Holyrood election: Campaigns suspended until Monday after Prince Philip's death

To date, the SNP, the Scottish Tories, Scottish Labour, Alba, the Greens and the LibDems have put their campaigns are on hold.

Talks have been taking place among the parties over how long the suspension should continue with sources saying it will likely be suspended during the period when Prince Philip lies in state.

This afternoon, the Scottish Conservatives announced their campaign would restart on Monday.

Party leader Douglas Ross said:  “In the middle of a political campaign, this is a reminder of what’s most important in life.

“We have lost a tremendous public servant who for decades served his Queen and country. My heartfelt condolences are with Her Majesty and all of the Royal Family.

“This is not the time for political campaigning. It is a time for national mourning.

“Out of respect for The Prince Philip, Her Majesty The Queen and all of the Royal Family, we have suspended our campaign until Monday.”

READ MORE: Holyrood election: Campaigns suspended after Prince Philip dies

The Alba Party leader and former First Minister Alex Salmond said the campaign should be suspended again on the day of Prince Philip's funeral.

“As a mark of respect, ALBA have suspended all election campaigning for today and public-facing campaigning of leafleting and loudspeakering over this weekend.

"We propose that the same should apply for the day of Prince Philip’s funeral, again as a mark of respect.”

One senior party figure earlier today told The National that while no decisions had yet been made, it was likely campaigning would stop for seven days with manifesto launches due to take place next week postponed until the following week.

"Clearly the news about Prince Philip has just come out. It has just happened, but the parties will discuss how long the suspension will last. These conversations are happening now. They are asking what is a respectful length of time to suspend the campaign?" said the insider.

"Nobody wants to be campaigning in a period of national mourning. Everybody accepts that it would be unsightly to do so, but the conversations will be had about how long that respectful period should be.

"Various parties had manifestos launches scheduled for the coming week, so I would expect one or some or all of these will be affected.

"The Queen Mother lay in state for a week, so if Prince Philip lies in state for a week, then we may well see a week's suspension."

However, other insiders said the suspension would be much shorter than a week.

The election campaign is due to step up a gear next week.

Scottish Labour are due to unveil their manifesto to voters on Monday, April 12. Two days later it will be the turn of the Scottish Greens with co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater making public the full details of their party’s election vows.

Then, the following day Nicola Sturgeon is due to publish the SNP manifesto with the document to put the independence case central to the party’s bid to win a record fourth term in government.

Willie Rennie’s is due to unveil the Lib Dems manifesto on Friday, April 16.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross told journalists earlier this week his party’s manifesto would be unveiled on Monday, April 19. He has been campaigning on the central message of stopping an SNP majority and a second independence referendum.

Alex Salmond’s new pro-independence Alba Party has yet to set an exact date for its manifesto launch, but party sources told The National on Thursday it will be out the week beginning April 19.

Buckingham Palace announced today that the Prince had died this morning, aged 99. He was was the longest-serving consort in British history.

The Duke and the Queen were married for more than 70 years.

He officially retired from public engagements in the summer of 2017.

READ MORE: Prince Philip: Nicola Sturgeon's statement after Duke of Edinburgh dies aged 99

The Palace said in a statement: "It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

"His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.
"Further announcements will made in due course.

"The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."

The death of the duke comes in the midst of the worst public health crisis for generations as the UK and countries around the globe reel from the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

It has also taken place in the aftermath of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's bombshell Oprah interview which left the monarchy in crisis after Meghan accused an unnamed royal of racism and the institution of failing to help her when she was suicidal.

Philip had returned to Windsor Castle on March 16 to be reunited with the Queen after spending a month in hospital - his longest ever stay.

He initially received care for an infection but then underwent heart surgery for a pre-existing condition.

File photo dated 04/09/17 of Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on the Queensferry Crossing

The Duke had looked gaunt as he was driven away from King Edward VII's Hospital in central London, having been pushed in a wheelchair to the waiting car.
Philip - father to the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex - was just two months away from his 100th birthday in June.

Philip briefly stepped out of retirement in July 2020 when he carried out a rare official public engagement at Windsor.

In April 2020, the Duke released his first major statement since his retirement, praising key workers including refuse and postal staff, for keeping essential services running during the pandemic.

He was also pictured with the monarch at the Berkshire castle to mark his 99th birthday on June 10, at the secret lockdown wedding of his granddaughter Princess Beatrice on July 17 and with the Queen to mark their 73rd wedding anniversary in November.