Scottish politics
21 stories related to this topic, newest first.
nbcnews.comFormer Scottish first minister discusses party finances and purchases in interview
Nicola Sturgeon addressed questions about her estranged husband's spending of party funds and her knowledge of the transactions. The interview covered salary details, a campervan purchase, and the handling of party accounts.
rnz.co.nzPeter Murrell Pleads Guilty to Misappropriating £400,000 From SNP Funds
Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell admitted embezzling party funds. Nicola Sturgeon rejected responsibility and said she had no knowledge of the crimes.
news.sky.comScottish First Minister Calls for Energy Powers to Be Transferred from Westminster
The Scottish government renewed its request for control over energy policy. Officials said the change would let them end the windfall tax and adjust licensing rules. A Conservative leader rejected the proposal as grievance politics.
bbc.co.ukNicola Sturgeon Discusses Husband's Guilty Plea at Hay Festival
Nicola Sturgeon addressed the recent guilty plea of her estranged husband Peter Murrell during an appearance at the Hay Festival in Wales. She described the past week as more difficult than prior challenges and said she had been cleared by police.
BBC NewsFormer SNP CEO Peter Murrell Guilty of Embezzling Over £400,000; Wife Cleared
Peter Murrell pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the Scottish National Party over 12 years. First Minister John Swinney rejected calls for a Holyrood inquiry into the matter.
BBC NewsSturgeon Says Husband Deceived Her Over SNP Funds
Former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was deceived and betrayed by her estranged husband after he admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP. She spoke publicly for the first time since the plea at a literary festival in Ireland.
channel4.comFormer SNP Chief Executive Pleads Guilty to Embezzling £400,000
Peter Murrell, former chief executive of the Scottish National Party, admitted in court to taking more than £400,000 from party funds. The plea came three weeks after local elections in Scotland.
BBC NewsScottish Parliament Backs Call for Second Independence Referendum
MSPs voted to endorse the Scottish government's request for a Section 30 order that would allow a second independence referendum. The UK government has said it will not grant the order.
The BbcCandidates Announced for Two Scottish By-Elections
Nominations have closed for by-elections in Aberdeen South and Arbroath and Broughty Ferry scheduled for 18 June. The contests follow the departure of two SNP MPs who won seats in the recent Holyrood election.
news.sky.comScottish Parliament to Debate Independence Motion Next Week
First Minister John Swinney will table a motion on Scottish independence during a May 26 statement and debate. The motion is expected to pass with support from 72 pro-independence members of the Scottish Parliament.
bbc.co.ukJohn Swinney Re-elected as Scotland's First Minister
SNP leader John Swinney won the nomination to serve another term as first minister in a Scottish Parliament vote. He is scheduled to be formally sworn in on Wednesday and will appoint a new cabinet.
news.sky.comSwinney Defends Food Price Cap Plan Ahead of First Minister Vote
SNP leader John Swinney said his proposed cap on supermarket food prices is meant to address the cost of living crisis. He spoke ahead of his expected re-election as first minister on Tuesday.
bbc.co.ukScottish Green MSP Elected on Student Visa Did Not Breach Immigration Rules
Q Mannivannan, a non-binary PhD student elected as a Scottish Green MSP last week, was permitted to stand for office after the Scottish Government changed rules to allow non-UK citizens to represent voters. Officials determined that holding the MSP position does not count as empl…
The BbcReform MSP Criticizes Other Parties for Ruling Out Cooperation
One of Reform UK's newly elected members of the Scottish Parliament has called the decision by other parties to exclude her group from cooperation "childish" and said it amounted to posturing. The SNP, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Labour have all ruled out working…
news.sky.comSwinney Says Prospect of Three Nationalist First Ministers Shows UK Has Fundamentally Changed
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said the prospect of nationalist first ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland signals that the UK has fundamentally changed. He called for an end to “business as usual” in how the UK Government engages with the devolved administra…
bbc.co.ukSNP Wins Fifth Scottish Election but Falls Short of Majority
The Scottish National Party secured 58 seats in the 2026 Holyrood election, falling short of an outright majority. Reform UK won seats in the Scottish Parliament for the first time while Labour and Reform tied for second place with 17 seats each. SNP leader John Swinney said he w…
bbc.co.ukJohn Swinney Says He Will Block Reform From Scottish Government
Scottish National Party leader John Swinney said his party will work with other parties to prevent Nigel Farage's Reform from having any role in governing Scotland after elections left the SNP as the largest party without a majority. Swinney argued that Reform's success strengthe…
The FederalistLabour Loses Over 1,000 Council Seats as Reform UK Gains Nearly 1,300 in UK Local Elections
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party suffered heavy losses across England, lost power in Wales after 27 years and saw Reform UK surge in Thursday's local and regional elections. Starmer responded by appointing former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman to advisor…
asiaone.comSNP Wins Fifth Successive Scottish Parliament Election
The SNP secured 58 seats in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, short of the 65 needed for an outright majority. Labour and Reform UK tied for second place with 17 seats each. The Scottish Greens won a record 15 seats including their first constituency victories while the Cons…
rte.ieSNP Secures Fifth Term in Scotland; Labour Loses UK Seats; Reform UK Gains
The Scottish National Party won 58 seats to secure a fifth consecutive term governing Scotland. Labour suffered major losses nationwide including in Scotland and an historic wipeout in Wales while Reform UK made significant gains in England and Wales. President Trump congratulate…
bbc.co.ukScottish Greens Win First Holyrood Constituency as SNP Loses Seat
The Scottish Greens won their first-ever Holyrood constituency seat by defeating senior SNP figure Angus Robertson in Edinburgh Central. SNP leader John Swinney's party fell short of an outright majority but claimed an emphatic overall victory in the election. Results also showed…