Scottish Parliament

Scottish Parliament news and opinion from expert Scotsman journalists with an in-depth view from Holyrood

The British Pavilion at Venice Biennale 2022, featuring work by Errollyn Wallen, Tanita Tikaram, Poppy Ajudha and Jacqui Dankworth.

Joy as Scotland set to return to world-renowned art festival in 2026

Brian Leishman, the Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth. Picture: Michael Gillen

Exclusive Brian Leishman on why Starmer should apologise, and Corbyn's new party

The Edinburgh leg of the World Naked Bike Ride takes place every year

Naked cyclists to ride through Edinburgh in annual safety protest

Finance Secretary Shona Robison, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth

The 10 MSPs with the largest Holyrood majorities - they're all SNP

New insider guide to booking university rooms for the Edinburgh Festival launche...

Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown, Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie MSP, and Karen Adam MSP

The 10 MSPs with the smallest majorities for 2026 Scottish election

Labour's Anas Sarwar speaks at the Scotland 2050 conference in Edinburgh (Picture: Andrew Milligan)

Why Scottish Parliament needs to formalise cross-party collaboration Barrie Cunning

Joanna Cherry KC and Emma Roddick MSP

Cherry accused SNP MSP of having 'no life experience'

First Minister John Swinney

'We are sorry': Swinney apologises to Gypsy Travellers

The embroidered dress lent by Nadia El-Nakla, worn at the swearing-in ceremony of her husband, Humza Yousaf as first minister.

Palestine dress exhibition linked to Humza Yousaf's wife to open

St Andrew's House, the Scottish Government's headquarters, was never more than 38 per cent phone

The 'extraordinarily high' manager ratio in the SNP Government

Sir Brian Souter (left) and Jack Irvine from the 'Keep the Clause' campaign.

LGBT+ community 'strengthened' by fighting against section 28

Fergus Ewing

Fergus Ewing: SNP will 'throw everything' into trying to stop me

Fergus Ewing, pictured in the Scottish Parliament

Analysis Can Fergus Ewing beat the SNP and win as an independent?

Pride Edinburgh returns this weekend, with the march taking place on Saturday, June 21.

Full list of road closures for Edinburgh Pride march

Diana Vickers is headlining the Main Stage at Edinburgh Pride.

Edinburgh Pride 2025: March route, times, events, free concert lineup

Fergus Ewing

Fergus Ewing on the 'scunner' factor and going independent

Veteran SNP MSP Fergus Ewing has refused to be cowed by rules on speaking out in public against his party (Picture: John Devlin)

Ewing to stand as an independent in 2026 Scottish election

GV of the Scottish Government building at Victoria Quay in Leith

Exclusive Civil servant anger as Scottish Government nursery to close

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes at the Scotland 2050 event in Edinburgh

Kate Forbes opens up on 'exhausting' online abuse

The proposed legislation is at the committee stage at Holyrood

Proposed legal changes to terminating commercial leases under scrutiny

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay

Is it really all over for the Scottish Conservatives? Alastair GJ Stewart

A protest was held this week at the Scottish Parliament. Picture: Andrew Carr

Why we need to make fathers visible John Forsyth

A general view of the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh

Scottish Parliament is full of serious flaws and must be overhauled George Foulkes

The state opening of parliament in the House of Lords.

Exclusive Should Holyrood have a second chamber like the House of Lords?

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay

Defiant Russell Findlay says Tories can win seats from SNP next year

Self-checkouts can be handy but they're denying someone a job and governments the taxes that would come with same (Picture: Getty)

Readers' Letters: Governments must stop taking so much from us in taxes

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay

Analysis Can the Scottish Tories avoid electoral annihilation?

Sunita Poddar, CEO of Oakminster Healthcare

Sunita Poddar, CEO of Oakminster Healthcare: Information sharing is the most pre...

Abortion buffer zones cannot be enforced when clinics are closed, police have said in an email

Public inquiries 'placing crippling burden' on Police Scotland

Paternity leave system needs to change - we just need to know how Alastair GJ Stewart

A Reform UK election billboard poster in Larkhall

Analysis How Labour 'defied the odds' and Reform ripped up the rulebook

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie, the party's leader Anas Sarwar and Davy Russell celebrate during a rally on Castle Street, Hamilton, after he was declared the winner for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election

SNP's bubble 'burst', says Sarwar, as Swinney plans Cabinet reshuffle

Professor Sir John Curtice (left) gives his assessment on Reform UK's vote success under leader Nigel Farage (right).

Curtice's warning for Anas Sarwar and how he rates Reform vote surge

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar celebrates victory in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election with Jackie Baillie (Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Analysis 'Game on' for Labour to take power from SNP after shock by-election victory

Davy Russell set celebrates Scottish Labour's victory in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election with Anas Sarwar and Jackie Baillie (Photo by Lisa Ferguson)

Labour pulls off shock victory over SNP in Hamilton by-election

Reform UK supporters on the party's branded open top bus on polling day. Picture: John Devlin

Analysis Polls close in key Hamilton by-election that will shape fates

John Swinney in Hamilton ahead of the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Analysis Huge Holyrood ramifications on the line after Hamilton by-election

Catching and treating cancer quickly can save lives

Hamilton by-election: Why we should vote like our lives depend on it Scotsman comment

Davy Russell, Katy Loudon and Ross Lambie.

Explainer Hamilton by-election - the controversies and the candidates

Douglas Ross MSP and Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone

Douglas Ross accuses Holyrood's presiding officer of lying

Hiroshi Suzuki trying Irn Bru next to a cardboard cutout of Robbie Williams, who is playing Murrayfield this weekend.

"Irn Bru is great": Japanese ambassador loves our other national drink

Dennis Skinner is known for his robust attitude towards political debate (Picture: Oli Scarff)

Why Douglas Ross can be Scotland's answer to 'Beast of Bolsover' Scotsman comment

Former Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross, showing a red card

Analysis Did Douglas Ross deserve his red card from the Holyrood chamber?

Former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross

Ross accuses Holyrood's Presiding Officer of bias against unionists

Flamingo Land protestors outside the Scottish Parliament with Ross Greer MSP.

Watch: 'Government doesn't have balls' to reject Flamingo Land

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie felt a desperate need to discuss Holyrood toilets this week (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Readers Letters: MSPs waste Parliamentary time with toilet talk

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