How will the pandemic affect the Scottish Parliament election?

Scottish comedy legend Sir Billy Connolly has received his second dose of the coronavirus vaccine. [View email online]( [Subscribe]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [The Scotsman] Feb 19, 2021 Good afternoon Welcome to your Friday newsletter from [The Scotsman]( Our readers are our lifeblood. Like many businesses, we have been hit by the economic crunch of the pandemic. If you like and value what we do, please consider taking out a digital subscription with us.Subscribers get unlimited access to thousands of Scottish stories a week, award-winning writers, agenda-setting opinion, sport, arts, features and much more. [Try us out today from just £3 a month.]( Holyrood election result may take days as overnight vote counting ruled out Full results from the upcoming Scottish Parliament election may take days to be announced after a decision was made not to count votes overnight. The counting of ballots usually begins when polls close at 10pm, with this year’s vote set to take place on Thursday May 6 – subject to any coronavirus restrictions which may be in place at the time. [Read the full story here]( Young children with autism not able to return to school next week, Scottish council tells parents Parents with young children in schools for pupils with additional needs in one Scottish council area have been told they will not be able to return to school full time next week – despite mainstream schools opening for five days for P1 to P3 classes. Parents and autism charities have warned of the impact the disruption will have on young children with the condition, saying that autistic youngsters will be “left behind” their mainstream peers. [Read more on this story here]( 10 of the best Scottish drag acts to watch in 2021 Lawrence Chaney and Ellie Diamond have been flying the flag for Scotland during season two of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. The show has proved immensely popular with the young and old and put the spotlight on the Scottish drag scene. We took a look at some of some of [Scotland’s best drag acts to watch in 2021.]( We're offering more FREE newsletters We're increasing the number of specialised newsletters we offer. During lockdown many of our readers like the convenience of us bringing the news to them via email. In March we'll be offering three new newsletters. Like this one they'll be totally free. - Scotsman politics: The latest Scottish political news and analysis from our specialist writers direct to your inbox (twice a week) - Opinion: Expert analysis and agenda-setting opinion from our team of columnists with insight from our comment editor (once a week) - History and Heritage: Features on Scottish history, heritage news, nostalgia and archive picture galleries (once a week) [Sign up to any of these for free right HERE.]( [‘Wee jab – nae bother’: Sir Billy Connolly receives second dose of coronavirus vaccine]( Scottish comedy legend Sir Billy Connolly has received his second dose of the coronavirus vaccine. [{$escapedtitle}]( [Article Image]( [RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Here are 10 Scottish queens you should look out for in 2021]( Helensburgh’s own Lawrence Chaney & Dundee’s Ellie Diamond have been flying the flag for Scotland during season two of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, but “great Scottish drag is not limited to the telly”. [Article Image]( [Argyll schoolboys save OAP’s life thanks to Heartstart project]( Two primary school pupils who were trained in first aid by a Rotarian volunteer have saved the life of an OAP who collapsed while rushing out to buy a morning paper. Promoted by West of Scotland Rotary [Article Image]( [Community bid to save historic Fife hotel beneath Forth Rail Bridge from flats plan]( A Fife community is preparing a bid to buy out a historic hotel to save it from being turned into flats. [Article Image]( [Scotland should be working with nature instead of against it - Steve Micklewright]( The eyes of the world will be on Scotland this November when the global climate conference – COP26 – rolls up in Glasgow, Covid permitting. [Article Image]( [Boris Johnson calls for new vaccines to be developed within 100 days in bid to save lives]( Boris Johnson has called for new vaccines to be developed within 100 days, vowing the move could prevent the UK from facing a repeat crisis like the coronavirus pandemic. [Article Image]( [Man arrested over bid to import gun and ammunition in Fife]( A man has been arrested in Fife in after an intelligence-led investigation into an attempt to bring a gun into the country, police say. [Dave Lewis]( [Scotland in the 1980s: Days out shopping]( Shopping habits and trends were changing at a faster pace than ever before, with thousands of Scots lapping up a more American model of consumerism – or at least those who could afford it. [Dave Lewis]( [Schoolboy memories of monkey and guinea pig experiments off Scottish island recalled]( Schoolboy memories of biological experiments conducted on monkeys and guinea pigs on a floating laboratory moored off the Isle of Lewis almost 70 years ago have been recalled. [Dave Lewis]( [Bob MacIntyre makes 'huge gains' in stats with new team member]( Bob MacIntyre may not be in Bryson De Chambeau’s league when it comes to a scientific approach to golf but he reckons a “boffin” has helped him break into the world’s top 50 for the first time. [Dave Lewis]( [How Rangers showed outstanding resilience to overcome injuries and VAR controversy in dramatic 4-3 win over Antwerp]( On a night when Steven Gerrard’s emotions must have ebbed and flowed in tandem with the breathless action which unfolded in front of him at the Bosuil Stadium, Rangers put themselves in pole position to reach the last 16 of the Europa League. [Dave Lewis]( [Liam Shaw inside track: A £2m talent, 70-yard mazy, shades of a current player]( The role likely to be earmarked for Liam Shaw when the 19-year-old joins up at Celtic in the summer isn’t straightforward to divine. [Dave Lewis]( [Edinburgh v Munster: Why Damien Hoyland is looking forward to feeling nervous again]( Damien Hoyland is looking forward to the familiar feeling of butterflies in his stomach as he prepares to make his long awaited comeback for Edinburgh this weekend. [View more news]( You have received this email as you are opted in to newsletters from The Scotsman, published by JPIMedia Publishing Ltd. To manage your individual newsletter preferences with us, please [click here]( and log in to your account. Alternatively you can [update]( your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive from JPIMedia Publishing Ltd, or [unsubscribe]( from all future emails. 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