Sturgeon at FMQs as councils face squeeze and gender row continues

First Minister's Questions on Thursday as local authorities across Scotland consider where to make cuts.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is facing questions from MSPs at Holyrood.

It comes as local authorities across Scotland make decisions about where to cut costs and by how much to increase council tax.

Ministers have said funding for councils will increase by £570m in cash terms next year, but local authority body Cosla has said this drops to just £71m when ring-fenced funding set aside for Government priorities is taken into account.

Ahead of a special SNP conference next month, a senior party MP has warned Sturgeon’s strategy of making the next Westminster general election a de facto referendum will not secure Scotland’s independence.

Sturgeon will also face questions about the Scottish Government’s gender recognition reforms as the row over policy affecting trans people continues.

On Wednesday, the Scottish Government revealed work to turn the A9 between Inverness and Perth into a dual carriageway will not be completed by its 2025 target.

You can follow all the latest from First Minister’s Questions on the STV News website.

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