Holyrood

The latest Holyrood news and views from expert Scotsman journalists at the Scottish Parliament

The Reform UK MSP group outside the Scottish Parliament.

Analysis Reform was always expected to lose an MSP - but not so quickly

Amanda Bland, right, is no longer a Reform UK MSP. Pic: Michael Gillen

Reform loses first MSP and drops into third place at Holyrood

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and First Minister John Swinney.

Can governments really work together? Rachel Amery

Green Party MSP, Q Manivannan is sworn in during the first meeting of the new Scottish Parliament on May 14, 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Q Manivannan loses bid to become rector of St Andrews University

Andy Burnham giving a speech in Motherwell on Friday

Analysis Andy Burnham robs SNP of ammunition by being constructive

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander during a visit to to a college in Motherwell

Burnham offers Scotland more powers in bid for deeper devolution

First Minister and party leader John Swinney speaks to the media at the SNP annual conference

SNP councillors revolt over local government reform plans

Andy Burnham will be giving his first major speech in Scotland (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Burnham offers to work with Swinney to push power out of Holyrood

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is due to visit Scotland on Friday – at the same time as the SNP conference is taking place (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Andy Burnham 'bounce' smaller for Labour in Scotland than rest of UK

John Cleese (left), a former rector of the University of St Andrews, has urged students not to vote for Scottish Greens MSP Q Manivannan (left) to become the new figurehead of the institution.

John Cleese urges St Andrews students not to vote for Q Manivannan

David Linden MSP

SNP MSP not named on baby loss certificate as he lives in Scotland

Prime Minister Andy Burnham

SNP invite Andy Burnham to conference ahead of visit to Scotland

John Swinney

Swinney will not be investigated over claims he misled Holyrood

The Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood

Half say Scotland ‘heading in wrong direction’

First Minister John Swinney and former first minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Swinney says he remains friends with Sturgeon despite criticism

Elizabeth Crammond said she wants the voices of other women to be heard.

Exclusive Bereaved mother to lead Holyrood maternity protest

First Minister John Swinney during a visit to Crieff this week (Picture: Jane Barlow - Pool/Getty Images)

Readers' Letters: Swinney wrong to swerve question on Scottish Greens

Alex Cole-Hamilton

Call for jobs guarantee for Scottish young people leaving care

The Scotch Whisky Association has lodged an appeal. (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Cross-border whisky row and a fight to preserve Scotland's single malt

Stephen Flynn

Flynn urged to refer himself for investigation over ferry 'cover up'

Health Secretary Angela Constance

Winter NHS deaths warning after SNP unveils 'flimsy' plans

Angela Hepworth of Scottish Renewables addresses the conference

ScotWind's promise punctured amid concerns over floating technology Jeremy Grant

Justice Secretary Neil Gray has described a dedicated sexual offences court as ‘necessary’

Rape crisis charity calls for clarity over new sexual offences court

A general view of the Scottish Parliament building, Holyrood, Edinburgh

Should MSPs be paid more for chairing Holyrood committees?

Michael Marra speaks in the Scottish Parliament

SNP public sector reform risks 'decade of distraction', warns Labour

Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon

Exclusive Complaint about Monica Lennon sent to Scottish Parliament chief

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton

Scottish Lib Dem leader defends ‘fake news' interviews in Holyrood

Construction work at the Hinkley Point nuclear power station in the south of England continues - but do we need such a facility in Scotland? (Picture: Adrian Dennis/ AFP via Getty)

Readers' Letters: Scotland does not want or need nuclear power stations

Ivan McKee waves to media

Exclusive Voluntary exit scheme opens for senior civil servants

Mairi McAllan gives evidence to Holyrood committee

McAllan: 'Still no cost for key pledge to reduce class contact time'

Torness Nuclear Power Station

Exclusive Labour Government will not override Holyrood to bring in new nuclear

The Scottish Baby Loss Collaborative was formed in 2024. Picture: Contributed

'Radical reform' needed in support for families who lose babies

Torness nuclear power station is due to close in 2030 (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Tories vow to change law to override SNP on new nuclear power

A worker holding up a farmed salmon

Exclusive Claims 'dark money' being used to lobby against salmon farming

Nearly 400 jobs are to be lost in Grangemouth as chemicals producer Syngenta prepares to cease operations in the town (Picture Michael Gillen)

Readers Letters: Syngenta shutdown shows Scottish government bad for business

Humza Yousaf ran against Ash Regan and Kate Forbes to be First Minister and SNP leader in 2023.

Humza Yousaf brands Kate Forbes leadership campaign 'disastrous'

First Minister John Swinney

FM accused of 'misrepresenting' Burnham after triple lock comments

Opening up Rosebank and Jackdaw would create more North Sea jobs and reduce reliance on imports, the Scottish Conservatives argue (Picture: Andy Buchanan)

MSPs reject Tory call for Jackdaw and Rosebank to get green light

Monica Lennon in the Scottish Parliament

Exclusive High-profile Labour MSP Monica Lennon faces bullying claims

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay and Brown and Blacks publican Katie Long

Landlord blames pub closure on SNP's anti-business policies

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth and First Minister John Swinney

SNP plans to shrink public sector workforce 'off course'

Senior education leaders gave evidence to a Holyrood committee

Warning 'value' of reducing class contact time 'impossible to know'

Historic Environment Scotland-run Linlithgow Palace (Pic: Getty Images)

HES staff survey review 'won't be pretty', interim CEO admits

Reform UK leader in Scotland, Lord Malcolm Offord, marched his MSPs out of the Holyrood chamber over a debate on independence

Watch: Reform MSPs storm out of Holyrood over independence debate

SNP plan to devolve some powers to new regional authorities

First Minister John Swinney at a Believe in Scotland rally.

SNP blasted for wasting more Holyrood time debating independence

Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra

Michael Marra vows to put education at the heart of Scottish politics

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries