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Claire Irvin appointed Head of Travel of The Times and The Sunday…

Latest news.

Claire Irvin has been appointed Head of Travel of The Times and The Sunday Times, and will start this August. 

Reporting to John Witherow, editor of The Times, and Emma Tucker, editor of The Sunday Times, in this new role Claire will lead the award-winning travel team of writers. It will be her responsibility to oversee the travel section’s digital-first publishing strategy and travel based editorial commercial projects such as Times Travel.

Claire is a respected journalist and experienced digital operator, and joins after five years in the role of Head of Travel at The Telegraph. She is also an experienced magazine editor, and previously was editor-in-chief of SHE magazine, editor at large of Grazia, acting editor of Company, and has worked at Red, InStyle and teen magazines Sugar and ElleGirl. 

Claire Irvin said;  “I’m delighted to be joining The Times and The Sunday Times at this exciting time in their digital transformation, and developing their quality travel journalism into an irresistible world of inspiration, innovation and expert advice for their readers. 

  Despite the challenges that international travel continues to face, its importance in the lives of The Times’ subscribers has never been greater, and I can’t wait to surprise and delight them with brilliant journalism showcasing the opportunities that await them, across all platforms. Here’s to new adventures!”

John Witherow said;  “I’m delighted Claire is joining to head-up our travel team. She will be a great asset in ensuring we are maximising the reach and commercial potential of our distinct and engaging travel content.”

Emma Tucker said;   “I am really pleased Claire is joining our world-class travel team in this integral new role. She has exceptional journalism, editing and digital experience and I look forward to working with her.”

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These are the ferries to avoid this summer

As a new report reveals the best and worst routes from the uk, here’s our guide to making your next trip plain sailing.

A holiday by ferry can be a wonderful thing, replacing the hassle and guilt of flying with the freedom of no-weight-limit packing (“just throw it in!”), the chance to keep the family together — Fido can come too, as can the bikes and paddleboards — and a supermarket sweep of cheese and wine on the way back.

However, ferry travel isn’t always plain sailing — post-Brexit rules and port staff strikes have played their part in long queues and missed departures. And from October, if it’s not postponed again, the UK will become subject to the Entry/Exit System, which will require every passenger to be fingerprinted and to have their facial biometrics scanned. Delays are expected.

However, while the port queue may be a great leveller, all ferries are not created equal, as underlined by a new report from the consumer group Which?, revealing the best and worst ferry companies to France, Ireland and the rest of Europe.

Journeys on the Dover to Calais route in particular have been plagued by high demand, strikes, poor weather and slow processing times, with waits of up to 17 hours reported by travellers in April. These are not necessarily the fault of the ferry companies, but according to the Which? Travel survey of UK passengers, the route is one of the poorest.

Dover-Calais services attracted the lowest scores in the survey, regardless of operator. Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries and DFDS all received just two stars for food and drink quality and lavatory facilities on the route. Better-rated services between the UK and France included those to Dunkirk, St Malo and Roscoff.

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Brittany Ferries came out on top for its England-France services, with its Plymouth-Roscoff and Portsmouth-St Malo routes receiving the best consumer scores in total, 88 per cent and 80 per cent respectively. DFDS was rated best for Dover to Calais crossings, with an overall score of 69 per cent.

However, the report recommends avoiding Calais altogether for a Dover-Dunkirk ferry, which often costs the same and deposits you just 30 minutes’ drive east along the French coast from the busier port. “Sailings are 30 minutes longer, but Dunkirk port is much quieter, and passengers reported boats with more space on board and better quality facilities,” Rory Boland, the editor of Which? Travel, said.

For trips to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Stena Line racked up the highest scores. The same operator’s Harwich-Hook of Holland route also beat Netherlands routes from P&O Ferries, with an 85 per cent score, including five-star ratings for customer service, cabins and lavatories. Meanwhile, Irish Ferries scored top for the Pembroke to Rosslare route, with a 70 per cent consumer score.

• 40 best no-fly holidays for an eco-friendly getaway • 10 of the best no-fly cruises

The lowest scorers for UK-France routes were P&O Ferries and Irish Ferries, with a 55 per cent and 54 per cent score respectively. P&O Ferries was rated Best to Avoid, with the report referencing the company’s controversial mass sackings in 2022, as well as poor survey scores for facilities, food, drink and lavatories.

The survey of Which? members gathered ratings and reviews for nearly 2,000 ferry passenger experiences over the past three years, with consumers rating operators on customer service, the booking process, food and drink, lavatories and value for money.

One P&O Ferries customer who travelled to Calais told Which?: “I couldn’t believe how poor P&O Ferries are now compared with a few years ago. The staff are poor and the food was dreadful. A plate of fish and chips looked as if it had done several crossings.”

The report also drew attention to operational problems with ferry routes that island-dwellers rely on for regular transport. The Isle of Man Steam Packet line between Heysham in Lancashire and the island’s capital, Douglas, only managed a 56 per cent score, with only two stars for facilities. “Long-suffering islanders complain about poor facilities, too many cancellations and ‘sky-rocketing prices’,” the report said. Meanwhile, railing against frequent cancellations by CalMac, the Hebrides ferry operator, one passenger said: “Making a booking is like hitting a gambling button and hoping for the best.”

Boland said: “Taking a ferry should be a simple and relaxing way to travel, but all too often we’ve heard from passengers dismayed by long delays, dirty boats and a lacklustre food offering after sailing with the worst-rated operators.

“Unsurprisingly, given the regular disruption to sailings between Dover and Calais, all providers on the UK’s most popular ferry route were rated poorly.

“If you can, sail with Brittany Ferries, whose Plymouth to Roscoff route is unmatched for journeys to France.”

Three holidays by ferry on the best-rated routes:

1. beach gîte near roscoff, france.

Supervised by lifeguards in season, Pouldu beach is a long, little-developed sweep of dune-backed pale sand in Brittany’s Finistère department. Couples can stay just ten minutes’ walk away in a bright, open-plan apartment with sea views. The elegant nearby town of St-Pol-de-Léon holds a good farmers’ market on Tuesdays, while attractive Roscoff — only four miles away, and served by Brittany Ferries from Plymouth — is famed for crêpes, seafood soups (best paired with local ciders) and thalassotherapy spas. Details Seven nights’ self-catering for two from £864, including return ferry travel for two with a car (brittany-ferries.co.uk)

2. Le Touquet, northern France

Known for its silvery sand dunes and extensive cycling paths, Le Touquet is a chic little seaside town stacked with cheesemongers, patisseries and a historic food market. It’s less than an hour’s drive from Calais, where you’ll arrive on your top-rated DFDS ferry service (or take Which?’s tip and travel to Dunkirk, adding 30 minutes to the drive). You’ll stay at the chic, self-catering La Parenthèse Touquettoise apartment, a short stroll from the town’s beach, with a balcony, kitchenette and close proximity to restaurants for just-caught seafood. Details Five nights’ self-catering for two from £427pp, including return ferry travel for two with a car (dfds.com)

3. Netherlands self-drive tour

For a whistle-stop tour around the land of tulips, clogs and international justice, try this self-guided week in the Netherlands. You’ll take Stena Line’s passenger-approved ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, then stop in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and the Hague and stay in three and four-star hotels. Amsterdam’s charms go without saying, but Rotterdam is increasingly loved by city-breakers for its modern architecture, cutting-edge museums and docklands warehouses turned food venues. Details Seven nights’ room only from £520pp, including return ferry travel for two with a car (sembo.co.uk)

What’s your favourite ferry route? Let us know in the comments below

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7 epic day trips you can take by train from Union Station

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Unpopular opinion: The train is the best mode of vacation transportation.

I’ll take the ease of ticket purchasing, relaxed atmosphere in the stations and breathtaking scenery of train travel over the stress of flying and angst of driving any day. I’ve ridden the train up and down the Southern California coast, taken the three-day Amtrak journey from L.A. to Seattle (twice!), spent a couple of days in a scenic car over the Canadian Rockies and traveled by rail in Europe and Japan. My observation is that people are just nicer when they’re traveling by train — except for that one guy who glared at me when my coffee splashed near him as we went over a particularly bumpy bridge in Oregon.

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Dennis Mukai, an artist who lives in Ojai and travels frequently to San Juan Capistrano, San Diego and San Luis Obispo, started taking the train in 2018 when the horrific Montecito mudslides closed the 101 Freeway. “It’s now been six years,” he said. “ I rarely opt to drive as the train gives me the opportunity to read, catch up on my work or catch up on sleep.”

Taking a day trip via Amtrak is a great way to get a taste of train travel without committing to a multiday trip. In this guide, I highlight seven trips that start at Union Station, take three hours or less each way and have plenty of fun things to do within walking distance of the stations.

First, some travel tips:

• Make your time at Union Station part of your itinerary. There’s nothing like walking through the majestic entrance and halls to experience all the romanticism of train travel. You can even kick off your trip at with a celebratory Bloody Mary at classic restaurant and bar Traxx . There are several parking options. Lot B, which is right in front of the entrance, usually has plenty of open spots and is $16 for the entire day. Other lots will get you closer to the tracks, but you’ll miss out on walking through the beautiful lobby.
• You might consider upgrading to business class, as the price difference is not that significant (a recent search for a fare from L.A. to Santa Barbara was only $16 more than coach). The upsell will get you benefits such as priority boarding, less crowded cars, more leg room, a dedicated attendant, complimentary drinks and coffee and a surprisingly substantial snack box (mine had crackers, cheese, hummus, dried fruit, a beef stick and brownie crisps).
• You can bring your own food on the train — unlike with air travel, no one will throw out your $20 smoothie. There’s also the Market Café on the Pacific Surfliner, which sells snacks, light meals and beverages including coffee, beer and wine.

If you’re hoping to catch the most stunning scenery, where you sit makes a difference. If you’re heading north of L.A., try to snag a seat on the left side of the train. After leaving Union Station, you’ll roll through city stops like Glendale, and the Bob Hope Airport, and then start seeing some lush valley and agricultural views. After that, you’ll ride through the tunnels of the Santa Susana Pass and get a glimpse of the craggy rock formations in Chatsworth. Once you hit Oxnard, you’ll be in for some breathtaking vistas of the Pacific Ocean and beaches.

Heading south, a seat on the right side of the train will get you some great views once you pass San Juan Capistrano. Up until this point you’ll be inland and rolling through city stops, but some of the stations are beautiful and should be noted. You might recognize the massive Mediterranean-style station in Santa Ana from the TV series “True Detective” and the movie “Rain Man,” and the stop at the Anaheim station gives you a perfect view of Anaheim Stadium. After San Juan Capistrano, you’ll be treated to gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and beaches, and destinations for future trips, like the San Clemente Pier.

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36 Hours on Maui

By Shannon Wianecki April 25, 2024

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By Shannon Wianecki Photographs by Michelle Mishina Kunz

Shannon Wianecki grew up in Hawaii and writes about the islands regularly.

Maui is the Goldilocks island: It is neither too big nor too small, and for its three million annual visitors, its perfect year-round temperature, rainbow-splashed volcanic summits and sugary beaches are just right. But last August, Maui’s equilibrium met disaster. Catastrophic wildfires reduced the historic town of Lahaina to ash, claiming more than 100 lives . Conflicting messages urged visitors to stay away and let the island heal, but also to come and help sustain the economy. Eight months later, the message is more unified that Maui is ready to greet tourists again. Housing remains a critical need for displaced residents. Lahaina will take years to rebuild. But Maui’s inherent beauty and hospitality remain as vibrant as ever. It’s a great time to explore Central and South Maui, where new cocktail bars, outrigger canoe tours and Indigenous art exhibits reveal the community’s creativity and resilience.

Recommendations

• The 10,000-foot summit of Haleakalā National Park (pronounced with an emphasis on “la”) has a view of the rising sun, volcanic vistas and some of the planet’s rarest plants and birds.
• The Hale Hō‘ike‘ike museum showcases Hawaiian artwork, carved deities and a redwood plank surfboard owned by the legendary swimmer and surfer Duke Kahanamoku.
• Balai Pata is a new restaurant that celebrates Filipino flavors with savory soups, desserts big enough for two and monthly karaoke nights.
• The Wailea Beach Path meanders along South Maui’s photogenic coast between posh resorts and the deep blue Pacific.
• The hiking trails at ‘Īao Valley State Monument (pronounced EE-ow) penetrate the lush West Maui Mountains, winding past waterfalls and taro patches.
• Enormous murals by Small Town Big Art , a public art project, in colorful and historic Wailuku town, are worth taking a stroll to see, and they’re navigable by an online map.
• Blue Water Rafting ’s exhilarating tours of the Kanaio Coast explore hidden coves, sea caves and charismatic marine life.
• Ho‘okipa Beach Park , one of the world’s top surf spots, is also a great place to spy on napping sea turtles.
• Oao Sushi Bar & Grill offers beautifully prepared Japanese fare, such as inventive sushi rolls and purple-yam pot de crème, in a Wailea shopping center.
• Tikehau Lounge serves seasonal craft cocktails made with local spirits and garnished with tiny katana swords and surfboards.
• Kaohu Store is a mom-and-pop grocery that produces the island’s best poke, raw fish mixed with traditional seasonings such as ground kukui nuts and seaweed.
• Tails Up Maui , a partnership between a local chef and a fisherman, serves excellent fish sandwiches and chicken plates.
• Wailuku Coffee Co. is the place to stop for Maui-grown coffee or espresso while exploring Wailuku.
• Esters Fair Prospect , a charming tropical bar on Wailuku’s Main Street, serves daiquiris made with a choice of three dozen rums and appetizers featuring fresh marlin.
• Mama’s Fish House , a celebrated restaurant on a secluded lagoon, lists the names of the fishermen who caught the snapper and octopus on its menu.
• On Saturday mornings, the Upcountry Farmers Market is a miniature street fair with live music and vendors offering a bounty of Maui-grown produce and prepared foods.
• ‘Oko‘a Farm Store sells a cornucopia of organic tropical fruits and vegetables in fresh, dried and powdered form.
• T. Komoda Store and Bakery , which has served the Maui community for more than a century, sells out of its cream puffs and butter rolls daily.
• Sabado Art Gallery is where the local artist Philip Sabado paints, teaches workshops and sells his color-saturated impressions of Maui landscapes and hula dancers.
• Native Intelligence offers a wealth of Hawaiian art and fashion: Locals come here for Aloha shirts and sarongs, fine jewelry and fresh flower leis.
• Four Seasons Resort Maui sets the standard for service with poolside spritzes, immaculate housekeeping and a terrific complimentary kids’ camp. Guests can book spa treatments in oceanfront huts and outrigger canoe excursions that launch from the resort’s adjoining beach. Rooms start at $1,095 a night.
• Hotel Wailea is an adults-only boutique hotel on a hill overlooking South Maui. While not directly on the beach, it’s only a short shuttle ride away. Elegant suites are spacious (750 square feet with kitchenettes) and the Birdcage lounge is a prime spot for toasting the sunset. Rooms start at $799.
• Maui Kamaole is a condo complex across the street from Kama‘ole Beach Park III, between Wailea and Kihei on Maui’s south shore. One- and two-bedroom units feature full kitchens, laundry facilities and lush landscaping. Rooms start at $500.
• Since the recent fire intensified the housing shortage, visitors should avoid short-term rentals in residential areas. Instead, book hotels that offer in-room kitchens, such as Fairmont Kea Lani or Mana Kai Maui .
• The best way to explore the island is by car . The major rental companies each have kiosks at Kahului Airport. Taxis and ride-hailing services are available, but long distances between destinations make this an expensive option. Maui’s public transit is limited. The Maui Bus operates 12 routes, including two that stop at the airport. One-way fares cost $2; day passes are $4.

Wailea Beach Path

The Wailea Beach Path , which meanders along the island’s southern coast, reflects Maui’s almost contradictory personas: On one side, opulent resorts flaunt swim-up bars and nightly torch-lighting ceremonies. A subtler drama unfolds on the opposite side, where native flora like honey-scented naio bushes, spiky hala trees and hibiscus blossoms flourish along the rocky shoreline. Sit and listen to the sea rush through the lava rocks as the sun drops between three islands: Lanai, Kahoolawe and tiny Molokini. In the 1970s, nine Native Hawaiians occupied Kahoolawe in defiance of the U.S. military, which had been using the island as a bombing range for decades. Their daring protest sparked what is now known as the Hawaiian Renaissance — a revival of Indigenous culture that continues today.

Head to Oao Sushi Bar & Grill in the Wailea area for beautifully prepared Japanese fare. The owner and head chef, J.R. Oao, sharpened his knife at Maui’s best sushi bars (including a stint at Nobu Lana‘i) before opening his first brick-and-mortar restaurant last year (he also has a food truck in Kihei, a few miles north). His signature rolls are balanced and inventive: Try the baked California roll ($22), served hot and loaded with shrimp and scallops. Juicy seared lamb chops rest on a smear of umami-rich red miso ($42). Even the salads impress — bright cilantro vinaigrette with a hint of horseradish enlivens a simple mix of Maui-grown greens, roasted corn and goat cheese ($16). For dessert, the ube pot de crème ($14), made from purple yam, is luscious, light and almost cartoonishly bright.

The name of Tikehau , a new lounge in Wailea, means “peaceful landing.” The bar, which opened in November and is quietly raising the standard for craft cocktails statewide, was true to its name for Mari Howe, its manager, and other staff who came to work here after losing jobs or homes to the Lahaina fire. Everything is thoughtfully selected, from the gold-leaf wallpaper to the crystal stemware. Garnishes are coveted souvenirs; a tiny surfboard floats atop the Thousand Peaks ($19) — a lagoon-blue Paloma topped with jasmine-tea “sea foam.” The Hawaiian Samurai ($50), a top-shelf-whiskey libation, comes with a miniature katana sword. Ms. Howe’s seasonal menu incorporates local spirits and mixers: fresh pineapple juice, Kō Hana rum and okolehao, a moonshine made from Hawaiian ti plants. Upscale snacks include poisson cru, a raw-fish dish ($25), and smoked taro hummus ($15).

Explore the rugged Kanaio Coast’s hidden coves and sea caves with a rafting tour.

This morning mission requires preparation. First, book a sunrise reservation at Haleakalā National Park well in advance ($1 permit, $30 park entrance). Then pack really warm clothes. In the darkness, drive slowly up the 10,000-foot volcano; fog often obscures cattle and native geese loitering in hairpin turns. Your efforts will be rewarded at the peak — first by the velvet sky awash with stars, then by the sun’s rays spilling across the fire-forged mountain. Notice how the silverswords (hedgehog-like plants that grow only here) sparkle in the golden light. As you descend, stop at Hosmer Grove , where a short hike leads to a forest full of Hawaiian honeycreepers , birds that are among some of the planet’s rarest.

Midway down Haleakalā, stop at the Upcountry Farmers Market . Every Saturday morning, the Kulamalu Town Center parking lot turns into a miniature street fair with live music and vendors offering a dizzying array of Maui-grown produce and prepared foods. You’ll find things to eat immediately — fresh coconut, vegan sweet-potato cheesecake and Venezuelan arepas — as well as things to stash in your suitcase, like passion-fruit butter and macadamia nuts. Don’t miss the ‘Oko‘a Farm Store , which migrated from the market into an adjacent storefront. The store’s 46-acre farm supplies a cornucopia of tropical fruits and vegetables; its shelves teem with jars of pickled, powdered, and freeze-dried treats and tonics.

Baldwin Avenue

Take the scenic drive back to sea level through historic Makawao and Paia towns. Bordered by a rodeo arena and a polo field , Makawao is the charming headquarters of the paniolo, Hawaiian cowboys who continue to rope and ride across the island’s lush ranchlands. On the corner of Makawao and Baldwin Avenues you’ll see T. Komoda Store and Bakery ; this beloved family-run business, which has served the community since 1916, sells out of its cream puffs and butter rolls daily. Follow Baldwin past the defunct sugar mill to Paia. Once a busy sugar plantation hub surrounded by green cane fields, it’s now home to surfers and artists. As you pass Baldwin Beach, admire the view of the rain-carved West Maui Mountains. The morning light often reveals the hidden interior of ‘Īao Valley, your next destination.

Wailuku River

Head to Kaohu Store in Wailuku for lunch to go. This mom-and-pop grocery offers the island’s best poke — raw fish mixed with traditional seasonings such as ground kukui nuts and seaweed (from $18 a pound). Add two scoops of rice and crunchy fern salad for a truly local meal. If you prefer a cooked lunch, visit Tails Up Maui for a classy fish sandwich ($19) or mochiko (rice flour) fried chicken ($17). Take your picnic to Kepaniwai Park , where model houses commemorate the diverse cultures of Hawaii’s sugar plantation era, and dip your feet into the Wailuku River. Continue to ‘ Īao Valley State Monument (out-of-state visitors need reservations; $5 entrance fee, $10 parking). Paved walkways wind through a traditional lo‘i kalo (taro patch), past multiple waterfalls and up to a stunning lookout.

Peruse the art and artifacts at Hale Hō‘ike‘ike , a captivating repository of Hawaiian culture in the former home of the missionary-artist Edward Bailey. Exhibits showcase Hawaiian feather work and quilts, carved deities, and paintings depicting 19th-century Maui. Imagine trying to paddle the legendary swimmer and surfer Duke Kahanamoku’s redwood plank surfboard into the waves (entry, $10). From there, stroll through Wailuku, Maui’s somewhat sleepy seat of local government. Narrow side streets yield many treasures: See enormous street murals (use the online map by Small Town Big Art , a public art project), admire the color-saturated paintings at Sabado Art Gallery and find refreshment at Wailuku Coffee Co. or Esters Fair Prospect , a cocktail bar. After shopping for Hawaiian books and clothing at Native Intelligence , buy yourself a fragrant flower lei to wear for the duration of your trip.

At Balai Pata , a new Filipino restaurant in Kahului, a celebration of the flavors that the chef and owner Joey Macadangdang grew up with is a welcome addition to Maui’s restaurant scene. Plump Kauai prawns sauteed in garlicky fish sauce ($17) set the stage for savory sinigang ($30) — tamarind broth loaded with long beans, okra and fish. For dessert, two can share the halo-halo ($18) — crushed ice topped with avocado, ube ice cream, coconut cream and fruit jellies, served in a coconut shell. The décor reflects a bright, homespun aesthetic, and once a month, local families fill the restaurant for late-night happy hour and karaoke battles — check Instagram for dates.

Jumping into a pool in Kepaniwai Park.

Blue Water Rafting

A trip to Maui isn’t complete without ducking underwater to spy on clouds of striped manini fish, eagle rays and turtles. While most snorkel tours start at Mā‘alaea Harbor, Blue Water Rafting boards at the Kihei boat ramp — offering easier access and one of the only tours of Kanaio Coast’s hidden coves and sea caves ($179, four hours). Climb into the rigid-hulled raft beside two dozen other passengers (fewer than the big tour boats) and watch for dolphins. In winter, close encounters with whales are common. As you peer into the pristine bay formed by Maui’s youngest lava flow, imagine the Polynesian wayfinders sailing here centuries ago, followed by the French explorer La Pérouse in 1786. The ride is exhilarating but bumpy.

Don’t be shy: Wear your flower lei to lunch at Mama’s Fish House . Old-style hospitality reigns at this celebrated restaurant on a sheltered lagoon. Servers greet you in vintage Aloha wear and offer complimentary bowls of poi (pounded taro — a staple of the traditional Hawaiian diet). The menu is pricey but worthy; long before it was fashionable, Mama’s listed who caught each fish and where. A recent menu featured sea bass hooked by Ivan Ventura in Hana ($68). If you ordered only dessert, you’d still leave happy; the Polynesian Black Pearl ($24) is an edible version of “The Birth of Venus”: chocolate mousse and passion fruit ensconced in a cookie seashell. Tables can book up a year out. After lunch, drive two minutes east to Ho‘okipa Beach Park , where surfers carve waves and sea turtles bask on the sand.

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Politics latest: Scottish first minister Yousaf resigns after 'biggest political miscalculation of his career'

Humza Yousaf has announced his resignation as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister following the fallout from his decision to end the SNP's powersharing agreement with the Scottish Greens.

Monday 29 April 2024 18:25, UK

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• Coming up on Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge at 7pm
• Yousaf quits as Scottish FM after ending powersharing deal
• Outgoing SNP leader admits he 'underestimated' hurt caused
• The contenders who could replace him in Scotland's top job
• Analysis: The biggest political miscalculation of Yousaf's career
• Explained: How did we get here - and what happens next?
• Daily podcast: Does this spell end for Scottish independence?
• Live reporting by Faith Ridler and (earlier)  Samuel Osborne

Humza Yousaf's decision to sack the Green Party from his coalition ultimately triggered a series of events that sealed his political fate, our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies reports.

"It was the biggest political miscalculation of his career that sealed the fate of the first minister," he said, speaking after Mr Yousaf announced he will step down ( see 12.04 post ).

Ending the three-year powersharing deal at Holyrood was a "fatal mistake" which saw the "walls come closing in".

Those close to Mr Yousaf had suggested that agreement "had become a liability within government and many in the SNP were uneasy about how many strings they were pulling".

"So he got rid of them and that triggered a set of events in motion that ultimately led to this moment and ultimately led to his demise."

No confidence votes

No confidence motions were looming at the Scottish parliament later this week, and he was facing wipeout and a backlash of "no" votes from the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party, who were furious. 

"And then at that stage there was a suggestion that the ALBA party, Alex Salmond's party, would prop up the SNP government with their one MSP, Ash Regan," Gillies added. 

"That was just a step too far. Allies and sources close to Scotland's first minister said, 'look, that would be like doing a deal with the devil'. 

"So, there was only one other option and that was to resign."

Stepping in for Sturgeon

Gillies added an "interesting" element to this is how Mr Yousaf said to Sky News just 48 hours ago he would defy that vote of no confidence.

"On a human level, this is a man who is well-liked within the SNP," Gillies said. 

"He is a man who stepped up to the plate when Nicola Sturgeon stepped down last year, and he was always going to have a battle ahead."

But even his closest of allies, Gillies said, would realise "he was not Nicola Sturgeon, and he did not command her authority".

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:

By Adam Boulton , Sky News commentator

We have been warned. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's pre-election pitch to voters this week was to place the nation on "war footing".

On a lightning visit to Poland and Germany, countries redolent of bloody war in Europe, he announced "a completely funded plan" to raise annual UK defence spending to 2.5% of national income over the next five to six years.

Tony Blair flew to the US to deliver one of the defining speeches of his 10 years in power. His immediate task was to persuade a reluctant President Bill Clinton to commit to NATO's defence of Kosovo against Serbian aggression.

He set it in the context of a broader ideology which became known as "humanitarian" or "liberal interventionism".

The contrast in tone is stark between Mr Blair's positive argument for the use of force in some circumstances and Mr Sunak's urgent plea that "we must do more to defend our country, our interests and our values".

More than 7,000 migrants have arrived in the UK so far this year after crossing the Channel - a new record for the first four months of the year.

Home Office figures show some 500 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK on Friday and Saturday alone, taking the provisional total for the year to date to 7,167.

It exceeds the previous record high of 6,691 for January to April 2022 and has already surpassed the 5,946 arrivals in the first four months of last year.

The figures mean arrivals are 24% higher than this time last year and 7% higher than at this point in 2022.

No crossings were recorded on Sunday.

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