Holyrood

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

Isla Bryson, formerly known as Adam Graham, arrives at the High Court in Glasgow in 2023

Scottish Prison Service: ‘Zero biological males now in women’s jails’

Former MSP Roz McCall

Exclusive Former Tory MSP working for Reform quitter Amanda Bland

John Swinney

SNP ministers do not know how much flagship bus pledge will cost

Castle of Light show at Edinburgh Castle

Audit watchdog to publish follow up report on heritage quango HES

Stephen Kerr MSP

List MSP calls for the Holyrood list voting system to be overhauled

John Swinney

John Swinney urged to provide clarity on flagship bus pledge

A majority of Scots want decisions on North Sea licences and National Insurance to be made in Scotland, the poll found.

Key North Sea oil and gas decisions should be devolved, poll finds

Douglas Alexander

Douglas Alexander: SNP has short-changed Glasgow by £357 million

First Minister John Swinney

John Swinney confirms SNP U-turn on new North Sea oil and gas

Presiding Officer Kenny Gibson

MSPs in charge of Holyrood committees to get an extra £15,500 pay

Information Commissioner David Hamilton

Information chief's verdict on SNP public sector reforms: 'Don't'

Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord, left, and deputy Thomas Kerr

MSPs reject 'racist' Reform UK motion on 'banning burqas'

Health Secretary Angela Constance.

Constance: Scotland will be better served with two mainland NHS boards

Justice Secretary Neil Gray

'Gross discourtesy': Gray refuses to apologise over Polmont riot row

Illegal e-bikes seized in Edinburgh last month

Police call for more powers to tackle e-bikes after 1,000 seized

A food delivery driver on an electric bike in Glasgow

Authorities must work together tackling illegal e-bikes and e-scooters Scotsman comment

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, right, is accompanied by Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander during a visit to New College Lanarkshire's Motherwell Campus ahead of a speech focusing on the forming of closer ties with the Scottish government

Douglas Alexander: The next step for devolution is into our regions Douglas Alexander

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and First Minister John Swinney shake hands ahead of a bilateral meeting at the National Economic Council in Glasgow

Burnham: I don't want to see Scotland left out of my devolution plans

Former first minister Alex Salmond, photographed in 2023

Scottish government wins Salmond files case

SNP ministers have designed a more generous benefits system than the rest of the UK

Explainer Scotland's benefits bill: why is it soaring and who is claiming money

Andy Burnham on his last visit to Scotland (Jeff J Mitchell/PA)

Exclusive There's no limit to what John Swinney and I can achieve together Andy Burnham

Holyrood is bracing for funding cuts from Westminster

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

Picture: Jeff J Mitchell

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

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

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

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