Holyrood Elections 2021: Campaigning restarts in Scotland after a four day suspension following the death of Prince Philip

The campaign was put on hold on Friday after only two weeks of campaigning.

MSP’s observed a minute’s silence for the Duke of Edinburgh when the Scottish Parliament was recalled on Monday.

It is expected that candidates will take a break again on Saturday April 17 for Prince Philip’s funeral.

It comes as party leaders prepare to take part in the second televised debate of the campaign which will air on STV on Tuesday night.

Following the four-day suspension, it is now just over three weeks until polling stations open for the May election.

The suspension has happened before any of the five major parties had launched a manifesto.

The SNP is expected to announce plans to reduce schooling costs for parents whilst the Scottish Conservatives are to set out proposals for an armed forces and veterans bill.

A new campaign from Scottish Labour, who are pushing to overtake the Tories as the official opposition, will also be launched.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats are set to announce plans on home building whilst the Greens will announce their policies for the hospitality industry.

The pausing of an election campaign has previously been implemented during the 1997 devolution referendum campaign for a week after the death of Princess Diana, only resuming five days before polling.

The 2016 EU referendum campaign was also suspended following the murder of MP Jo Cox, again in the week before polling day.

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