Politics put aside as party leaders unite in vowing terrorists will not succeed

● Attack halts general election campaign for at least two days ● Flags lowered at Holyrood, Westminster and Downing Street

The terrorist attack in Manchester halted the general election campaign as political leaders put aside their differences to condemn a “callous” and “cowardly” attack on innocence.

Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon both vowed that terrorism would never defeat the UK’S values, and called on communities to unite against efforts to sow division.

The planned launch of the SNP manifesto yesterday morning was cancelled, along with a scheduled televised leaders’ debate on STV tonight and a BBC TV interview with Ukip leader Paul Nuttall.

Party leaders are not expected to resume their election campaign schedules until Friday at the earliest.

Speaking in Downing Street, the Prime Minister said the atrocityinmanchester“stands out for its appalling, sickening cowardice – deliberately targeting innocent, defenceless children and young people who should have been enjoying one of the most memorable nights of their lives”.

Mrs May called on people to ensure “the images we hold in our minds” are of those people who rushed to help the victims, rather than “senseless slaughter”.

“For they are the images that embody the spirit of Manchester and the spirit of Britain – a spirit that through years of conflict and terrorism has never been broken and will never be broken,” she said.

“Let us remember those who died and let us celebrate those who helped – safe in the knowledge that the terrorists will never win and our values, our country, and our way of life will always prevail.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the attack was “the most terrible and traumatic time”.

“In these circumstances, we have to come together,” he said. “We carry on, so we don’t allow these people and these attacks to divide us.”

Both he and the Prime Minister signed a book of condolence opened at Manchester Town Hall.

Flags were lowered at Westminster, Downing Street, Whitehall and Holyrood.

At the Scottish Parliament, MSPS observed a minute’s silence after party leaders delivered tributes to the victims, their families and emergency services.

The First Minister said there could be “nothing more cowardly than attacking children and young people enjoying a fun night out”.

She also said the Scottish Government’s emergency response was focusing on minimising the risk of retaliatory hate crimes.

Mrs Sturgeon also encouraged parents and teachers to reach out to young people who will have seen distressing images on the TV news and social media.

“As human beings we cannot comprehend the twisted motivations that lead people to carry out such atrocities, particularly when they target children and young people in such a callous way.

“But our best response now and always is to stand firm together with determination and solidarity and to make clear to those who seek to undermine our values, target our children,and seek to destroy our way of life, that they will not succeed, not now and not ever.”

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said the attack was “beyond comprehension,” adding: “There are no words. But as the Prime Minister said earlier today – and as the First Minister has too – we must try to find them.

“We must repeat – that we

KEZIA DUGDALE will not be beaten by the twisted ideology of terrorism. We must repeat – that we will not ourselves descend into hatred or rage.”

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said the children who went to listen to a pop concert had been “the very picture of innocence”, but the attack threatened to rob children across the UK of that innocence.

“They are now fully aware that when someone determines to kill others … that there is nothing any one of us can do to prevent the horrific, inevitable, outcome.

“And we cannot explain it to them. How can you tell an eight-year-old that there is a justifiable reason that children died last night?

Ms Dugdale concluded: “What we can do is respond well. We can teach our children that the only way to counter such barbarity is not with hate and with fear, but with compassion, tolerance, kindness and love.”

“Whatwecandois respond well. We can teach our children that the only way to counter such barbarity is not with hate and with fear, but with compassion”