Scottish Conservatives

The latest Scottish Conservative Party news from expert Scotsman journalists and contributors

Youths wearing balaclavas have become a feared sight in many towns and cities (Picture: Darren Staples)

SNP must be bold and crack down on balaclava-clad thugs Scotsman comment

Health Secretary Angela Constance

Winter NHS deaths warning after SNP unveils 'flimsy' plans

The Tories have accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of dithering

Tories to force Holyrood vote on Rosebank and Jackdaw

Michael Stoney, the governor of HMP Barlinnie

Exclusive Barlinnie boss worries about infrastructure collapse 'every day'

John Swinney's Programme for Government pledged a radical reduction in NHS bureaucracy (Picture: Jane Barlow/WPA pool)

Are SNP's plans to cut NHS health boards already starting to unravel? Scotsman comment

John Swinney has pledged to reform social care

Three need to die before one person can get care home bed, MSPs told

John Swinney

John Swinney urged to give full details on public sector reforms

John Swinney urged to ditch 'eye-watering' mansion tax plans

Andrew Bowie and Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch moves shadow Scotland Secretary in Tory reshuffle

New statistics show an increase in cancer rates in Scotland over the past decade.

'Shameful': SNP ministers warned of 'ticking timebomb' of cancer cases

Edinburgh Airport chief: Scottish private jet tax 'deeply unhelpful'

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, who was the victim of an acid attack in 2015 while working as a journalist

Findlay: My attacker would have been out years earlier under SNP plans

Direct Scotland-Europe Channel Tunnel Sleeper trains plan revived

Isle of Islay was in dock for two weeks in July

Fresh disruption as CalMac's newest ferry faces more repair works

A platform in the North Sea, around 100 miles east of Aberdeen

Burnham pressed to urgently back new North Sea drilling

Firefighters on day three of the Cairngorms wildfire

Swinney to visit Cairngorms as questions over wildfire response grow

Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser called it a 'shocking waste of taxpayers’ money'

Hundreds of Scots public sector workers suspended on full pay

The charities say the proposals at the UK Parliament do not go far enough

LGBT charities tell SNP ministers to introduce conversion therapy ban

A general view of staff on a NHS hospital ward. PIC: Jeff Moore/PA Wire

'National scandal' as 2.4m Scots wait too long at A&E

The majority of mansions in Scotland are in Edinburgh.

SNP's £16m 'mansion tax' threatens 'lasting harm' to housing market

Fife Council Conservative group leader quits party – and joins Labour

SNP ministers are being told to utilise Scotland’s geothermal potential.

Exclusive Ignoring 'significant' gothermal power source 'risks energy security'

Monklands Hospital

SNP halt plans for new £2.1bn Monklands Hospital over financial woes

Politicians have spoken to journalists in the Scottish Parliament for years (Picture: Andy Buchanan)

MSPs must oppose Scottish Parliament attempt to restrict press freedom Scotsman comment

Kemi Badenoch's clear message about getting drilling for North Sea oil and gas was key to victory in the Aberdeen South by-election (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Why the Scots Tories finally have a UK leader they aren't ashamed of Murdo Fraser

A general view of staff on an NHS hospital ward

Rise in NHS hospital admissions following private treatment

The Tories' Douglas Lumsden (front row centre) celebrates with supporters at P&J Live in Aberdeen after winning the Aberdeen South by-election

SNP infighting begins after thumping defeat in Aberdeen by-election

Douglas Lumsden and the Scottish Conservatives celebrate after winning the Aberdeen South by-election.

Breaking Conservatives pull off stunning victory in Aberdeen South by-election

First Minister John Swinney with the SNP's candidate in the Aberdeen South by-election, Richard Thompson

Future of oil and gas 'on the line' as polls open in by-elections

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch campaigns for Aberdeen South candidate Douglas Lumsden during a visit to Cove Rangers FC in Aberdeen, ahead of the Aberdeen South by-election

Analysis Aberdeen South: Kemi Badenoch on a war footing for high stakes vote

Peter Murrell arrives at the High Court in Edinburgh

Badenoch: John Swinney's hands 'not clean' in Peter Murrell scandal

UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch

Tories winning Aberdeen South would give oil industry 'kiss of life'

Peter Murrell, pictured in court.

Murrell told family of SNP donor to 'only deal with him'

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell

SNP and Greens accused of 'sleazy' cover-up over Peter Murrell inquiry

UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch during a visit to Oil States at the Gateway Business Park in Nigg, Aberdeen, on Friday

'I'm throwing the kitchen sink at this': Inside the oil by-election

Tory MSP Craig Hoy

SNP accused of hijacking key Holyrood committee to undermine scrutiny

Health Secretary Angela Constance

SNP's new health chief dismisses worries over missed waiting times

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice

Reform's Richard Tice: I almost weep at decline of Aberdeen

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth

Swinney's new deputy denies benefits spending is 'too high'

Stephen Gethins MSP and Stephen Flynn MSP

Analysis Why the two Westminster by-elections are the SNP's to lose

Tories demand Swinney uses first Holyrood vote to back oil and gas

The newly elected SNP MSP for Inverclyde, Stuart McMillan, looks on as Reform UK's leader in Scotland, Malcolm Offord, speaks after the result was declared at Greenock Town Hall (Picture: Peter Summers)

Why Reform could help keep SNP in power indefinitely
If just a quarter of Reform voters in the Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine constituency had backed the Conservatives instead, the SNP’s Stephen Flynn would...
Murdo Fraser

Anas Sarwar and Malcolm Offord

Explainer So who is the main opposition in Holyrood - Reform or Labour?

Russell Findlay's plea to voters didn't impress John McLellan (Picture: Jane Barlow)

Desperate, laughable: Tory and Labour election inquests will be brutal John McLellan

The Scotsman website is your one stop shop for comprehensive and in depth election coverage.

Your guide to The Scotsman's Holyrood election results coverage

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, First Minister John Swinney and Reform UK's Scottish leader Malcolm Offord.

Scottish election 2026: The seats to look out for in the race for Holyrood glory

Refrom's Tomis Ker's social media video (check spelling - ed)

Election Diary: Scotland's answer to Frost/Nixon and AI horrors

Up to a quarter of voters may still change their mind on polling day.

Holyrood election 2026: One in four could still change their mind

The Glen Sannox ferry pictured in 2017 ahead of its 'launch' with painted-on windows. It finally entered service in 2025

Scotland must vote for economic growth – not more SNP mismanagement Murdo Fraser

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay

I will 'absolutely not' be resigning this weekend - Russell Findlay

SNP candidate John Beare, who loves a photo with his glasses on his head

Election Diary: 'Intergrity', political vision and superheroes

The risk that Scotland could be plunged into a second independence referendum campaign should not be under-estimated (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Tories are right to put their opposition to independence centre stage John McLellan

Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride and Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay pour whisky in an Edinburgh bar in the wake of confirmation that the US will lift tariffs on Scotch

SNP food price cap could lead to 'rationing', says shadow chancellor

SNP leader John Swinney waving from CalMac ferry Loch Seaforth as he arrived in Stornoway on April 8

Explainer What Scotland's political parties plan for transport

Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney debate during a hustings event in the run-up to the Holyrood election

Explainer What Scotland's political parties have planned for arts and culture

Wildfires are becoming increasingly common in Scotland as our summers get warmer and drier (Picture: Peter Summers)

The huge missing election issue that may reduce us all to tears Ian Johnston

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