Reform UK Loses Second Place at Holyrood After MSP Quits Party
Reform UK has dropped behind Scottish Labour at Holyrood after Amanda Bland resigned from the party to sit as an independent MSP.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readLatest in Scottish Politics
Police Scotland Assesses Alleged Election Spending Breaches Involving Nine Reform UK Candidates
Police Scotland is assessing information about election spending paperwork involving nine unsuccessful Reform UK candidates at the May 2026 Holyrood election. Reform UK acknowledges administrative errors; no criminal wrongdoing has been established.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readMajor Bus Operator Threatens Court Battle Over SNP Plans for Public Control
McGill's Group says it expects to challenge Scottish Government bus-franchising proposals in court after John Swinney pledged greater public control of services by 2031.
James Ashcroft · 3 min readSwinney Announces £30 Million Scotland Together Fund to Tackle Poverty, Inequality and Racism
First Minister John Swinney has announced a three-year Scotland Together Fund worth more than £30 million to support grassroots groups tackling poverty, disadvantage and racism from 2027–28.
Staff member · 2 min readScottish Government Announces Misogyny Bill and £1 Million Schools Respect Fund
John Swinney has announced up to £1 million in additional funding from 2027–28 for school programmes challenging misogyny, alongside a renewed commitment to introduce a Misogyny Bill before summer 2027.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readSNP Conference Backs Calls for UK-Wide Ban on X as Party Reviews Its Future on Platform
SNP delegates have overwhelmingly backed a conference resolution supporting a UK-wide ban on X and urging public bodies to reconsider using the platform. The party says it will review its own presence; no government ban has been announced.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readSwinney Offers to Work with Burnham on Scottish Devolution as PM Calls for More Local Powers
John Swinney says he will work with Andy Burnham on devolving more power to Scottish regions, but rejects criticism that Holyrood is too centralised.
Staff member · 2 min readBurnham Challenges SNP Over Devolution as Prime Minister Offers New Powers for Scottish Regions
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has invited John Swinney to work with Westminster on devolving more decision-making to Scottish regions and cities, as the SNP meets for its conference.
Staff member · 2 min readMichael Marra elected Scottish Labour leader with 63% of vote
Michael Marra has been elected leader of Scottish Labour after defeating Joe Fagan by 4,266 votes to 2,485, taking charge of the party following its worst Holyrood result of the devolution era.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readSNP gains Avondale and Stonehouse in South Lanarkshire Council by-election
The SNP has gained the Avondale and Stonehouse seat on South Lanarkshire Council after Leigh Payne was elected at stage nine, with Labour second and Reform UK third on first preferences.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readSwinney opens second front with Westminster — demanding three Scotland-only visa routes after independence referendum Bill
John Swinney's Scottish Government has demanded a Scottish Visa, Rural Visa and Scottish Graduate Visa just a day after publishing its draft legislation for another independence referendum.
Charlotte Mercer · 6 min read