Holyrood

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

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

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

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

Stephen Flynn

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

Health Secretary Angela Constance

Winter NHS deaths warning after SNP unveils 'flimsy' plans

Angela Hepworth of Scottish Renewables addresses the conference

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

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

Rape crisis charity calls for clarity over new sexual offences court

A general view of the Scottish Parliament building, Holyrood, Edinburgh

Should MSPs be paid more for chairing Holyrood committees?

Michael Marra speaks in the Scottish Parliament

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

Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon

Exclusive Complaint about Monica Lennon sent to Scottish Parliament chief

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton

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)

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

A worker holding up a farmed salmon

Exclusive Claims 'dark money' being used to lobby against salmon farming

Nigel Farage

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: PA

Scottish government announces review into role of Lord Advocate

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon

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)

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

First Minister John Swinney

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 2023

Financial outlook of Scotland's college funding leaves future unknown

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