UK politics news - live: Legal fight launched over care home rules as polls say it’s ‘all over’ for Alba Party

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

The government is facing a legal fight from campaigners over its guidance banning people in residential care over the age of 65 from taking trips outside their homes.

John’s Campaign, an initiative advocating for relatives to have better access to their loved ones in residential care, has accused the government of acting unlawfully by imposing a “discriminatory” blanket ban.

The advocacy group has said the Equality Act 2010 blocks the kind of “discriminatory approach” it said the government is taking on home care rules.

The campaign is also fighting to see rules requiring anyone who leaves a care home to self-isolate for 14 days overturned.

Meanwhile, Alex Salmond’s pro-independence Alba Party could be “over” before it has even begun, with new polling suggesting the party is on course to claim zero seats in next month’s Holyrood election.

A Survation survey marking the first test of support for the new party found that only 3 per cent of Scottish voters would back Alba on the ballot.