The SNP's former Westminster leader Ian Blackford has joined successor Stephen Flynn in backing John Swinney to replace Humza Yousaf.

Earlier, Mr Flynn described Mr Swinney - a former leader of the party - as "a safe pair of hands" who "wants to see Scotland become a better place" (see 17.40 post).

Mr Blackford told Sky News he agrees.

"John brings a wealth of experience, a lifetime in politics both at Westminster and at Holyrood," he said.

He said he had "demonstrated fantastic leadership skills over a long period of time", including previous occasions on which the SNP has led a minority government at Holyrood.

With the party having been in power since 2007, he admitted it needs to "demonstrate we're worth of the trust of the public".

But he dismissed the prospect of an early election, pointing to the "extraordinary mandate" the SNP received at the 2021 election.

By Daniel Dunford, senior data journalist

There might not be a general election just yet, but there are important votes that will define how the areas around us are run for the next four years. 

See what's happening where you are here:

People voting in local elections in England on 2 May will need to provide photo ID.

It is the second year the requirement has been in place - but in 2023, 14,000 people couldn't cast their ballot because they didn't take ID to the polling booth.

There are 22 different types of ID you can use - and if you don't have any of them, you can register for a Voter Authority Certificate.

Here's everything you need to know to avoid being caught out:

By Trevor Phillips, presenter

I've known Rishi Sunak slightly for almost a decade, having first met him after he penned a thoughtful, comprehensive, well-received report on Britain's minority communities, which I'd say is still the best of its kind.

Sitting down to interview him in a state-of-the-art defence facility this week, I could still see the same energetic, likeable problem solver that I met back then, even if he's now surrounded by the prime ministerial cavalcade of aides, security, and media.

That Peloton and fasting regime are clearly doing their job. He's keen to show his detailed grasp of the situation, whether that's welfare reform, defence, or migration. It's easy to see why he shone in Silicon Valley and thrived in the Treasury.

However, in the political world he chose, there's a downside to being highly intelligent, disciplined, and super-focused on delivery, as they might say in California.

He betrays frustration with what he - not wholly unjustifiably - sees as a media obsession with polls and presentation.

Unfortunately, as Enoch Powell once pointed out, a politician who complains about journalists is like a sailor who doesn't much fancy being at sea.

Read the full analysis here:

Away from the drama in Scotland for a moment, and Sir Keir Starmer has described government proposals to overhaul disability benefits as "slightly farcical".

"The principle that those that can work should work is the right principle and that's why I have long supported reform. I'm very keen on the schemes that support people back into work," the Labour leader said.

Sir Keir said many people want to work and need support to do so, but waiting lists to get support are keeping people out of the workplace.

The government proposals being unveiled today are "slightly farcical," he said.

Sir Keir said: "The scheme they now say isn't working is their scheme.

"They designed it and put it in place and now 14 years later they say it's not working so there's an element of farce to it but obviously we'll look at the details when they come."

Stephen Flynn, the SNP's Westminster leader, has thrown his support behind former deputy first minister John Swinney to be the party's next leader.

Asked if Mr Swinney could head off the chance of a Scottish election, Mr Flynn told our deputy political editor Sam Coates: "I have absolute confidence that someone like John Swinney can do just that."

He added: "He is one of the leading figures in minority government of the past, and I sincerely hope he will be the leading figure of a minority government in going into the future."

Mr Flynn said it would be a government "focused on the economy, the NHS, and the cost of living crisis".

He said Humza Yousaf had been "very reflective about the hurt and upset" caused by his decision to end the SNP's powersharing agreement with the Scottish Greens.

Pressed why he is backing Mr Swinney and not Kate Forbes, Mr Flynn said he has an "unrivalled level of experience".

He said: "He's not just a safe pair of hands, he's someone who wants to see Scotland become a better place, who sees Scotland to have the opportunity to have a better future. 

"And that's why I'm hopeful that he takes on the role. And I think the public would demand from the SNP, serious politicians during these times. 

"They don't get much more serious, much better and much more experienced than John Swinney."

The Labour Party has an "ideological obsession" with private schools, an education minister has claimed.

Conservative MP Tom Hunt told the Commons he had met with the chief executive of a chain of independent schools, including special schools, who was "concerned about any proposal to put VAT on school fees".

Labour has vowed to add VAT to private school fees within its first year of government if it wins the next general election.

Mr Hunt said the person he'd spoken to fears it will "put up school fees and a lot of parents who are just about managing to send their kids to independent special schools would take them out."

In response, education minister David Johnston said "Labour's ideological obsession with private schools" would see the VAT extend to independent special schools, "making it harder for those families to afford the provision they need".

"It's just another example of the mess they'd make of our education system," he added.

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has resigned – days after he cut the SNP's powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens.

It followed a bitter row over the SNP's climbdown on climate targets as he said the agreement between the parties had "served its purpose".

As a result, his former Green allies teamed up with the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats to get behind two no-confidence motions, one in himself as leader of Scotland and another regarding the entire Scottish government.

Now attention turns to another SNP leadership contest and what the divisions in Scottish politics could mean for the future of the independence campaign.  

On the Sky News Daily, Matt Barbet speaks to Paul Hutcheon, political editor of the Daily Record, and Shona Craven, from The National, about how the SNP can move on after Mr Yousaf's resignation.

Plus, Connor Gillies, our Scotland correspondent, explains how the leadership election will unfold.  

Our flagship weeknight politics show Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge will be live on Sky News from 7pm - and it's been a hugely significant day.

The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.

Sophy will be joined by leader of the Scottish Conservatives Douglas Ross, deputy leader of the SNP Keith Brown, and former first minister Alex Salmond.

On her panel tonight are:

• Former Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt;
• Labour's Baroness Shami Chakrabarti.

Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.

With a general election looming, what counts as gains and losses for the main parties in next week's locals? 

Sky's election analyst Michael Thrasher tells us what to look out for: