Holyrood

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

Holyrood is bracing for funding cuts from Westminsterplaceholder image

Holyrood bracing for £700m Budget cut as SNP makes demand

Picture: Jeff J Mitchellplaceholder image

An old teacher’s wrath: Jenny Gilruth, the EIS and our children Cameron Wyllie

The Reform UK MSP group outside the Scottish Parliament.placeholder image

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 Gillenplaceholder image

Reform loses first MSP and drops into third place at Holyrood

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and First Minister John Swinney.placeholder image

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)placeholder image

Q Manivannan loses bid to become rector of St Andrews University

Andy Burnham giving a speech in Motherwell on Fridayplaceholder image

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 Motherwellplaceholder image

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 conferenceplaceholder image

SNP councillors revolt over local government reform plans

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

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)placeholder image

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.placeholder image

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

David Linden MSPplaceholder image

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

Prime Minister Andy Burnhamplaceholder image

SNP invite Andy Burnham to conference ahead of visit to Scotland

John Swinneyplaceholder image

Swinney will not be investigated over claims he misled Holyrood

The Scottish Parliament building at Holyroodplaceholder image

Half say Scotland ‘heading in wrong direction’

First Minister John Swinney and former first minister Nicola Sturgeon.placeholder image

Swinney says he remains friends with Sturgeon despite criticism

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

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)placeholder image

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

Alex Cole-Hamiltonplaceholder image

Call for jobs guarantee for Scottish young people leaving care

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

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

Stephen Flynnplaceholder image

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

Health Secretary Angela Constance placeholder image

Winter NHS deaths warning after SNP unveils 'flimsy' plans

Angela Hepworth of Scottish Renewables addresses the conferenceplaceholder image

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

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

Rape crisis charity calls for clarity over new sexual offences court

A general view of the Scottish Parliament building, Holyrood, Edinburghplaceholder image

Should MSPs be paid more for chairing Holyrood committees?

Michael Marra speaks in the Scottish Parliamentplaceholder image

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

Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennonplaceholder image

Exclusive Complaint about Monica Lennon sent to Scottish Parliament chief

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamiltonplaceholder image

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)placeholder image

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

Ivan McKee waves to mediaplaceholder image

Exclusive Voluntary exit scheme opens for senior civil servants

Mairi McAllan gives evidence to Holyrood committeeplaceholder image

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

Torness Nuclear Power Stationplaceholder image

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

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

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

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

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

A worker holding up a farmed salmonplaceholder image

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)placeholder image

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.placeholder image

Humza Yousaf brands Kate Forbes leadership campaign 'disastrous'

First Minister John Swinneyplaceholder image

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)placeholder image

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

Monica Lennon in the Scottish Parliamentplaceholder image

Exclusive High-profile Labour MSP Monica Lennon faces bullying claims

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay and Brown and Blacks publican Katie Longplaceholder image

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

Katie Long’s business rates skyrocketed from £19,000 a year to £53,000 - now she is having to call time on her pub

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth and First Minister John Swinneyplaceholder image

SNP plans to shrink public sector workforce 'off course'

Peter Murrell arrives at the High Court in Edinburgh in the back of a prison vanplaceholder image

Exclusive Peter Murrell has legal aid pulled

The Tories have accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of ditheringplaceholder image

Tories to force Holyrood vote on Rosebank and Jackdaw

Nigel Farageplaceholder image

Reform removes Nigel Farage content after complaint by Holyrood bosses

Lord Advocate Ruth Charteris was appointed in June. She previously served as solicitor generl. Picture: PAplaceholder image

Scottish government announces review into role of Lord Advocate

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeonplaceholder image

Sturgeon 'to teach masterclass for women on leadership under pressure'

Nigel Farage's Reform UK party is in the money after two donations totalling £72 million (Picture: Oli Scarff)placeholder image

Independence: Nigel Farage addresses claims he is threat to the union

First Minister John Swinneyplaceholder image

Swinney urged to ditch 'idiotic' support for drug decriminalisation

Lecturers and other staff attend a rally in Glasgow during strike action by the University and College Union in September 2023placeholder image

Financial outlook of Scotland's college funding leaves future unknown

Malcolm Offord, Leader of Reform UK Scotland and Thomas Kerr, Deputy Leader of Reform UK Scotland placeholder image

Analysis 'Gimmicks' and attention-seeking displays as MSPs debate independence

Senior education leaders gave evidence to a Holyrood committeeplaceholder image

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

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

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 independenceplaceholder image

Watch: Reform MSPs storm out of Holyrood over independence debate

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SNP plan to devolve some powers to new regional authorities

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 Wireplaceholder image

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

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

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

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Imagesplaceholder image

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries

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