been talk of a late bid over the weekend. Activist Graeme Mccormick has said that he had gathered enough support to enter the contest. But in a statement late last night, he announced he decided not to run after having a conversation with john swinney. They had agreed on a number of topics and issues, he said he was going to Supportjohn Swinney instead. It he was going to support john swinney instead. , ,. , instead
There is crucial for the success of the war. In other developments, israels military says three soldiers were killed, and several injured after hamas fired rockets from an area in southern gaza, near the rafah crossing. Israel responded by closing the karem shalom border point. Peace talks in cairo have ended no progress on a Ceasefire Agreement was made. The Israeli Government has also forced the News Network Aljazeera to shut down its operations in israel calling It A Mouthpiece for hamas. Frank gardner reports from jerusalem. In a country that prides itself on free speech and democracy, Israeli Police shut down the offices of aljazeera today, seizing its broadcast equipment. If you are watching this pre recorded report, then aljazeera has been banned in the territory of israel. This was one of its final broadcasts from jerusalem before the police arrived. The government accused the tv channel of incitement to terrorism, calling It A Mouthpiece for hamas. Its bureau chief called it a
General election if rishi sunak doesnt change course. The tories are reeling after one of their worst performances in a local election in decades. Labour has been celebrating a key win in the West Midlands mayoral race after its candidate, richard parker, narrowly beat the conservatives Andy Street Who had served two terms in the role. The labour mayor of london, sadiq khan, was re elected for a historic third term. Overall, the conservatives lost hundreds of councillors in the local elections in england. This morning, the transport secretary, mark harper, said while the results were disappointing, the General Election was still all to play for. Speaking to the bbc, Suella Braverman insisted her party faced electoral oblivion without a change in direction. Our political corresponsdent, damian grammaticas, reports. Parker, richard labour and co operative party, 225,590. Its a result that will send a shudder through conservatives. Street, andrew the Conservative Party candidate, 224,082.
Lets speak to our scotland Political Correspondent, jenni davidson. Jennl jenni, for those of us that dont follow the Politics Of Scotland that much, who is this activist . Follow the Politics Of Scotland that much, who is this activist . Well, he has a bit of much, who is this activist . Well, he has a bit of a much, who is this activist . Well, he has a bit of a track much, who is this activist . Well, he has a bit of a track record much, who is this activist . Well, he has a bit of a track record of has a bit of a track record of challenges to the snp leadership. He is a former lawyer. Last year he stood against former snp msp and former government minister mike russell for the snp presidency. And quite memorably, he also described the snps Independence Policy as flatulence in a trance, whatever that might mean im not quite sure. So we have been Hearing Reports in the last couple of days that Graeme Mccormick is planning to challenge john swinney for the snp leadership. It had looke