Summary

  • First Minister John Swinney agrees "100%" with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar who condemned "violence on our streets" following the knife attack in Belfast on Monday night

  • There was disorder and three arrests in Glasgow city centre on Tuesday evening and further arrests on Wednesday in Greenock

  • The unrest in parts of Scotland followed an incident in Belfast in which Stephen Ogilvy was attacked. Hadi Alodid, from Sudan, has been charged with attempted murder

  • Reform UK's Malcom Offord; the Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay; Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findaly and Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton also condemned the violence. However, Offord was shouted down for saying immigration in Scotland was too high.

  • The Labour and Tory leaders raised the case of Peter Murrell who admitted embezzling £400,000 from the SNP when he was chief executive of the party. Both want a parliamentary inquiry into the matter, however, that call was rejected in a Holyrood vote. Instead a wider probe into the financing of political parties is expected to take part

Live Reporting

Edited by Catherine Lyst

  1. Analysis

    United front didn't last

    Andrew Kerr
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    Football caused a break of unity in the opening moments of First Minister's Questions.

    Both the Labour and the SNP leaders backed the Scotland team as they embark on their World Cup journey stateside,

    That united front was further reinforced by Anas Sarwar and John Swinney condemning the violence and disorder we saw on Scottish streets in the wake of the Belfast knife attack.

    It didn't last, though.

    Sarwar hit out at the SNP for not backing an inquiry into the Peter Murrell affair after it failed to receive support in parliament yesterday.

    Instead, there will be an investigation into all party finances.

    Sarwar argued that an inquiry would go beyond the inner workings of the SNP - and focus on what he sees were legitimate questions for other bodies such as the Crown Office, the Electoral Commission and HMRC.

    Swinney dismissed this as trying to score political points - claiming that Labour's deputy leader had come out with "gibberish" on the radio this morning.

  2. FM says Sarwar should acknowledge the failure of his strategy

    The first minister says FMQs is scrutiny and Sarwar failed to make the case for an inquiry yesterday and he must accept the democratic result of last night's vote.

    Swinney adds that the Scottish Labour leader will also have to accept the democratic outcome of the election.

    He says Sarwar should acknowledge the failure of his strategy.

  3. Sarwar calls on FM to agree terms of a 'meaningful inquiry'

    The Scottish Labour leader argues that he is talking about the institutions of this country and says his party will work with any review into party finances instigated by the Electoral Commission.

    Sarwar points out that Operation Branchform was an investigation into the governing party of Scotland.

    He says he has written to all political parties to ask for a meeting to agree the terms of reference and scope of any inquiry.

    Sarwar says scrutiny of government and institutions is the duty of parliament and he calls on Swinney to put country before party.

  4. 'I do not believe there is a case for an independent inquiry or a parliamentary inquiry'

    The first minister accuses Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie of talking "incoherent gibberish" on Radio Scotland Breakfast this morning.

    Swinney accuses Labour of trying to score "grubby political points" over this whole Peter Murrell issue and says they should be ashamed.

    He says his party is the victim of embezzlement and there has been a police investigation and a conviction.

    "I do not believe there is a case for an independent inquiry or a parliamentary inquiry into that issue," he adds.

  5. Background: Scottish Parliament rejects call for Peter Murrell inquiry

    Angus Cochrane
    BBC Scotland senior political reporter

    Peter Murrell outside the High Court in EdinburghPA Media

    Peter Murrell is due to be sentenced on 23 June

    The Scottish Parliament has rejected a call for an inquiry into the crimes of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell - instead backing a wider probe into the financing of political parties.

    Murrell - Nicola Sturgeon's estranged husband - has admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP, using the funds to buy goods ranging from a motorhome to toiletries.

    A Scottish Labour proposal, which said an inquiry was required "to restore public trust in Scottish politics", was rejected by parliament.

    First Minister John Swinney said a probe could not provide more answers than the four-year police investigation into Murrell, while the Greens argued it would be a waste of public money.

    The parliament ultimately backed a motion supporting an independent review into the finances of all parties and the influence of wealthy donors.

    The Green proposal was passed with the backing of SNP MSPs, however it is not binding.

    Read more here.

  6. 'Scots demand answers to these valid questions'

    The Scottish Labour leader says, on the issue of trust, last night the SNP voted down an inquiry into the lessons and implications of Operation Branchform and the conviction of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell.

    Sarwar insists: "There are issues raised that go beyond the internal workings of the SNP."

    "Scots demand answers to these valid questions," he says.

    Sarwar calls for the first minister to work cross-party on any inquiry.

  7. Swinney insists Scotland is a peaceful and welcoming country

    John Swinney turns to the disorder, and he says he agrees 100% with what Anas Sarwar said.

    The first minister adds: "This is a peaceful country, Scotland is a welcoming country and I will exercise the leadership, as I know Mr Sarwar will do, to make sure that Scotland always remains a tolerant, welcoming and inclusive country."

  8. 'No Scotland, no party' - FM

    John Swinney

    The first minister begins by addressing the comments on the World Cup and says he is looking forward "enormously" to travelling to Boston to support Scotland.

    "I extend my warmest wishes to Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson and to the whole of the Scotland men's team," he says.

    Swinney says he's wearing his "no Scotland, no party" tie to FMQs today.

  9. 'Scotland belongs to us all' - Anas Sarwar

    Anas Sarwar

    The Scottish Labour leader turns to more serious matters saying he was "horrified and angered by the knife attack in Belfast".

    Sarwar insists there is never any justification for violence and disorder on our streets.

    "This is not who we are, those that seek to divide us do not speak for us and Scotland belongs to us all."

    He asks if the first minister agrees that rebuilding trust in politics is a responsibility for all.

  10. FMQs begins

    Anas Sarwar gets to his feet and begins this week's First Minister's Questions.

    The Scottish Labour leader begins by wishing the Scotland football team and the Tartan Army the best of luck as the World Cup kicks off later today.

    This brings consensual clapping from around the chamber.

  11. Background: Two arrests and three police officers injured in protest at asylum hotel

    Protesters were met with a police presence outside the Greenock hotel

    Protesters were met with a police presence outside the Greenock hotel

    Two men have been arrested and three police officers injured during a protest outside a hotel in Greenock that has been used to house asylum seekers.

    Two police vehicles were damaged as items were thrown at officers near the Holiday Inn Express on Wednesday evening.

    It came 24 hours after disorder and a series of racist assaults in Glasgow following a knife attack in Belfast on Monday.

    Police Scotland said the arrested men were issued with fixed penalty notices for anti-social behaviour offences and further inquiries were ongoing.

  12. Analysis

    Questions expected on disorder

    Andrew Kerr
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    The shocking knife attack in Belfast and the subsequent disorder here in Scotland led the first minister to call out "thuggery" in one of the main stories so far this week.

    I think we can expect a number of questions about this as there was cross-party condemnation of this - particularly of the people who took to the streets in Glasgow.

    Two MSPs - Anas Sarwar of Labour and Iris Duane of the Greens - spoke about the fear and emotion they felt on Tuesday night.

    The Green Party in particular will probably be keen to speak about this to condemn "right-wing rhetoric".

  13. Background: C'mon Scotland! The Tartan Army arrives in Boston

    Jim Stewart (second left) and friends watched the pre-tournament friendly with BoliviaJim Stewart

    Jim Stewart (second left) and friends watched the pre-tournament friendly with Bolivia

    Now there is one good news story dominating the headlines this week and that is Scotland's triumphant return to the World Cup.

    There's no surprise today that wishing our boys well in Boston this weekend will be on the minds of the party leaders this FMQs.

    Thousands of Scotland fans are descending on the city after making the long journey to the US for the World Cup.

    Anticipation is building as the men's team prepare to play in the tournament for the first time in almost 30 years.

    Members of the Tartan Army have been arriving in the east coast of the US ahead of the opening fixture with Haiti, which will be played at 21:00 local time on Saturday - 02:00 BST on Sunday - for those watching back home.

    While dozens of fans have reported issues with travel permits being revoked at the last minute, thousands have already completed the journey.

    Christopher Currie from Ayr travelled to Boston with his son Hudson

    Christopher Currie from Ayr travelled to Boston with his son Hudson

  14. Analysis

    World Cup fever

    Andrew Kerr
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    World Cup fever has finally arrived - you can feel attention shifting from an intense period in Scottish politics to how our team might perform across the Atlantic.

    The first minister flies over the pond shortly and kicks off his football visit stateside with business and investor meetings in Boston tomorrow.

    I think we can expect a few questions on this - and contributions peppered with a bit of humour on what's to come.

  15. Welcome

    Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of First Minister's Questions at the new time of around 14:00.

    You can also watch the ministerial statement on improving maternity services across Scotland, scheduled for 14:30.

    We'll bring you reports and analysis throughout FMQs and, as ever, you can follow events in the chamber by clicking on the Watch Live icon at the top of this page.