News in brief

• An SNP victory in the Scottish Parliament election will not persuade Boris Johnson to allow a second referendum on independence, according to Alba Party MP Kenny Macaskill.

The East Lothian MP, who left the SNP to join Alex Salmond’s new party, said there is “no fact” in Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that an SNP win would lead to the prime minister granting a Section 30 order – the transfer of power allowing a referendum.

Mr Macaskill said: “For sure, the Alba Party’s entrance into the fray has made independence the topic of the campaign.

“But it’s galvanised Nicola Sturgeon more than changing the prime minister’s mind on a Section 30 order, which he refuses, yet she still insists a prerequisite.

“Her comments have no basis in fact or even in the most minor of hints from the prime minister.”

• Labour leader Anas Sarwar has conceded he is “not yet” a candidate for first minister of Scotland.

Mr Sarwar said he does not believe he can “turn around the decline of the Labour Party in Scotland for the last 20 years” before the May 6 Holyrood election.

He took over the leadership of the party north of the border just weeks ago, saying at the time it was at just 14% in the polls.

He said he is “not naive about the scale of the challenge” he faces in attempting to restore the party’s fortunes.

Labour was once the dominant party in Scotland but the SNP has been in power at Holyrood for the last 14 years.

QUESTIONS: International development secretary Jenny Gilruth spoke on the Election Hub Live digital newscast.